Lawrence De Voe

Balance - "Equipoise between contrasting, opposing, or interacting elements."

The concept of balance is central to the way I approach life. Of course, balance is critical to the effective practice of the martial arts; not merely for the essential physical coordination it implies, but also metaphorically in the resolution of the inherent conflicts between aggression and control, strength and speed, and form and looseness. Hyperfocus on one area of strength can lead to a narrow expertise, but it limits our options by allowing other areas of potential to atrophy.

Robert Heinlein once wrote that "a human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, con a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."

This vision of the Renaissance Man or polymath is what I aspire to - and while I haven't done everything on Heinlein's list, I'm confident that I could.