Did You Sharpen Your Saw?

Remember the popular story of the frustrated lumberjack? If you don’t or if you haven’t heard of it no worries here's a recap for you-

There was a man passing through a forest when he came across a frustrated lumberjack or  a wood cutter. The lumberjack was trying to cut down a tree with his saw and was swearing and cursing as he labored hard.

"Whats the problem?" the man asked.

“My saw’s blunt and won’t cut the tree properly.” The lumberjack responded.

“Why don’t you just sharpen it?”

“Because then I would have to stop sawing.” Said the lumberjack.

“But if you sharpened your saw, you could cut more efficiently and effectively than before.”

“But I don’t have time to stop!” The lumberjack retorted, getting more frustrated.

The man shook his head and kept on walking, leaving the lumberjack to his pointless frustration.

Do you see any resemblance between the story of lumberjack and your day to day life? Does the story rings any bells about some life situation that you are going through? Do you ever find yourself in the circular, repetitive motion of making the day to day happen and just not able to make enough of it? Do you at times come home from work frustrated, depressed and whining about how there is no quality time in your day to relish the simple joys anymore because there is so much going on and so much to attend? Don’t worry you are not alone.

Sharpening the saw in the story is symbolic of preserving, nurturing and enhancing the greatest assets you have. It stands for the dire need for self-renewal in order to prepare yourself better to enjoy and experience this life which is a great gift of God to you.

Feeling good doesn't just happen. Living a life in balance means taking the necessary time to renew yourself. It's all up to you. You can renew yourself through relaxation and relaxation can come through many ways – physical, social, emotional, mental and spiritual.

It’s very easy to get caught up in the rut of life and robotically following the prompts, however it takes only a little bit of conscious effort to break the monotony and make the difference!

Little things go a long way in bringing the much needed change and invigoration to your life. I recently included two very simple yet very powerful acts in my routine and already feeling a lot renewed, rejuvenated and available to experience and appreciate life.

When I wake up in the morning, I make it a point that between getting things ready for work and leaving the house I take at least 15-20 minutes to connect with nature. I water all my outdoor and indoor plants and feel the early morning ambience and silence around me. Just the very act of nurturing the greens that otherwise cannot express their needs and fully depend on us for their care and nourishment is a rewarding experience. Though a small act, it helps me start my day on a vibrant note.

On my way back home I stop at the nearby temple in my neighborhood, at that time of the day there is usually not too many people there. I sit in the prayer hall, close my eyes, soak in the vastness and silence around me and meditate, to unwind my mind and peel off any stress and negativity absorbed during the day. In just as little as 5-10 minutes I find myself more peaceful, open, relaxed, neutralized and ready to enjoy the rest of my day. I definitely feel recharged and spend more quality time with kids and family.

It doesn’t matter what is your style, your personality type and your way of sharpening your saw, it could be daily exercise, yoga, reading, biking, teaching, resting, music, prayer, art, making meaningful social connections, a morning walk, or anything else that strikes a note with you but it has to be something that is exclusive in your day and something you look forward to doing every day. You can pick different things and mix and match them for different days in a week.

Just remember every day comes with a new opportunity for renewal. Positive acts and vibrations breed positive results and you will soon notice life become brighter and more enjoyable when you focus on things that matter the most, everything else is just gravy! Connecting with things that matter most will eventually connect you with the higher goals and ultimate purpose of your life.

On that note, please take the time to sharpen your saw today, make a beginning and see it through!