This morning, I went out early before work and cut down a tree. No roaring, smoke belching chainsaw. Just me and my axe.
I figured for one tree, I could use the axe and be done in about the same time it would take to start the chainsaw. What I found out is that there is a lot more pleasure to using an axe!
Instead of wearing ear plugs, I got to enjoy the steady “crack – thwack” of the axe punctuating the snowy silence. Instead of oily saw dust spraying back into my boots, I had the pleasure of watching chunks of wood fly off to my left. I made a game of trying to see how big I could make them. I reveled in what became a game of skill, rather than merely enduring the blast of noise and smoke that goes with using a chain saw.
And as the tree finally began to crack and tip, I got to enjoy the thrill of hearing the wood splinter. I felt like I accomplished something worthwhile…it was just plain more fulfilling than using a chainsaw.
Best of all, the morning exercise was much more invigorating than my usual cup of coffee!
