Life In 19x19

From time to time, I hear people say they do woodworking to relax. Do you belong to that group?

I never do hobby woodworking for relaxation reasons. Projects are a lot of work, stressful (a hand-cut dovetail could come out wrong, glue-ups, blunders to fix) and the next one seems always to be the one that will be better (though not necessarily true). I also don't find woodworking by hand more relaxing than using machines as some allege. I do woodworking because the end result gives me pride and satisfaction. Every time I look at the "masterpiece," touch the handle or run my fingers over the crisp edges, I feel the joy of woodworking. Relaxation has never been a motivating factor for doing it.

Is woodworking a relaxation avenue for you?

I do a little sculpture in my spare time, and while it's not really relaxing, there is a side akin to meditation : you're focused on your object, letting the unwanted thoughts at bay.

If you're curious (and even if you're not ), here is a couple of sculptures I made this year :
And my current work in progress

Casual calligraphy and fun reading are two, for me.
Observing high levels: