In the upside-down with an axe
Hello there, been a while. Much longer than planned. I had something written out for the March edition of this newsletter, themed around my thirty-fourth birthday, but then the world went into an upside-down version of itself and I forgot to hit send. Things haven't changed much since then, I actually think they are worse...what strange times we are all living in.
Enough about that.
Now entering...stream of consciousness...
I have always preferred to be alone. I seek solitude and silence. Now, more than ever, I am thankful that alone is ok with me. I seem to be seeking more and more opportunities to be alone and have discovered a very real passion of mine that I never knew existed: traditional woodworking. I have been following this rabbit-hole of sorts since March and now I find myself stepping further back in time to when the most basic tools were used to accomplish day-to-day needs (axe and knife).
I am drawn to the silence.
I talk to myself, in my head, more than I do with others. This is a new development.
I write down things that I am thankful for daily, things that need to be done, and I journal about my thoughts and such, the happenings of each day, but otherwise writing anything for public consumption has not been on my mind as something to do, and so I haven't done it. Not writers block (something I don't believe in) just nothing to write. And for once in my life I was, and am, okay with waiting. If something needs to be written then it will be written. Otherwise, I think it is forced and not entirely genuine. That being said, and it may be due to the approaching autumn, I am beginning to feel a flicker of desire to sit down and write more often. There must be something that needs to be written!
I have been thinking a lot about what we consume and why, both digital and "real world" but more so real world. Digital is easy to control. Real world is more difficult and requires much more purposeful action and change.
The impact that our lifestyle (at the family level) has on our life has never been more clear to me. Also, the very real nature of consequence (reap what you sow) has a new and very clear meaning to me now.
Additionally, and most importantly, making instead of buying is a theme, or even better stated, a way of life that I have been thinking about and pursuing. This has become my life since turning thirty-four in March and has changed everything about me and how I live my life. It has also opened my eyes to see the number of masks (not medical...think disguise, opera masks, etc) I have worn for all of my adult life. All disguising who I am so as to not "rock the boat". Those masks, all but one, have been thrown into the fire, so to speak, a fire to destroy them and to save my literal self, who I am at the very core of my being. The last mask to go will not be so easy to get rid of but is something I am actively working on day by day. Nothing scandalous or earth-shattering, but something I will share when I know the time is right to do so.
All of that to say, I believe it is vitally important to have a direct hand in the things that we need to survive as humans.
A simple way to look at this is to do for yourself what you can (and this is more than you may believe), make the things you need for day to day activities (i.e. figure out how to use what you have at hand to accomplish whatever the current task is), grow what you can (for your table), raise what you can (also for your table), and anything that you cannot grow or raise find local sources (farms).
There is a lot that goes into the point of being much more self-reliant and is something that I am constantly thinking about. More to follow on this as I process all of the thoughts.
Moving on.
I recently finished rereading The Hobbit and am working my way through the movies (first time watching them). This was spurred on by randomly coming across and listening to the sound-track with my seven-year-old (Mozzie). He asked me to read the book to him, so we are slowly making our way through that (takes much longer to read out-loud!).
Moving on from The Hobbit it only seemed appropriate to stay in Middle-Earth and read for a second time The Lord of the Rings, beginning with The Fellowship of the Ring. As I seem to do, I will watch the movies as I finish each book. Middle-Earth, and the characters that fill it, is such a fascinating place.
I may return to Westeros afterwards (I abruptly stopped reading A Feast for Crows and need to continue the story), and then maybe wander the halls of Hogwarts for a bit (always a fun read on snowy days, which will be here before we know it).
I am also reading a lot about wood, forests, and woodworking history and technique. I tend to read these types of books in the afternoon. In the morning, after a few hours in the workshop, I'll sit down for a short break and page through the latest issue of Monocle.
I have gotten into a good stride with my schedule (again, and finally, hopefully). Preparing for a successful day starts the night before. I read fiction for an hour or so before crawling into bed as close to 10:30 as possible. After eight hours of sleep I get up, get my French-press going, have two pieces of toast, then head out to work on things in my workshop (in the cool of the morning). The rest of my day is filled with personal and professional obligations. Up early and in the shop first thing is key for me.
Despite the upside-down nature of the world around us we do have so much to be thankful for. Recognizing these things daily is a worthwhile habit to practice.
Thanks for reading. I hope this was random enough to give you an enjoyable break in the day, but also valuable to you in some small way.
Take care!
Aaron Aiken