In the business and self-help book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, habit 7 is sharpening the saw, which, of course, isn’t intended literally. It means renewing one’s energy, and improving wellness and mental health, to help lead a sustainable, long-term, practical lifestyle that enables self-respect and self-improvement. For some, it may be exercise, while for others it may be reading, meditation, or even prayer (if you’re into that kind of thing). For me, it’s about sharpening an actual saw.
In recent weeks, I’ve taken to beachcombing along the estuary and sandbanks near our house in search of driftwood. Huge logs and branches frequently wash up and make for great firewood – albeit after dragging them back to the house and chopping them up into smaller pieces. Given the increasing cost of energy this winter, stocking up on fuel for the wood-burning stove also provides additional financial benefits.
I use a combination of a saw and a sharpened axe to cut up the wood, and end-to-end it can be physically demanding and a fair bit of hard work. But honestly, I also find the whole process massively therapeutic. From exploring the remote sand dunes in the cold, biting air to the huffing and puffing that involves carrying logs back, and then the sawing and subsequent burning of the spoils, my brain goes quiet as I focus on the task at hand. It probably also appeals on a fairly primal level to the caveman instincts, as I play hunter-gatherer and bring back wood for make big fire and keep family warm.
So is this process the sharpening of the saw that gives my brain time to renew and refresh as I switch off and stop thinking about the daily trials and tribulations of everyday life, or is it that I just like to cut s**t up and burn it? I like to think it’s the former, but honestly who am I kidding, it is fun as well.
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