Chapter 6. Balance

I AM NOT A RELIGIOUS PERSON. I’m not quite an atheist, but I’m certainly not a theist, either. Friends describe me as an agnostic Taoist, whatever that means. I prefer to apply philosophies, rather than follow a leader, and I’m always coming back to the Tao Te Ching and the teachings of The Buddha. If I had the patience, I suppose I’d be a Buddhist.

Though I’m a bit of a skeptic, I do believe that The Universe (whatever that means to you) seeks something that I call The Balance. Each time I suffer a setback, or think I can’t sink any lower, I remind myself, “The Universe seeks Balance, Wil. For whatever low you’re feeling now, there will be an equal high. Just wait for it.” This belief sustained me throughout the years of struggling and the very difficult trials I faced throughout 2001.

As I was flying high on the resurgence of popularity and visibility Weakest Link and my website brought me, The Balance struck: my 84-year-old great aunt, who has always been the foundation of our family, who loved more unconditionally than anyone I’ve ever known, suffered a stroke and slipped into a coma. She never regained consciousness, and four days later she died, on November 9th, just two days after my wedding anniversary. Her loss sent shock waves through my family. I was devastated.

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