Over the weekend, one of my dearest friends made an analogy that paralleled the meaning of a "balancing act." Think of every single thing you balance in your day to day life, now imagine hanging from the monkey bars with two hands. Keeping two hands on the bar, you will be able to swing to the next one. If you let go, and are left hanging by one hand, you won’t be able to get to the next one, and you might completely fall off.

Think of every small accomplishment as you go about your day as “monkey bars,” you swing from each one, hanging on with two hands, to push yourself onto the next.

The “monkey bars” analogy can be used when it comes to daily tasks, or a year's worth of goals. Make each step count. Know you must accomplish one individual thing at a time to be able to let go, and move forward without falling.

Applying this to daily life helps with setting goals and striving to accomplish them. An example of the monkey bars in a typical day for me include; waking up when the alarm goes off so that I can go to gym. Going to the gym pushes me to shower before class, and showering before class prepares me for my day. Getting ready after working out means that I will have a nutritious breakfast before class. Going to class helps push me closer to earning my degree. So on and so forth..

Holding on with two hands, balancing everything evenly, allows me to hold on and keep sight of what is coming. "Dropping one hand" or missing one of those morning tasks, sets me back and causes me to loose balance.

It is not just that one "big" accomplishment that defines someones success. It is what they are doing in the dark that puts them in the light. It is all the small daily tasks, day after day, with consistent effort and grit, that make up an accomplishment. It is all of the little efforts, the small things, that make up a success story. It's about holding on, keeping balanced, and staying focused on each task at hand. Maintaining an optimistic attitude and being mindful of what is on the horizon will keep you pushing forward.

The present is a gift. Accept it with open arms and hold on with both hands. Everyone has the same twenty-four hours in a day, just like everyone is on their own set of monkey bars.