There was joy in concentration, and the world afforded an inexhaustible wealth of projects to concentrate on. There was joy in effort, and the world resisted effort to just the right degree, and yielded to it at last. People cut Mount Rushmore into faces; they chipped here and there for years. People slowed the spread of yellow fever; they sprayed the Isthmus of Panama puddle by puddle. Effort alone I loved. Some days I would have been happy to push a pole around a threshing floor like an ox, for the pleasure of moving the heavy stone and watching my knees rise in turn.
Hi Simon, I stumbled or perhaps was guided to find this post by the Substack community. I write about designing our lives around joy and just wanted to share appreciation with a writer who is doing the same :)
The distinction between dreaming and effort is particularly poignant. It's true that dreaming alone can be seductive, but the true essence lies in the willingness to put in the effort, to cultivate a love for the process, and to demand something of both the soul and the body. I also share your sentiment about the slipperiness of time when it comes to goals. The most interesting and worthwhile goals often take more time than initially anticipated. And what I like most is the idea that every difficult thing attempted is worthwhile, regardless of success or failure. Wishing you a Happy New Year filled with joy in effort and the satisfaction of pursuing meaningful goals.
"What can I attempt that will be worthwhile, serious enough that it might end in failure? What will, as Annie Dillard said, resist effort to just the right degree, and yield to it at last? What will be spectacular if I can pull it off?"
This is definitely the mindset I'm embracing right now. I'm dreaming just a little bigger than what I feel is within certain reach. I want that element of potential failure present. I want to be forced to plan and execute more carefully than I otherwise would.
These words resonate deeply. Thanks for sharing, Simon.
A lovely read. Wallace Stevens’ quote reminds me of Rollo May’s wonderful book on ‘The Courage to Create’ where he distinguishes (according to my notes!) creative courage from the also-important physical courage, moral courage and social courage.
interesting take with some goals not fitting the typical "annual compartments" and thus favouring targets that follow one through the years. I had the same realization this week as I have several such goals coming up. It reminded me of what the great Peter Drucker used to ask himself: "Where and how can I achieve results that will make a difference within the next year and a half?" - So I also started what I call a "target board" which moves through the years with me and gets updated regularly.
This sentence of yours also really resonated with me: "If you make lists of lofty goals, it can be easy to leave them to accumulate, as happens sometimes, into a mountain of to-do’s and notes and half-forgotten plans" as I recently wrote about "forgetting" being the ultimate nemesis of personal accomplishment.
“If you really want something, then the soul must make demands of the body.” This will stay with me.
Hi Simon, I stumbled or perhaps was guided to find this post by the Substack community. I write about designing our lives around joy and just wanted to share appreciation with a writer who is doing the same :)
“Over long time frames, the pessimist becomes an unobservant man, and the optimist creates the world.” I love this💗
Beautifully said.
The distinction between dreaming and effort is particularly poignant. It's true that dreaming alone can be seductive, but the true essence lies in the willingness to put in the effort, to cultivate a love for the process, and to demand something of both the soul and the body. I also share your sentiment about the slipperiness of time when it comes to goals. The most interesting and worthwhile goals often take more time than initially anticipated. And what I like most is the idea that every difficult thing attempted is worthwhile, regardless of success or failure. Wishing you a Happy New Year filled with joy in effort and the satisfaction of pursuing meaningful goals.
"What can I attempt that will be worthwhile, serious enough that it might end in failure? What will, as Annie Dillard said, resist effort to just the right degree, and yield to it at last? What will be spectacular if I can pull it off?"
This is definitely the mindset I'm embracing right now. I'm dreaming just a little bigger than what I feel is within certain reach. I want that element of potential failure present. I want to be forced to plan and execute more carefully than I otherwise would.
These words resonate deeply. Thanks for sharing, Simon.
"I hope you find joy in effort" is such a gentle and encouraging sign-off. Thanks for sharing this, Simon.
Happy woodworking and gardening Simon! Beautifully written - thanks.
A lovely read. Wallace Stevens’ quote reminds me of Rollo May’s wonderful book on ‘The Courage to Create’ where he distinguishes (according to my notes!) creative courage from the also-important physical courage, moral courage and social courage.
This is the email I’ve enjoyed the most in 2023.
Hey Simon,
interesting take with some goals not fitting the typical "annual compartments" and thus favouring targets that follow one through the years. I had the same realization this week as I have several such goals coming up. It reminded me of what the great Peter Drucker used to ask himself: "Where and how can I achieve results that will make a difference within the next year and a half?" - So I also started what I call a "target board" which moves through the years with me and gets updated regularly.
This sentence of yours also really resonated with me: "If you make lists of lofty goals, it can be easy to leave them to accumulate, as happens sometimes, into a mountain of to-do’s and notes and half-forgotten plans" as I recently wrote about "forgetting" being the ultimate nemesis of personal accomplishment.
I wish you all the best for 2024!