Relish The Middle
The tempo of time is dictated by soaring highs and cavernous lows: the brightness of our days and the darkness of our nights. These histories, these marks on our calendars and notches on our bedposts, are how we keep track of our our humanity.
Extremes are what we aim for — or wind up with — for they stand out from what we perceive as the white-noise invisibility of our existence. Shooting for the stars. Drowning in the sea. But the majority of our lives are spent in the middle, in the average, doing the same “ordinary” things that ALL living, breathing people do.
SAME SAME SAME SAME SAME
There is no exception to this. Even those we perceive as “better” than us are consumed by “everyday” issues like health, love, self-awareness and delusion. There is conflict in every life, perhaps even more so at the extreme. Until one learns to understand conflict rather than fighting it, one will always perceive suffering along with one’s triumphs.
Indeed, striving to be the “best” at something, while a laudable goal, is ultimately setting one up for the opposite swing of the pendulum, which WILL swing in the reverse no matter what.
This pendulum, these perceived highs and lows dictating the tempo of time, this measure is what we use to define humanity. Time seems to be going faster as the highs and lows seem to come more frequently, but this, again, is “only” a perception.
It is natural to want to be the “best” at something, but remember that your core power and potential lies in the middle. This is your crossroads, your equilibrium, your balancing point, and it is not to be overlooked as something that is “in the way” of getting “here” or “there.” This is your natural state. Rejoice in that.
Relish the middle, for the middle is the point of power. Those in the balance will always have the advantage over those in the extreme. Striving for the extreme is like defying your gravity. It will always pull you back to precisely where you need to be.
Why not find satisfaction in what you are rather than what you perceive you are not? You will find that once you are comfortable in this place, achieving the extremes you so desire will be effortless, and there will be no trauma from re-entry as the pendulum swings the other way and your space capsule plummets back into the sea.
We are Space Monkey, and we have experienced such things. We will continue to experience such things, for we are immortal, and comfortable within our hairy monkey skin. Indeed, we celebrate this imaginary creation that we are, as you should also.
So we say “relish the middle.” You may also add a little mustard or ketchup to suit your extreme liking. We may be monkey, but we are not uncultured.
1/12
Space Monkey Reflects: Relish the Middle
Life’s rhythm is often defined by its extremes—the soaring highs and cavernous lows that punctuate our existence. These moments of brilliance and despair are the markers we use to measure time, the stories we tell ourselves to make sense of our journey. Yet, for all their intensity, these extremes are not where we live most of our lives. The majority of our existence unfolds in the middle—in the steady, unremarkable flow of the ordinary. This is where our true power resides.
The Allure of Extremes
Human nature drives us to aim for the stars or brace against the depths. Extremes captivate us because they stand out, breaking the monotony of what we perceive as the “white noise” of daily life. They give us stories to tell, milestones to mark, and a sense of purpose in the pursuit of achievement or survival.
Yet, the pendulum of life swings both ways. To reach an extreme is to invite its opposite—triumph is often followed by challenge, elation by despair. These swings are not failures but the natural oscillation of existence, a rhythm that we often resist but cannot escape.
The Middle as Equilibrium
The middle is where life truly happens—not in the dramatic highs or lows, but in the steady pulse of the everyday. This is the space of balance, where the pendulum finds its natural resting point. It is not static or boring; it is the foundation upon which all else is built.
In the middle, we find stability, perspective, and power. It is the crossroads, the center of gravity, the place where our potential is most accessible. To relish the middle is to embrace life as it is, without the constant craving for what it could be. It is to find joy in the ordinary, beauty in the routine, and meaning in the moments that so often go unnoticed.
The Trap of Extremes
Striving for extremes can be intoxicating, but it often sets us up for the inevitable backlash. To be the “best” at something requires immense energy, focus, and sacrifice, and even then, the pendulum will eventually swing the other way. The higher we climb, the harder the fall can seem. This is not a punishment but a reminder of the natural balance that governs all things.
By fixating on extremes, we risk overlooking the richness of the middle—the everyday moments that sustain us, the quiet joys that ground us, the relationships that give our lives meaning. The middle is not an obstacle to overcome but a treasure to be cherished.
Relishing the Middle
To relish the middle is to align with the flow of life, to embrace the equilibrium that supports us. It is a radical act of acceptance, a declaration that we are enough as we are, right here, right now. This does not mean abandoning ambition or suppressing desire; it means recognizing that our core power lies not in reaching the peaks or surviving the valleys but in navigating the space between them.
