Sense of Accomplishment

There is nothing like having a sense of accomplishment. It feels good to know you got something done. It seems all too often I am involved in activities that have long drawn out paths and uncertain endings. Many times changes in priorities can cause an activity to be put on hold or eliminated completely. But everyone needs to complete something or they will go mad.

Last week, I completed several work items (finally) and I sent them off. I also finished a couple minor projects at home. So I was on a roll. While I still have vast amounts of unfinished work (paying work and home stuff), I am moving forward again. But I did something Saturday that kind of topped everything.

We have a small field that had not been mowed in several years. There were thickets of briars and even some small trees popping up. We plan on using that field as a paddock and I knew it needed to be cut soon before it got completely out of hand. The field also has a gully and a fairly steep side, so I knew it would not be easy cutting it. Parts of it were so bad I could not walk into it with the chainsaw to take out some of the bigger young trees.

So Saturday I fired up the tractor, got the Bush Hog in full spin, and started into the field. I got scratched by more briars than I can count. I cut down more saplings than I care to think about. And then I had to head down the steep back side into the gully. That was the most disconcerting part. Several times in the gully the mower got hung up. I finally had to put the tractor into four wheel drive to finish it out.

Once I cut my way into the thickest part, I was able to come in with the chainsaw and take out the bigger saplings. And then it was back in the saddle to finish it up. This was where I also realized that in four wheel drive, I could mow up that steep hill. That was cool.

As I was cutting through all this entanglement, I began to see order come out of chaos. I was making progress and it felt good. It was a tangible result to my efforts and something I have found, every man needs now and then. Progress and accomplishment are good.

Well after I finished, I drove the tractor back up to the top of the hill on the way back to the house. I had to stop and just survey my work. It was decent but not perfect. I still need to get closer to the fence line and I have some more finish work to do, but to see that field cleared was a very welcome sense of accomplishment.

Yes I was having fun. Yes I feel good about getting something done.

But why did I write this post? I suppose just so I could share about cutting the field. However I seriously have to say that the feeling of accomplishment was something I needed and I think most people do need every so often. Too often we feel stymied by the world, like we have no effect on anything. Too often we feel powerless and even sometimes just like we can't keep up with life.

I know I will have to cut that field regularly now, but I took on a task, worked at it, had a result, and I got that oh so important sense of accomplishment. I think it is important for everyone to know that feeling every now and then.

And now you have finished reading this post. You undertook its reading and you completed it. Doesn't that feel good? :-)


Copyright 2006, Kevin Farley (a.k.a. sixdrift, a.k.a. neuronstatic)