The Power Of One
As we go through each day and spend the precious time granted to us here on this rock we are usually completely unaware of our own power. Power for good or power for not so good. Since most of us will not change the big wide world, think for a moment about the world we can change. In our own little universe we have great influence and how we choose to use that can affect countless other lives.
You have been given the unique set of talents, mix that with your life experiences and your circle of friends/acquaintances and you are in the unique position of influence. I would like to suggest you make a conscious effort to improve someone or something within that sphere today. Since this is a wood turning newsletter, let me pose the question “what secret(s) have you unlocked in the turning world?” Are you really good at sanding? Really good at avoiding tear out on the bottom of the bowl? Really good with a skew? Really good at natural edge bowls? Really good at turned lidded boxes? Really good with delicate finials? Really good at sharpening? Really good at. . . ?
Do you have children or grandchildren you can pass that knowledge along to? Do you know someone in your turning club struggling with something you are good at? Perhaps today’s pay it forward moment would simply be an encouraging thought not to give up. One of the greatest forces in our universe is tenacity, “try one more time”, “don’t quit yet”, “I know you can do this if you just keep going.” Simple words of encouragement like these can make a bigger difference than you will ever know. This truth obviously applies to more than just turning wood.
As you might imagine my mailbox is filled with a wide variety of questions each day. From my point of view most of these are simple questions with easy answers. Yet, if they were not important the person sending the letter wouldn’t have taken the time to ask me for an answer. Some questions are so profound and the situations so desperate I have no answers, but most require only a simple reply. One of the things I love about the position I find myself in is my ability to help so very many people. Of course I only help with woodturning, but that might mean that I solve a grandchild’s birthday gift dilemma, or help in providing that special Christmas gift. Sometimes my simple suggestions enable a senior citizen on a very limited income to earn a few dollars and buy the medicine or the food that they so desperately need. I hear often from folks unable to work due to injury or illness needing to find a way to earn some money for their families. Sometimes the person struggling to increase the quality of their work to the point where it becomes marketable may find their solution in one of my “simple answers”.
Today, you can be that shining light on a hill we’ve heard so much about rather than that negative person with the ever present dark cloud dark cloud of doom and gloom. Choose to build up rather than tear down choose to encourage rather than chastise. Remember, we all have the power of one, and almost limitless power within our own universe.