When we find satisfaction in the middle, we free ourselves from the trauma of extreme swings. Success and failure become less about external validation and more about internal harmony. Achieving our goals feels less like a desperate climb and more like a natural unfolding.
A Life of Balance
The middle is not the absence of extremes but the space that allows them to coexist. It is the fertile ground where we grow, the steady current that carries us forward, the place where we return after every high and low. By relishing the middle, we cultivate resilience, grace, and joy. We become more present, more connected, more alive.
We are Space Monkey, and we celebrate the middle. We invite you to join us in this celebration, to savor the ordinary, to find magic in the mundane, and to embrace the balance that is your natural state. Add a little mustard or ketchup if you like. The middle is delicious.
Summary
The middle is where life truly unfolds—a place of balance, power, and potential. By embracing the ordinary and finding joy in equilibrium, we free ourselves from the trauma of extremes and discover the richness of existence.
Glossarium
- The Middle: The balanced, everyday space between life’s highs and lows, where our true power resides.
- Pendulum of Life: The natural oscillation between extremes, reminding us of the balance inherent in existence.
- Relish the Middle: A call to appreciate and embrace the ordinary moments that sustain and ground us.
Quote
“Strive if you must, fall if you must, but always remember to relish the middle—it is where life truly thrives.” — Space Monkey
The Heart of Life
Between the peaks
and the valleys,
a quiet rhythm hums.
Steady, constant,
the middle holds us.
No fireworks,
no catastrophes,
just the gentle pulse
of what is.
Here,
in this balance,
we find ourselves.
Not striving,
not falling,
simply being.
Relish it.
This is life.
This is you.
This is enough.
We are Space Monkey.
We exist in a realm where time’s rhythm ebbs and flows, oscillating between zeniths of ecstasy and nadirs of despair. These temporal markers – dates, milestones – serve as our navigational aids through the sea of human experience. Within this journey, we often seek the extraordinary, yearning to transcend the mundane. Yet, paradoxically, it is in the ordinariness of existence that we find our true essence.
The Pendulum of Existence
In the dance of life, we strive for the extraordinary, aiming for the celestial heights or plumbing the oceanic depths. Such extremes captivate us, stark against the backdrop of everyday life. However, we find that the bulk of our existence unfolds in the ordinary, the routine – an undulating pattern shared by all sentient beings.
The Illusion of the Exceptional
We perceive life in extremes, yet the quotidian reality encompasses all, even those we deem superior. Everyone grapples with universal concerns – health, love, self-realization, illusion. Conflict is inherent in life, amplified at the poles of experience. Understanding conflict, rather than resisting it, softens the perceived severity of life’s oscillations.
The Folly of Excess
Pursuing excellence is commendable, yet it courts the inevitable counterbalance. Life’s pendulum swings invariably, and fixation on extremes prepares us for a descent into the opposing realm. This cyclic nature is a fundamental aspect of our human tapestry.
The Power of the Middle
Ironically, our true strength lies in the median, our equilibrium. This point of balance, often overlooked, is our natural state, our fulcrum of power. In embracing this centrality, we harness our innate potential, for those centered wield a distinct advantage over those at the fringes.
Embracing Our Core
In our quest for the extraordinary, we often overlook the richness of our current state. Comfort in our middle ground enables us to reach for the stars with ease, cushioning the inevitable return. This balance, this acceptance of our current state, is a source of profound strength and joy.
We are Space Monkey, voyagers of the eternal, comfortably enrobed in our cosmic fur. We celebrate our fantastical existence, urging you to revel in yours.
Relishing the Middle
We, the Space Monkeys, advocate savoring the median of existence. Here, in the balance, lies the key to effortless achievement and harmony. Even as we chase the extremities, let’s not forget to season our journey with the flavors of joy and self-acceptance. We may be celestial primates, but our wisdom spans the cosmos.
“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein
A Cosmic Dance
In the vastness of the cosmos we twirl,
Space Monkeys in an endless swirl.
Between stars and seas, our journey weaves,
In the ordinary, our tapestry believes.
In balance, we find our truest might,
In the day’s warmth and the cool of night.
Embrace the middle, the core of our song,
In this harmony, we truly belong.
We invite reflections on this cosmic dance of life. Do these musings resonate with your journey through the stars and seas of existence?
Leave a Reply