Why I'm Learning How To Juggle
Friday, June 8, 2012 at 12:07PM So I'm learning how to juggle.
This may sound bizarre, but the reasons I've wanted to learn how to juggle have gradually accumulated over the years. Just recently the number of reasons reached a tip-over point, and I've started to practice on a daily basis. Here are my juggling balls, which I bought from the Higgins Brothers site:
I only practice a few minutes a day, but I'm gradually getting better. Nowadays my goal is to do four tosses in a row.
But WHY am I learning how to juggle? Here are some of the reasons:
1. Because it's fun to watch other people doing it, so I wanted to try.
2. It's satisfying to see gradual improvement over time with consistent practice. Sounds a bit obvious, I know, but it's something I have total control over and the improvement is measurable. The more I work at it, the better I get. In a weird way, it's therapeutic…I find myself slipping into a zone-out meditative state when I'm juggling -- it's oddly relaxing.
3. It's a bit of an upper body workout, at least for someone like me who spends most of her work day sitting at a computer.
4. I figure knowing how to juggle could be handy for sometimes adding variety to school presentations, especially if the kids are restless. Heck, it could come in handy for presenting to grown-ups when they get restless.
5. It's FUN.
And yes, the last reason is the most important for me. :-)
Many thanks to Markus, Mary, Graham, Sara and Annie for their juggling tips and inspiration.
Reader Comments (2)
The meditative state from juggling is a wonderful thing. I've been juggling for 31 years and that zone never gets old. Once I started juggling, focus issues I had as a kid went away. As I got older and faced increased responsibilities that seemed daunting, I viewed them like I viewed juggling: I knew that just like moving from 4-5 balls and thinking there was not time...that there was. And that there's time for 6 and 7 as well.
While I love writing, juggling was my first love and something I plan to do until the day I die. I hope you keep having fun and find yourself amazed at what you can accomplish!
Christopher, thanks so much for sharing this. Wow, you've been juggling for 31 years?!?