This a fantastic story concerning a Champion who is a Carpenter , or a Carpenter who is a Champion ? I don’t know either . Anyway my “hero” speaks for inner emotions , the woodworking can provide to anyone .

The clock is ringing and the big pointer is showing 4:30 am . This is the time , the Champions wake up.

I don’t hesitate not even for a tiny second to get up and every thought of being a little lazy , is “blocked” spontaneously . I’m in the most crucial time of the championship season and there is no other life for me , than training – eating – sleeping .

Championships and woodworking Hobby , “complement” each other .

If you let other thoughts to enter your brain’s “hard – disc” , than the job you must do , you will lose . So simple .

The periods of time , you must be in your performance’s peak , you must “close” outside of your mentality , emotions , wrong thoughts , tiredness , excuses .

The rest in the house are sleeping , so i should be very cautious not to wake up , someone . I take my running shoes , athletic clothes and my favorite water bottle , in the living room , to dress there . Yes i wash my face and brush my teeth , with “surgical” attention .

During my dressing i take a look outside , for the weather , but total darkness doesn’t allow me to see anything . I know that these hours , me the baker workers , the milkmen and a few other are awake but in life , you must do what you must do .

And in my life this time of the year , my goal is to take the championship . To help my team and the other team members , achieve our goals .

I know that the fans of my football team are millions and they wait many “things” from me and this puts a little more pressure to me , but it’s ok .

Pressure should be your “best friend” , when you try to do something . It makes you focus and sharpen your willingness . It makes your determination stronger than ever .

So i go outside , get in my car to go to the nearest (and open this hours) stadium , for my morning 20 km running .

If you think that 20 km are many , let me tell you that normally i do 20 km running and the afternoon another 30km with my bicycle . Today i’ll do only the running , and at noon i’ll go to my teams daily training .

Championships need your Focus , woodworking needs the same .

If you wonder yourself , why i do what i do , even if it isn’t neseccary and my daily team’s training is enough , let me tell you something :

If you want to win in life , you must do work that noone else is willing to do in the level you , which reassure you that , NOONE CAN DO MORE AND BEAT YOU .

I know that this kind of mentality is maybe “strange” for many outhere and that many will tell you , crazy , obsessive , undue and many , many more . I say that i am only someone , who doesn’t want to lose and i do , whatever it takes to finish my job .

I say that i am only passionate in the biggest grade i can , with my body and mental powers . You know these thoughts are keeping me company , in my morning running .

I use this running to think , adjust my methods , analyze mistakes i’ve done the previous day or mistakes in general .

Championships need Passion , woodworking needs the same .

I like these lonely running hours , for many reasons . Sometimes i like very much when i’m with my friends , family , team , fans and my surroundings , but sometimes i like being alone and think .

These moments i do personal psychotherapy , i talk to myself , i “work” with myself .

I take care of my soul’s and mind’s “wounds” , i think of new approach to all my life and not only in my sport .

Ι plan new strategies for the next game . Ι smile a little for the good i’ve done and i correct very strictly my mistakes , promising that , that i’ve never do that again .

I had this need as long as i remember myself and i don’t think it’s a bad thing . I think it’s an inner need we all have . To make continuous adjustments and “restarts” , in general .

But today i’m a little(!) more happy than yesterday , because i have a free 3 days in front of me and i’ll take the family to go to my village . And i’m happy for another reason too .

Usually during my vacation ( smaller or larger ones ) , i don’t stop training , but for the next 2 -3 days , i ‘ll have the luxury to rest completely .

Woodworking is the Best Motivation .

My body needs it and my physical condition is in the level i want , to approve to myslef , a little rest .

Yes having this happy thought my smile is kind (!) of bigger than usual , and my feet become more “lighter” . My pressure is walking away and my psychology , “launches sky high” .

So having these motivating thoughts , my 20 km are ending so fast and my morninng “mission” , is well accomplished .

I did a good work and i run these kilometers in the time i should and i feel so strong . I return to my house , eating breakfast , waking up and kissing the big ones and small ones (!) , making some stretching exercises to keep my muscles flexible .

Maybe i’ll do some packaging for my afternoon trip to my village and adjust some last minute details . But i must be cautious to this , always .

Before the last minute of my training with my team , i mustn’t let my mind “travel” to “other places” and reduce an inch my focus at my job and in my training goals .

This is very important . You mustn’t let anything interrupt your focus and determination , before the “chequered flag” , of your training , your match or whatever . This is a very important case .

You mustn’t let even happiness to interrupt you . Your mindset should be organized , have a plan and when you complete this plan , in the level you are satisfied , then you can let yourself , enjoy other activities .

This tiny (!) , element separates the ones who win , from the ones who almost won .

