I staggered towards my bag. Grabbed my water bottle. And drained it to the last drop.
Panting… I found a patch of grass in the shade. Dropped my overworked chainsaw beside me. And collapsed.
As I sat wondering how I’d ever pick myself back up.
I looked over at my fallen adversary.
“You’re not so tough,” I smirked.
Lying still. A broken shadow of his former self.
Limbs brutally removed. Strewn across the blood, sweat, and tear soaked ground.
“The cleanup crew are gonna love me.”
I rolled over and stared skyward. The mid-afternoon sunlight dancing on the ground as a gentle breeze rhythmically swayed the branches above.
“How could this day have possibly ended so well — after the way it started?”
My mind wandered back to 8:26AM this morning.
…
As I walked into the toolshed, intent on finding my weapon of choice.
“Ahh, there you are my green beauty. Come to papa.”
I marvelled at how such a little machine. With a dainty 1′ bar. Could rip ’em like no tomorrow when she was at full throttle.
Picking her up felt strange.
“Ugh… chain oil. It’s… everywhere!”
The bottle sitting beside the chainsaw had tipped.
The goo was all over the show. And soon all over me.
Tossed a couple of rags on top.
“I deal with that later.”
Then over to my workbench.
“Time to sharpen those pretty little fangs of yours.”
Unlock chain. Move into position with chain file at the ready. Frantically file one tooth… then the next… and the next.
By the time I was half-way through the pain and discomfort were unbearable.
Long-ago damage from overuse was rearing its head.
“Dammit!”
Sat it out for 10 minutes. Then just grinned and bore it for the second half.
“Allright… ready… let’s go!”
The time had come to enter the arena.
Filthy and sore before the contest even began.
“Who’s ready to face my 1000RPM wrath?”
I walked down the path to victory… or doom.
…
I laugh as the grass tickles my ears.
The pain was worth it
Worth it…
… to massacre that mighty eucalyptus tree.
It had so mercilessly crushed our garden shed, pool fence, and… full-to-the-brim-pool — after we paid a cool $1000 for a tanker to fill it.
And I’d only just built that fence — one of my great lifetime achievements.
He deserved everything he got.
🌳⛓🪓💀
Sooo…. how does this relate to freelancing?
You choose:
OR
2) The nonmetaphorical answer.
Take your pick. Or not…
And you can just enjoy the email ending now.
Chris “gonna feel sore in the morning” Milham
P.S. If you think the emails I send could help someone else you know to “sharpen the saw”… or have a giggle… feel free to pass this on.
But best they sign up here so they can send questions etc my way:
https://freelancerdailyemail.com
(☝ Shiny new domain 🐱👤)
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Chris Milham