If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.<\/strong>*<\/p>\n What can I get from this that isn’t already clear? Dull blade, harder work. Duh . . .<\/p>\n Then again, two truths are given here. The first about the tool, the second about how the tool is used. It’s the right use of both that will bring success.<\/p>\n Dull tools are a problem, but my bigger problem is the dull mind. I don’t doubt there are all manner of things I work harder at rather than smarter.<\/p>\n The word \u201chone\u201d hits home. Hone the ax, hone the mind; the rest will fall into place.<\/p>\n I paint. There have been moments, not many, when someone will say, \u201cLet me see your hands . . . I want to know what an artist’s hands look like.\u201d What follows is rather a blank look. Better to ask to see a pianist’s hands. For a painter, they can be just\u00a0arthritic\u00a0stumps you can tape a brush to.** When you’re learning to paint, it’s not the hands you’re training, it’s the mind. Every time.<\/p>\n And it’s so with just about everything else.<\/p>\n Even with the ax . . . it’s a very dull mind that won’t soon see what the problem really is.<\/p>\n So, sharpen, sharpen, sharpen.<\/p>\n \u201cBut no,\u201d says the ax, \u201cit hurts. You’re changing my shape. I like being dull. Get away with that rasping tool.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d says the mind. \u201cI like the way I am . . . the way I’ve always done things. My opinions don’t need scrutiny. I like my life being small . . . broke . . . limited . . . or fill in the blank.”<\/p>\n Any success in any thing implies a certain discipline. A sharpening. A hurtful\/helpful grinding.<\/p>\n It’s your greatest tool, your mind.<\/p>\n Hone it.<\/p>\n It’ll give you the edge you need.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ________________<\/p>\n * \u00a0 Ecclesiastes 10:10 Next: The Fool’s Cool.<\/em> Coming Thursday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Work smarter, not harder; it’s something worth remembering in the midst of every task. Just that will already make things go better.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/blank-slate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4742"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/blank-slate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/blank-slate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/blank-slate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/blank-slate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4742"}],"version-history":[{"count":31,"href":"https:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/blank-slate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4742\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10748,"href":"https:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/blank-slate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4742\/revisions\/10748"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/blank-slate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4742"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/blank-slate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4742"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/blank-slate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4742"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n** Such was the case with the aging Renoir.<\/p>\n