The blade squeaked as it dried the droplets from the window.  The skilled man cleaned the rubber with a quick swipe of his towel, and immediately dried another swath of the window.  The man and his partner worked tirelessly on the tall building with what seemed like an unlimited number of windows, all the while working nearly one hundred feet above the ground.

Sometimes, we are put in positions where we feel there is no end in sight.  We may have a big project due, thousands of bricks to lay, or what seems like mountains of rock to spread.  When we get in these situations it is best to take the job, one shovel at a time.  Whatever you can get on your shovel at this point in time is where you should place your focus.

How much dirt, rocks or sand can you get on your shovel so that you can use the shovel to transport it to where the material needs to go?  In life it is much the same for everything that you do.  Suppose you have a big project at work that requires much research, writing and analysis.  You can sit down and focus on the whole, or you can break it down into smaller pieces so that you can focus on “shovels” of work, rather than the mountain of material.

The window washer places his emphasis on the rubber blade and the skill he uses to dry the window, “perfectly,” with every wave of his arm.  The brick layer, gets in a rhythm to quickly, and what seems like effortlessly lay the bricks – one after another.   What is it you do in your work or in the chores you have around the home in this way?

Find your rhythm at work, and let it carry over into your general life.  When you are going through the day with a bit of a “rhythm” beating inside of you, everything seems to be a little less effort.   Think of the pendulum that swings back and forth.  You can wait until the pendulum swings near you, and then take it for a ride to the other side.  Life is like that as well.  When you go with the flow of the energetic currents you begin to see when you should make your “move” and when you should wait a moment longer.

When you are swinging with the pendulum, there is very little work to do.  Similar to floating in a river with the current carrying you.  However, when you feel yourself out of rhythm it may feel like you are going uphill, or up the river against the current.

When things are working smoothly, your team is as efficient as the ants building a home.  They are small, and take on large challenges, but they work together and get it all done.   Working with a team can not only increase the efficiency of the output, but can increase the efficiency of each person as well.  Working with another person helps keep you going at the pace they may be setting.  Similarly, the rhythm of the two of you working together keeps you both going at a steady pace.

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Nothing in this life needs to be difficult, unless of course it is part of your life’s journey.  However, you may look for ways to appreciate that shovel full of dirt which  is only one of many more to come.  Find your rhythm and let it carry you to the end of the task.

Written Tue Mar 18, 2014 7:35 – 7:49 AM MT