Right now, I feel like I’m constantly juggling work, family, health, friends, and trying to hold onto some sense of integrity through it all. It’s a bit like a circus act, keeping all these priorities in the air at once. But recently, I came across something James Patterson wrote that changed how I see this endless balancing act: Imagine life as a game in which you’re juggling five balls. Work is the rubber ball. Drop it, and it’ll bounce back. The others, family, health, friends, and integrity, are glass. If you drop one of those, it might shatter.
That image has stayed with me because it made me realise that I’ve been juggling all wrong.
Letting the Rubber Ball Bounce
For years, I assumed everything was equally important. If I had a work deadline, I’d skip family dinners without a second thought. If I had emails piling up, I’d push my workout aside. Everything felt urgent, like any misstep would somehow come back to haunt me. But now I’m questioning all that. I’m starting to see work for what it really is, the only “ball” that can handle a little less attention, the one I can afford to drop every now and then.
It’s a strange feeling, realising that if I let work fall, it’ll bounce back. But if I keep sidelining family, health, or friendships, those relationships might never recover. And integrity? Well, that one’s even trickier because if I let go of who I am or what I stand for, it’s incredibly hard to rebuild.
Where I’m Dropping the Ball
I’m starting to see where I’ve dropped those glass balls too many times. My family has been understanding, but I can see the disappointment when I’m absent, physically or mentally. Health is another story. I keep putting off rest, telling myself I’ll catch up on sleep “later,” yet later never seems to come. And my friends? Honestly, they’ve been more patient with me than I deserve. But friendships can only survive so many rain checks.
What stings the most is realising that my integrity, something I’ve always thought was rock solid, has taken a few hits, too. In the rush to be everything at once, I sometimes make choices that don’t quite line up with my values, like saying yes to something I don’t believe in or compromising on things that used to matter to me. Every time I do that, I feel a little less like myself.
What I’m Doing to Protect What Matters
Right now, I’m trying to adjust. It’s not easy, but I’ve started to let the “rubber ball” drop a little. I’m learning to say no to extra work that I know will eat into family time. I’m finally allowing myself to step away from my phone and focus on real conversations instead of notifications. And I’m listening to my body more, knowing that I can’t just put health on hold forever.
Every time I put one of those glass balls first, it feels like a small victory. It’s still a balancing act, and I don’t get it right every day. But the difference is that I’m more aware of what I can afford to let go, and what I can’t.
A Reminder to Anyone Else Trying to Do It All
If you’re also trying to juggle everything, maybe it’s time to ask yourself which balls really need your attention. Work will always be there, bouncing back as it’s meant to. But family, health, friends, and integrity? Those are fragile. If you’re anything like me, you may have been holding the rubber ball too tightly while letting the glass ones slip.
So take a look at what you’re juggling. Maybe it’s time to let a few things fall and see what actually matters when the dust settles. Life isn’t about keeping everything in the air, it’s about knowing which ones to protect, even if that means letting others bounce.
Do you want to chat about it? Send me a message ;)
Best,
Rodrigo Branco Matsumoto.
