Carving saves the day!

[GaDoug]

Yesterday was one of those days. The kind of day where workplace events and politics gets you down, when it feels like everybody is playing hopscotch on your last nerve and friendly coworkers are as annoying as the office antagonist. I was worried all day that if the wrong person said the wrong thing a likely sarcastic response would get me fired.

My day stayed on this negative course until my 13 year old son and I walked into our monthly carving meeting at 7:22 p.m.

By 7:23 p.m. every negative thought stored throughout the day was gone.

I LOVE CARVING!

[Irish]

GaDoug! Great post, great story!!!!

I, too, find that my spirit calms and my nerves quiet during any carving session. I think that is because I do have to focus my attention on the knife in hand that I lead my thoughts away from those disturbing and troubling events.

Beside where I share so much of what I do with others the actual act of carving is just between me, the wood and the knife ... and no one in my house dares to disturb the 'little woman with the sharp blade in her hand." Grin!

Carving puts you into 'the moment', 'the now' and puts your feet back on the ground.

Thank you for sharing!!!

Susan Irish

[MDWine]

There was a "wood sculpting" episode on the DIY Sat channel of an old fellow in Mississippi that was carving a bass. As he sat by the pond doing the introduction, he said something that hit home, and I have found true all along...

"When you're carvin', you just can't think ugly things"...

I call my Wednesday carving club nights "Therapy"... No more work or ugly thoughts... just my friends, my piece of work, some talk and kidding around.

Even carving by myself with a little bluegrass on is one of the most relaxing things I can do!

Carvin' is the best dang therapy there is.

(although at times it seems it is more expensive than a "shrink" would be!
but a tool junkie has to have tools, right? )

[Ed Redwine]

Once a week, four of us carving junkies meet for our weekly fix. After a few hours of therapy, our troubles and blues melt away. We enjoy each others company and we all look forward to the next session. Ahhh, carving is better than medicine.

[Mottles]

Yep, carving is very relaxing and helps you get in touch with your inner self.
Kathy

[uvawyo]

Yep besides relaxing and mellowing when i carve i don't smoke dont take smoke breaks just whittle for 3 or 4 hours straight Must be good for me
I too, LOVE CARVING

[markken5889]

I totally agree! I do work as a mental health therapist in a hospital. The research on what they call "Flow State" in shrinky language proves us out! (Hey, look it up!)

I know that after a full, hectic and trying day at the office, there's not a whole lot that's more relaxing and brings me back to my ole' self than some time at the carving bench.

Mark

[JJireh]

That's why I carve at work too. When the smokers go out, I go too and grab a piece of wood instead of a cigarette. Whittle for 15 minutes then back to it. Lunch, I take an hour to eat and whittle. Sometimes after an hour I have a mostly full lunch bowl and a pile of chips