Sandi and I headed out on a little "salvage" adventure the other day, mainly looking for a cute table and fabric.
But I think it was the drive there and back that I will most remember.
Our conversation centered around "Celebrations"
In the face of daily tasks and competing demands for our time, have we forgotten how to have fun, how to rejoice, how to create a lasting zest for living?
Sandi read to me as I drove- "The Last 3 Percent"by JaroldeenAsplund Edwards.
She would pause here and there and we would have a little discussion about what she had just read.
"For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of the shoe, the horse was lost; for want of the horse the battle was lost."
Quote-Much of our joy and satisfaction depends on the way in which we complete the last 3 percent of our responsibilities. That vital last 3 percent consists of three things: 1 percent is the final detail of work; 1 percent is the way we feel and think about what we have done- our reasons, motivations and satisfactions; and the last 1 percent consists of original and creative thinking with which we crown the finished product.
We talked about intensifying our awareness and delight in our life, how we should assess how we can multiply the effect of ordinary and repetitive events....such as every day tasks.
How often when our children set the table do they consider the job finished when the plates, glasses, and cutlery are set out? True, at that point they have done most of the work- but the job is not finished. That last percent of effort- the napkins, the water, the salt, pepper, and butter- must be in place before the job is really and truly and happily finished. The last 1 percent of effort added to the bulk of the work makes the table complete and comfortable.
We talked about how the finishing details give us the confidence that we have done well- that we have carried our work to the level of loving service.
In that last small fraction of extra effort, we also think of ways to make the moment memorable { for example, adding to the table candles, or napkins folded a new way, or funny place cards, or a newspaper, or fresh flowers, etc.} Then the last 3 percent of effort has made an ordinary, everyday chore into a moment of celebration.
{yes, we were a little silly.....I have a question...why would anyone sell used toliets? That I don't get}
Back to my thoughts-
Quote- Frequently our ability to rejoice, to use our creativity, to feel our own abilities, uniqueness, and effectiveness- our opportunity to celebrate- is contained in those last precious moments of effort and thought.
Its the stamps and envelopes that last 3 percent the essential act of letter-writing and then of course to mail the letter. An unsent letter is not a letter, because, although writing the letter is most of the work, the small essential finsihing effort has not been done. And so the work is barren.
We talked about how we can learn to indentify that essential final fraction of effort that is required....for task completions is an important skill. ....it is the thank-you note written and sent, candy in the pockets for grandchildren, its the wreath on the door; it is the timely visit to someone you care about; it is remembered birthdays; it is cleaning up after cooking; it is the books and flowers thoughtfully placed on the night table in the guest room {thanks Shannon and Becca} it is the clean towels in the clean bathroom. It is the last precious moments of effort and thought.
We talked and laughed....probably why we got lost so much. We wanted to go back to a discount fabric store we had just seen ...we drove around the corner twice before we realized that we had parked right by it the first time.....we decided we needed to pay a little more attention to our surroundings =)
Not much luck at the salvage yards.....so we decieded to go to potterybarn....that was the "Last 3 percent" of our day.
While there we found a couple small items and tons of inspiration....and we even planned a way fun party....to take place in March. =)
Yes, the "last 3 percent" is a principle of hope because it helps us understand that joy and success are often within our ready reach. ....Things that we are currently doing with little satisfaction may, with an extra fraction of effort, become sources or real delight in our ordinary, daily lives.
Quite often the last 3 percent the final small details hold the key to success and celebration... The last 3 percent is like a kiss at the end of the day; kneeling at a childs bedside to hear their prayers or reading a story...sometimes we may feel too tried to do so ......but that little effort evidence of our dedication and affection....makes it all glow.
My goal this year....Remember "The last 3 percent"
Happy Day
