8 Comments

Maybe twisting Dave Barry's point, there is a lot of large, unloved, hardwood furniture at estate sales near me. I scored a 7 ft. maple drop leaf dining table with two removable leaves and table pads for $19. If it wasn't so much nicer than our previous dining table solution, it would be large amount of beautiful project wood.

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Mar 19Liked by Christopher Schwarz

I don't find I do lesser work when I overthink. I do less work.

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In the 1980s and 90s, Csikszentmihalyi studied what he termed states of “Flow.” Obviously, these states have been around for a long time, but the science was lacking until Csikszentmihalyi. He later wrote a book, Flow, that explained much of his work and ways to more easily enter these states. It helped me saw dovetails closer to the line.

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Ok Chris never thought about the Zen of wood. Empty the mind? Or did you mean like my empty wallet. That is easy to do. Yes spend less, think less while woodworking. I always over think the process and screw it up. So I will give it a try. Everything else has not been successful as I wanted anyways.

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You're right, Chris, I didn't quite get my money's worth on that one.

Can I get change for that?

Oh...forgot..."Change comes from within."

Never mind. Or empty mind, whichever.

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Too true -- I invariably screw up when I start thinking ahead to the next step while working on the current one.

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I practice taiji, and find that my woodwork is better when done as a taiji practice. Better body mechanics and more present focus. And enough patience to "go slower because it is faster."

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All of this is basically what got me into woodworking in the first place... silencing the bullshit and chatter in my ADHD addled mind.

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