There seems to be no better place for quiet, solitude, and reflection than working at the bench. There is the juxtaposition between the loud machinery that drowns out all the external noise, and the quiet of a hand plane allowing me to work with my own internal monologue. It is here, at the bench, that benchtop philosophy finds its origins; working over the rough edges, refining imperfect surfaces, and sometimes getting some furniture built as well.
The Benchtop Philosophy campaign is designed to approach topics many of us deal with. I will use woodworking and associated topics as a metaphor for everyday life. These topics apply to all individuals as we share a common humanity, common successes and common struggles. I was reminded of a great quote recently, while we were in Astoria—one of my favorites from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “ We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now.” It is in this “same boat” that we must learn to thrive—escaping the pattern of our basic survival mode—to engage each other in a way that is mutually beneficial. Recognizing our differences, using our strengths, and finding a common ground to thrive in an age of entropy.
The bi-weekly blog post will be a short 5-10 minute read, but I hope it will stir questions causing you to “chew on it” for slightly longer. I am a fan of Socratic thought, and Socrates, ever the critic, was always hardest on himself – “this is the way” of stoic philosophy. Though Socrates was not a Stoic, he believed the “unexamined life is not worth living,” that the way to a good life was to constantly examine morals, actions, and intention. Just as I might constantly examine the sharpness of my chisel, to be sure it has a good edge worth using, I concur that life should be examined, the rough edges trimmed, and the excess discarded to help determine quality over quantity.
I am constantly reading after great authors who have taken the time to pen the lessons and wisdom that they have learned in their respective industries. I will often share quotes or make book recommendations. I receive no financial gain, unless otherwise specified, from making these recommendations and my comments made in relationships to books, and current events are my own. But like Thomas Jefferson, “I cannot live without books…” for the wisdom from ancient to modern time is plenty, and I’d rather not blaze a trail that was already trodden.
I am a documentarian and love to pen life’s happenings. I hope to be able to share this journey, as it unfolds, with you and for posterity’s sake. My presumption is that some topics may fall flat, while others might strike a chord with you. But, my experience in psychology and as a medical practitioner tells me that we all experience harrowing struggles in our lives. I am a born helper, service runs in my blood and through my bones—it emanates from my pores. From a young age I wanted to be a physician, my time in the military taught me the value of service, and my time as a medical practitioner has reinforced this in me. I see no reason that my work in the shop should be any different.
I hope you will join me in this “examined life” and consider the implications in your own world.
- Brian -
