The rhythmic ‘brush, brush, brush’ of broom against the deck can be hypnotic and relaxing. So there I was, on a breezy afternoon with leaves raining down, sweeping my deck.
Several thoughts crossed my mind as I moved broom across the wooden slats, pushing detritus from the surface. I wondered why I was doing this now, with leaves just beginning their exit from the stand of trees surrounding the deck. Perhaps it was best to leave it until the leaves had all fallen and just do it once?
Then I considered the satisfaction of a cleaned surface and orderly arrangement of chairs and tables that would soon vanish to the shed for the winter. I kept sweeping, ‘brush, brush, brush’ moving leaves towards the deck’s edge.
A breeze picked up and sent several leaves backward to the spot I just cleared. I looked back and considered starting over. But the wind wasn’t going to stop just because I cleaned it twice, so I kept moving forward.
There was something satisfying about performing this ritual, knowing that it would be imperfect. It would get covered with leaves again in pretty short order.
But that’s OK. Sometimes, we do things because it brings satisfaction in the moment and there are no downsides.
Sometimes, that’s enough.
Chapter X provides us with plenty of opportunities to try things.
Some will be satisfying, some not so much. But it is the noticing that counts.
