Sunday was beautiful.
Got the Sunday Times after going out for breakfast, but the day was too lovely to stay inside and read after so many months sitting in front of the fire. We probably only hit 50 degrees, but the sun was shining so brightly that if you mixed in some physical activity, it was t-shirt weather.
As a Virgo, I tend to like order and neatness. It drives me a little batty when something is missing or out of place. I’m not super-organized, but I like aesthetically, I like things clean.
We had a doozy of an ice storm in December and it took a pound of flesh from my willow tree.
ice, ice baby
I’d been staring at the broken limb all winter, wondering how I’d be able to get it down without hiring a professional. The limb weighed several hundred pounds and hanging on by a thin wooden hinge.
Sunday was the day to come up with an answer.
I would tie the bottom of the limb to my truck and just rip it down! If I wasn’t crushed to death, this was certain to work! I must admit, the danger and uncertainty of the situation got me all hepped up on goofballs. Fun stuff.
Here’s a few photos of the sequence.
starting point
towing strap (more uses than you can imagine) fastened to branch
the crashing sound of success!
many hours later, a pile of firewood
It took me over five hours of heavy labor to do the job. When I sank into the couch that night, I was exhausted and my back was aching.
But beneath the surface discomfort, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction. Now each time I look out from my deck, or enter my driveway as I return home, I see the fruits of my labor. Neat and clean. A product of my sweat.
Sure, I could have paid someone a couple hundred bucks to do the job. That would make sense and I could have worked on more important things.
But would have missed the point completely.
There is fun in the doing.
Hi Drew!
funny you should mention this, because I got a BIG answer yesterday that physical activity is my next step. enough reflecting. enough thinking. time to just move and sweat and push my body. cannot wait to get to southern cal and go to the gym! thanks for the post!
Christina
I agree that there is fun in the doing, but only when the doing is the result of inspiration. Which it appeared to be for you, considering how creative you got about removing that limb. I think action is never fun when we use it to push against something or try to force ourselves to move forward. Alignemnt with the action has to come first, then the doing can be fun.
hi C –
good for you! sweat purifies! 🙂
d
hi Ingrid –
you make an important point… one that i agree with fully…
part of my thoughts (that did not make the post) is that lots of the stuff i do is “unproductive” — meaning i could pay someone to do it and with my free time, focus on that which would make me more money…
BUT, i really enjoy getting out and chopping wood or painting, or the like.. i love the feeling of accomplishment and pride i get from physical, manual labor…
agree, action without inspiration is not where you want to be! thanks for the thought!
d
I painted 5 rooms in my house right after Christmas and into January. I could have hired someone, and spent my time focussing on my business, but I truly enjoyed my time painting, having no real previous experience in it, passing the snowy days of winter, listening to “show tunes” off the TV cable. (I know, music choice probably would have driven you crazy!). Tends to be slower work-wise during that time of year (just a belief, so may be creating that for myself) but I was completely immersed in my project, and now that it’s finished, have such pride in my accomplishment. I can relate.