Taking Charge In One's Own Shop

Good For You!!!

I love the new attitude!

A wise man once told me “The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.” So don’t let yourself be stuck in a rut. Sometimes that applies to both thoughts and actions. :-)

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

Hi Barbs
It’s nice to hear from you. Your Thoughts about completing a project has been totally foreign to me. I was always brought up to finish what I start even when I don’t want too. I too have more than one project that has brought my personal work to a halt. Like you this idea of putting it away and getting on with more interesting projects never occurred to me. This is a totally inlighting Idea, my only fear is that once I start on this path that my shelves will be full of unfinished projects. I will have to look on the positive side and anticipate the new projects I wish to make will be completed and of great value.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

barb ,
i have found that if i don’t finish what i started ,
the tap shuts off ,
and no more gifts from God .

once i get the problem project out of my hair ,
it’s clear sailing !

good luck with your decision .

as far as 60 goes ,
it scared me too ,
thought i was all washed up ,
well i’ll be 65 next month ,
and still standing .

so it’s back to work ,
with gusto this time !

-- david ,new mexico ,allheart

I spent my 59th year worring about turning 60. What a waste of time. I’m retired now, with grandchildren, and a 2 month old great grandson. He will be in the shop before long. Life is good, after 60.

-- You can't trust dogs to guard your food.

60’s nothin. Pooh on it. I had a project laying around for 2 years. Part of it fell apart and I even walked on it a few times. Last spring, I thought I would complete the job. I did. It didn’t give me any pleasure at all. It’s just a “thing” over there that got built. Maybe it’s a good idea to put aside what no longer holds your interest. I know I didn’t do my best work on it. I just wanted it finished. I’d rather feel good about what I’m doing….otherwise, it’s a job

-- Gary, DeKalb Texas

What a great story…..

I firmly believe that age really IS nothing more than a state of mind.

Sadly … my state of mind usually has me about a dozen years older than my mother swears I am ;-)

You’ll finish … when it’s time to finish. That’s what I remind myself.

And when you DO … I’m sure it’ll be beautiful!

-- -- Neil

I’m new to woodworking but have been knitting for 25 years (which is a long time for me considering I’m only 33)... and us knitters… we have this start and finish-itis issue too.

I’m starting to feel “age” for the first time in my entire life… and a day flies by like nothing. I remember when I was younger that being asked to wait for 15 minutes seemed like an agonizing amount of time. Now… even just at this age, I’m starting to value my time and my joy more.

I used to try and slog through knitting projects that gave me no joy. I refuse to do it any longer… I’ll now give my yarn away in a de-stash rather than waste the material and time on sore, resentful feelings.

Think I feel this way because I also have chronic pain issues and I want to spend as much of my life with a smile on my face.

HOWEVER… I don’t drop something if it’s troubling me because it is a challenge. Just drop it if it is a bore.

It’s your shop! It’s your time!

Happy almost 60th! My aunt is 65 and divorced for her pain in the butt husband (still great friends), got herself a new FUN beau, built her own wooden kayak, and she goes anywhere and does anything she likes. She’s my awesome female role model.

-- Lisa Chan, custom cafts and yarn accessories, http://www.grippingyarn.com

I am 68 and just starting woodworking as a hobby, although I have done a lot of utilitarian woodwork and shop stuff over the years (see my home and blog). Never too old for something new. I still work, because I have to fund my hobbies!

In the big scheme, life is a grand tragedy, we are born to die, life is ephemeral. So it is always about attitude as Neil pointed out.

I have dismantled projects before also, in fact I have one partially cut out I think I will discard because I have a better idea how to do it now. I am in a rapid learning phase, since I am starting out. Even my utilitarian planned projects are benefiting from the hobby involvement. So I don’t hesitate to abandon a particular approach to a problem or creation, but usually I go on to solve the situation in some other way. I think that may be the key. If we have a project we have lost interest in, it may be that our approach was wrong. Complex area with many issues and solutions. I am one who is willing to permanently abandon something and move on, and feel no remorse. I am sure others feel differently.

-- Jim, Anchorage Alaska

Good…

-- Never board, always knotty, lots of growth rings

What a great story, I just disassembled my first project a few months ago, it had been sitting in my shop for over a year and I kept thinking, I have to finish that before I start something new. Once I realized I had no interest in finishing it and took it apart, it broke down that hurdle and I just started building something else. Thanks for the story, it is nice to hear others experience the same thing.

-- Gail, http://www.hometownwoodworking.com

60 ??? its just a number. when you wake up on that day you will have only aged 1 day from the day before. Don’t let the numbers bug you. I’m 66 and really am getting more out of life than before. Some projects are like wine, they need to age awhile before becoming complete. don’t let either one get you into that rut that Charlie mentioned.

-- RTB. "dumb animals are not stupid they simply can't talk "

What a great group! All your comments are very encouraging. I know the numbers are all in the head, but it still is a wake up call.
And thanks for all the advice..I have to admit it seems quite liberating to think of just dumping on a project.
I’ll probably put it aside for now and just do something else I’d rather do.
It’s fun to hear from you folks who have ‘crossed the threshold’ before me. I guess I’ll look forward to my sixties the same as any other decade.
Fun to read all your posts…thanks.

-- BarbS, Wenatchee WA

Barbs, You should get to know my wife who is a professional knitter/designer/shop owner.
She has things she calls UFOs.
That means – Un Finished Objects.
She teaches students how to use yarn they’ve lost interest in for other projects!

That’s the difference between knitting and woodworking.
We can’t uncut wood.

Sixty is just the beginning.
I’m seventy-six and going on.
They tell me I can’t take it with me, so I won’t go!

Best regards,

d

-- If a man says something in the forest and there's no woman to hear it, is he still wrong?

;-).... Don-
and I wish I knew Where I was going to die, then I just wouldn’t go there.

-- BarbS, Wenatchee WA

Barbs, cherish what you have and do what you want, while you can. If your health is good, that is what matters most. Forget that project and move on to what you want to do, I have not done much for a couple years now. I have to work my day job which takes everything I have to give. Hopefully my health will improve a little and I can get back to the shop like I want to. I am only 52, be thankful that you can do what you want at 39+, you really are only as old as you feel.

-- Dan-- Info for all @ http://www.hoistman.com

beautiful blog – inspirational and motivational.

Life is a journey – sometimes the path leads us somewhere just so we can find out what we DON”T want to do in life. Give thanks to that old project for the wisdom you received in the beginning and give thanks for the new project that the wood will become.

And to Autumn—wise, wise words!

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

and as for “60” – I’m not there yet but not everyone reaches that magic number—so time to celebrate. It is a gift.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Thanks, MsDebbie-
“not everyone reaches that magic number—so time to celebrate.”
Well, That puts a different light on it, doesn’t it? heh heh.

-- BarbS, Wenatchee WA

69 coming up and never too old to learn new tricks (unless you are a dog) Currently working on a wardrobe: Binocular image steady device: Dog Kennel: Replacement bathroom window and so on the list grows weekly. Impossible to pop off just yet, simply too much to do. Think positive and enjoy yourself and live for today.
Best wishes to all
Doug

-- Doug, Scottish Borders