John wished to hold a portray on his wall, and he invited his good friend over to assist. Simply as they have been about to place the nails in, the good friend mentioned, “Grasp on, I feel it’s higher if we put two boards of wooden on the wall first, then put the nails within the wooden, after which hold the portray.”
John revered his good friend’s want and seemed for a board of wooden. After he discovered one and introduced it over, they began to place it on the wall. All of the sudden, his good friend mentioned, “Grasp on, his wood board is just too huge. It’s finest if we noticed a bit off.”
Thus, they searched round for a noticed. After discovering the noticed, they began to noticed the wooden. Not lengthy after, the good friend mentioned, “This received’t do. The noticed is just too uninteresting. We have to sharpen the noticed with a file.”
So, they searched round the home for a file. They discovered one, however it lacked a deal with. The good friend then went outdoors to search for a small tree to chop to make a deal with for the file.
As he was about to chop the tree with John’s ax, he seen the ax was too rusty and uninteresting. He then seemed for a whetstone to sharpen the ax. When he discovered one, he realized the whetstone wanted a wood stand to stabilize it throughout the sharpening course of.
Thus, he advised John that he’s going to search for a carpenter as a result of a carpenter ought to have a usable whetstone set.
After the good friend left, John put two nails within the wall and hung up the portray.
Later that day, John noticed his good friend on the road, serving to a carpenter carry a heavy electrical noticed. He mentioned they’re going to lower a tree to get some wooden to make a wood stand for the whetstone…
(Supply: Harvard Household Schooling)
Commentary
Whereas this fictional story could seem humorous, it serves as an necessary reminder. Firstly, do we all know our priorities? Secondly, once we do issues, can we overcomplicate issues?
Stoic emperor Marcus Aurelius as soon as mentioned,
“Most of what we are saying and do just isn’t important. When you can eradicate it, you will have extra time and extra tranquility. Ask your self at each second, is that this essential?”
One other lesson from this story is appropriateness, as in doing issues to the suitable diploma. Do not overcomplicate issues, but in addition do not underestimate issues. How a lot time and effort we spend on a matter ought to be proportional to its significance and the way a lot management we now have over it.
Marcus Aurelius additionally mentioned,
“It’s important so that you can keep in mind that the eye you give to any motion ought to be in due proportion to its value.”
Reflecting on myself, I am instructing an intensive English camp these couple of months (which is one purpose why my weblog posts are a lot shorter lately), and I really feel like my time just isn’t sufficient. Other than instructing, I even have to arrange classes, do after-class tutoring, and do different work.
After I really feel like time is not sufficient, it is easy for my thoughts to turn out to be messy and anxious. When this occurs, I cease myself and have a look at my to-do record. I be certain my record is ranked in correct order, and that the record is not lacking something necessary.
After I do a process, I ask myself, “How can I simplify this?” For instance, as an alternative of creating all of the lesson supplies myself, can I discover present sources on-line or from colleagues? As an alternative of writing the standard long-form weblog posts, can I write quick and easy ones?
Doing my morning and night meditation are additionally very useful to clear my thoughts, and I’d bear in mind necessary issues or have inventive concepts in consequence.
I feel Seneca mentioned it effectively:
“It’s not that we now have a short while to stay, however that we waste quite a lot of it. Life is lengthy sufficient, and a sufficiently beneficiant quantity has been given to us for the very best achievements if it have been all effectively invested.”
Let’s all be clear on our priorities and use our most beneficial useful resource, time, successfully.
