whittling

The other day I was trying to whittle a small twig into a toothpick. Just as it neared the perfect size and shape, the tip would break. This happened a dozen times over the course of a few minutes. It reminded me of a quote from the Tao Te Ching.

“Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt.”

It was a reminder not to force things.