The Amish on Satisfaction

Sue Bender, author of Plain and Simple, spent time with Amish families in Ohio to better understand their views on life.

In response to, "What is Satisfying?"

Here's what some folks said...



Satisfaction: 

"It is the enjoyment of every step in the process of doing; everything, not only the
isolated piece we label art.  If accomplishing is the only goal, all that it takes to reach
that goal is too slow, too fatiguing--an obstacle to what you want to achieve.  If you
want to rush to the accomplishment, it is an inevitable disappointment.  Then you
rush on to something else.  The disappointment is reaped over and over again.
But if every step is pleasant, then the accomplishment becomes even more,
because it is nourished by what is going on."

A little more…….

"All the stages of one's work have a poetic nature.  No one gets paid
for keeping his own tools cleaned.  It is an act of real art; otherwise you don't have a
rapport with the tool; then it becomes a rebellious servant, not respected, not
properly handled.  If you don't appreciate it's weight and be aware of the balance,
one day or another it is going to hit your finger."


This requires letting go of the belief that there is somewhere better to be..or letting go of the belief that this moment is somehow "wrong."

While I'm not ready to hand over my zippers, I'm looking forward to a day filled with poetry.

(Thanks Sue Bender, the Ohio Amish, and Betsy E. for turning my head in this direction...) 

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