Pull Nails, Paint Walls

Over the past few days I’ve been helping out with prepping walls for the next art show. I pulled nails and screws on Wednesday, yesterday I spackled holes, and today I painted.

I was thinking of the book, Chop Wood Carry Water. I’m sure I read it. I have no memory of it whatsoever – but it seems to have become a password for taking your time and immersing yourself in whatever it is you are doing.

I remember reading one of Thich Nhat Hanh’s books years and years ago and he spoke of the simple pleasure of washing dishes and folding laundry. I thought he was nuts. Now, I really do enjoy washing dishes – slowly, attentively, enjoying the sensation of warm water, the soapy suds, watching the dishes and glasses and pots and pans become clean through a simple ritual.

This afternoon, as I dipped my brush lightly into the paint, and then blended the paint into the walls to cover up the spackle without leaving much of a sign that any of this work had been done – I found myself deeply enjoying this simple action. Dip, daub, brush, brush. Slowly, attentively. Checking each one before moving on to the next. Two walls at the Venus, three walls at MoFAB. Dip, daub, brush, brush. There was no rush – there was no deadline. I’m not being paid to do this – so I’m not on the clock. Its a choice to create order out of chaos where no one will ever know that it was done but me and you.