on defeating de-fense

on hole at a time

What kind of human are you?

Currently, I pride myself by being completely unreasonable and doing things illogically.

Consider building a fence.

This has recently been more than a consideration. I’ve embarked on a multi-week fence building odyssey.

And by weeks?

I really mean ‘months’.

It all began way back in March. As the lions of spring roared with winds and rain, I marked out our property lines.

From there?

I started watching videos about how to install a chain link fence.

These steps seem logical and reasonable.

I fretted over the best way to secure a fence post.

Eventually I started digging holes.

I dug five holes, went to the store and bought five fence posts and two bags of concrete.

Boom. Installed.

A couple weeks later, I dug seven holes.

I repeated the process from the five holes only with more steel and concrete.

I continued along with this process of digging some holes, buying supplies and putting in fence posts.

Having dug ten holes on Tuesday, today, I installed my last ten posts.

Next?

I’ll measure and cut off the tops of the posts.

Then I’ll buy the vertical posts. Then I’ll install those.

With each step and new set of materials, I’ll only purchase what I can immediately install.

A reasonable and logical actor - like a fence installer?

They’d assess the site, purchase all of the materials in one go and have the fence up in a day.

But where’s the fun in that?

What’s more, having all of that stuff lying around the yard would just get overwhelming and I’d never get the job done.

I’d get angry, testy and unreasonable with the work hanging over my head.

Instead?

I get the satisfaction of feeling complete even though the project is taking much longer than my neighbours would like.

It’s illogical that I feel complete when I have a job with so much more left to do.

Now dear reader, you must know by now that this isn’t merely about building fences.

Some of us approach life's big projects—relationships, careers, even self-improvement—the same way. We pile up all the intentions, all the 'shoulds,' and then wonder why we just sit there paralyzed.

I’ve been set free by little wins.

So the next time you have a fence to build or a mountain of bullshit to move, ignore the big picture. Pick up a shovel and start to dig. When you get tired of digging, go to bed, wake up and dig again.

Take it slowly, one hole at a time and see how you feel.

And maybe

You too will learn the joys of illogical, unreasonable inefficient living.