Anyway “things” are going ok , the team is in great shape , i feel very strong to help my team , so 3 days off , it’s ok .

And after these 3 days , i’ll come back more “hungry” . More “hungry” and with my soul’s “batteries fully charged” .

Another crucial element , in order to achieve your goals . To be always “hungry” , and find mental “tricks” to keep your “hunger” in the highest level . The moment you’ll say to yourself :

” Ok i’m the best , i think i’ll reduce a little bit my daily effords and training , i can have this luxury , i’ll win anyway ” , it’s the time you’ll start to begin to lose .

You must earn the time , to relax and this time is after you’ve achieved your goals . Never before .

If you want to achieve goals , you relax completely after , you have achieved them . Before , you take only some little time off , in order to return more powerful .

If your goals are “marathon” goals , you take a couple of days . If your goals are “sprint” goals , you relax fewer .

Championships give Happiness , woodworking gives Happiness .

Anyway my day went very good . I had no problem with my noon training with my team companions and i’m ready to load the car and start my couple of hours trip to my village in the countryside . Yes my heart from anticipation and happiness is beating faster .

The trip went well , my wife and daughter are kind of tired , but i cannot wait to go to the house , unload the packages and do what i anticipated from this morning .

I wasn’t completely (!) honest with you and i think i should be . I didn’t anticipate this small village trip , only to relax a little and see my cousins and friends in my village .

I wanted to come , make a cup of coffee and go to my warehouse in the backyard of my home . In here i have made a small area and practise my hobby , which i Love so much .

What is this hobby , but i suppose you already know ?

The hobby which gives me mammoth happiness is the woodworking hobby . I have made a small area in my warehouse , in which i let “noone” to do “things” and i make my woodworking ideas , reality .

Ok my projects aren’t perfect , but i love them the most .

They are my “kids” and i cannot separate them . I ‘ve made a small woodworking bench and i started to collect woodworking tools , firstly from my old , rusty and vintage ones , i found when i cleaned this warehouse .

Those old tools were my grandfather’s father (!) , ones and they have also huge emotional value for me .

I can buy all the woodworking tools i need , from the market and i ‘ve bought many , but i also like the vintage ones . They have history on them . I restored them as better as i could and when i use them i try not to harm them .

Woodworking activity makes your soul “fly” away from All .

Old hand saws , wooden plans , vices , planers , chisels , wooden rasps , hammers , angle tools made by hand , some selfmade dust masks , nails , mallets big and small and stuff like that .

You know , 1 century ago and maybe more , people didn’t have many woodworking tools and the variety we have these days . And of course they had no power tools .

So in here , i’ve made my small wooden “planet” and i let “myself go” . Time and place don’t count anymore and i can work with wood and logs , for hours and hours without even realize that .

I hear voices from my wife , kid and friends , calling me for dinner and stuff , but i’m so “lost” in here .

I feel so calm and relaxed in here . I touch , smell and feel the energy of the wood and i “suck” every molecule from it . I don’t do complex wood projects and things which impress but whateveer i do , i do it with my whole existance .

Wooden Tables , seats , et.c , are all “perfect” and made by You .

I usually make , wooden tables , seats from logs , some seats from pallets and wooden boards , a small table for my laptop and my magazines , a wooden desk for the family’s keys and daily stuff we use everyday and a wheelbarrow , for the winter fireplace wood .

I have made made for my uncles , some wooden sticks from wild olive tree for their walks , some timber houses for the birds and handles for some of the old vintage tools .

Which is my favorite time concerning the woodworking hobby ?

The time after the rubbing with the finishing paper ( always with a dust mask ) and the finishing with the oil .

This time , in which all the work you have done with the rubbing shows up and the finishing oil , unveils all the “waters” and beauty of the wood .

Even if pride is a sign , i feel so proud that moment . I inflate like a “peacock” and the emotions i feel , are beyond the word happiness .

Stress , problems , pressure from my daily responsibilities and life themes , that moments , are “unknown” words .

I should go to the dictionary to learn what they mean (!) .

Anyone who has smelled the perfume of wood , of any wood , combined with the smell of nature and having near them a cup of coffee to “celebrate” , knows what i mean .

Anyone who had the pleasure to sleep in a log house , in a snowy forest during the winter and wake up in the morning 10 years younger , knows what i say .

Give yourself , to the Woodworking “Magic” World and gain Pure Happiness .

Wood is a “magical” material , even if you make woodworking projects , or you just enjoy its company from a distance .

Its warmth “penetrates” your human molecules and provides so much happiness from it . And it doesn’t ask for a reward . It only asks your love , respect and company . The rest are up to it .

** No matter who you are , famous or not , wood has the same effect to your soul . It demolish all the “dark spots” and transforms them into “white” ones .