The fine line...

One of my most-used phrases is this: 'it's a fine line between...whatever and whatever' [fill in the blanks; whatever can be anything]. This premise seems to apply to almost all life situations that I face. Some examples:

It's a fine line between pushy parenting and instilling competitiveness in one's children.

It's a fine line between raising a girl to be a woman and making her grow up too soon.

via bippitybobbityboo
It's a fine line between a fresh, modern Keira Knightley bob and the dreaded 'housewife hair' sported by so many women. Note to self: the reason Keira looks awesome with a bob is because she has Keira's face!

PARIS - OCTOBER 05: Keira Knightley attends the Chanel Ready to Wear Spring/Summer 2011 show during Paris Fashion Week at Grand Palais on October 5, 2010 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Keira at Chanel last week...

It's a fine line between keeping up with what everyone else needs and doing what you need.

It's a fine line between staying trim and looking gaunt/old/ill. Case in point: Victoria Beckham.

It's a fine line between wanting those shoes and needing them.

It's a fine line between spending all your time keeping house and living in squalor if housework is left to its own devices.


It's a fine line between blogging cos I love it and spending all my time on the computer. 'Are you on the computer again Mummy?'

When did this 'fine line' start featuring in every thought I have?! I'm always one to try to find the balance in any circumstance. On the one hand this and on the other hand that...

Achieving the balance of this fine line is like walking a tight rope. If you get your balance it's a wondrous thing, a great view, a thing of art and beauty. If you wobble it can make onlookers wince, you waver there for tantalising moments and then sometimes you regain composure or...you fall. Most of the time there's a safety net so it's OK. I don't recall ever weighing these things up when I was younger, even though I was always a wise soul. But now, with advancing years I see that it's all about this fine line; finding it, walking it, straying from it every now and then...

by Steven Meisel