At an empty workbench, Doyun fitted a hinge to his practice box.The first try came out crooked. He noted the time and took the screws out.The door still wouldn’t close on the second try. Jian waited beside him.The doorbell rang. An old colleague had come a long way and stood at the door with a suitcase.His old colleague grinned. “Still practicing that?”Doyun held out the box. “You get to open it first today.”The door swung open smoothly. All three laughed.The next day, Doyun set the practice box on the new workbench.
Confucius speaks of the pleasure of practicing what one has learned from time to time and the joy of welcoming a friend from far away. He calls someone exemplary who can stay unruffled even when others fail to recognize them.
Modern adaptation
Doyun keeps practicing with the hinge. When an old colleague arrives, they try the box together. The next day, Doyun goes back to practicing on his own.
Takeaway
There is pleasure in getting better at something through practice.
Today’s question
What do you keep practicing even when nobody is watching?
