View from the top>>How's your balance today?

By Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Brinkley
19th Airlift Wing command chief

Lately, I have seen a few things that may be seen as indicators that some people are feeling the stress of maintaining professional and personal balance. I’ve heard it said that pressure can produce diamonds or burst pipes. The outcome of what you produce is linked to how you handle stressors that come into your life.

Daily we handle a robust deployment rate that has a couple of effects. These range from stress for those left behind to pick up the slack on the job as well as in the home. Even those deployed have to deal with the challenges of being in a foreign environment, while keeping a stiff upper lip due to missing family and friends. So, how we balance these concerns will determine whether diamonds are created or whether pressure pipes in our lives will burst.

Proper balance can be achieved by simple things like eating healthy versus eating what you can get your hands on. Something that I know that I need to do better is to exercise regularly. These two steps in concert can reduce stress while helping each of us take the pressure that’s put on to create diamonds in our work and home environments. Think about a lump of coal that has immense pressure, and once all of the impurities are removed a flawless diamond is left.

Spiritual and mental balance is vital through reading and meditation. I was chatting today with Capt Everson from the Mission Support Squadron and he relayed that we must keep our work, family, and personal issues in harmony. Too much of anything is not good; and I care about each and every one of you out there.
So let’s continue to stress keeping balance in our lives as we look out for one another. Because at the end of the day, that’s what good teammates do.

Combat Airlift!