Magic moments

  I elicit smiles every time I mention to people: I sniff saw dust . Further more, I can distinguish wood species by their scent. Besides being funny, it is true , smell is the most potent memory revoking sense in humans. It's like going back to your old school, the smell is to blame for bringing back all those emotions. I miss my wood shop, damn I miss it a lot. But why, one might ask. Don't you have enough things to tackle everyday? How do you find a time to do woodworking, or any hobby for that matter? These all are the wrong questions. The right question is way simpler: Why would one prioritize a hobby over other immanent tasks? The answer is actually even simpler: Because it makes me happy. Chores will come and go, all jobs have expiration date, we will all retire one day, aren't we? Except our happiness, that is forever.  It takes a special kind of thinking and planning to make something useful with your own hands, whilst being unique, not mass produced, not made to f...

  Change is good, change is fun, change makes our blood boil. It turns everyday chores bearable and life worthwhile. Unless that change means entering a new realm of knowledge and skills, then its turns from excitement into unease and constant self doubt. Welcome imposter syndrome . Whenever we join a new company, a hockey club, subculture or even start listening different music, at the beginning we feel like imposters. The poor feeling of not knowing everything or being pushed over is sometimes sufficient to give up and default to our comfort zone.  As everybody else, I am no immune to this behavior either. What I have learned over the years however, is how to tame this beast. There is no silver bullet though, one has to find its own way. In order to have enough versatility in life (and avoid boredom), one has to be able to redirect the imposter feelings into motion that will push you to get better.  Jack of all trades Many people know the proverb: Jack of all trades, ma...