Zen Whittling - Mindfulness in Nature

[@mahtabghasemi8914]

OMG you let it go wow such a generous you are

[@sarahbonvillain4350]

I actually cried when you put it in the creek and we watched it float away. I don't know why. Just really touching for some reason. Thanks for this.

[@steven.abbott]

Thanks for sharing Sarah. I think of these boats as little gifts of thanks when I spend time near certain waterbodys. I like to imagine somebody will find them some day and wonder at their adventures.

[@luiskunder]

Beautiful whittle boat! If a child finds it will be happy. Thank´s for sharing!

[@keiththompson8797]

A magical day out

[@DG-mv6zw]

What a truly delightful day out. I'm so jealous. So therapeutic to watch and even more therapeutic to be there. Thanks for sharing. 👍

[@steven.abbott]

You are very welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@MeiraV-]

Meditative whittling . . . I love that concept.

[@coffeeandnaturesquietasmr787]

Great Video Thank you

[@Sindabadthesailor]

My dream ❤❤❤

[@MrTeke99]

This was very nice! Best regards from Portugal!

[@alexdoucet9765]

Well done indeed

[@garthtimmins2852]

I enjoyed your video very much, especially since you didn't feel the need for music or endless chatter. I also like your choice of knives--keep it simple! I have a Mora Pro S, which is similar in size and shape to the 511, and a Mora 120. I use the Pro S for roughing out, and the 120 for detail work. I'm still essentially a beginner, but I find whittling fun and relaxing.

[@garthtimmins2852]

Nice boat, by the way.

[@steven.abbott]

Thank you Garth, I am glad you enjoyed! I have yet to try a Mora Pro S - will keep an eye out. Do you share your work on Instagram?

[@hellowhatamidoinghere]

this is a great video. along with chess strategy videos these type of videos are my absolute favorite. thank you for uploading such a calm video

[@ayobali0121]

😍 I've just started whittling and I hope one day I get to your level 🥰🥰🥰 Amazing skills, love the video 🤩👌

[@1stm879]

Makes you forget about Covid for 11 minutes.....well done!

[@steven.abbott]

Thank you!

[@RiCarvingWood]

I only carved outside once😉 I carved the spoon that is on my channel.

[@user-22-]

Very cool! 🌿

[@brandicraig6485]

Love the video

[@steven.abbott]

Glad to hear! Thanks for sharing :)

[@addisonlockeentertainment7339]

Ahhhh. nice

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

Very relaxing Steve. Well thought through project. Thanks for sharing

[@steven.abbott]

Thank you Mark! I am going to head out in my canoe tomorrow and shoot my next in a similar fashion.

[@Bushmen918]

I am impressed , subscription earned , the first video of yours I have seen , hope this comment helps in your analytics. nice shots and edits, letting your work go into the world at the end is what did it for me ;)

[@steven.abbott]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed this!

[@williamjones4681]

Nice!!

[@sachertorte9806]

First time I ever heard of whittling, I had to check what it means in the dictionary ! Came across your videos through canoeing videos, and then the Tumbleweed Naturalist - I just had to check it out. I think you are just great. We all need more nature in our lives. I love it in my canoe, just away from civilisation for a short while. I subscribed and clicked a bell, hope to see some new content soon. I am also meditating, started few months ago, just breathing. Love the zen idea, and zen buddhism. Thankful for everything in my life so far, and grateful I found your site. (By the way, I clicked the cute fish and nothing happens, maybe it is because of Firefox.) Greetings from Central Europe.

[@steven.abbott]

Thank you so much for this message. It was a great thing to read first thing this morning. There really is something magic about being in a canoe, hey? - the sense of freedom, the peace, the ability to move so silently - I don't know, it's rather indescribable for me, but my moments of greatest bliss have been in one. Glad to hear that meditation has been treating you well! I'm always amazed by how far a small action can go - just sitting and breathing intentionally can make such a difference. So far, how has your meditation practice affected your day to day, have you noticed any changes? PS: thank you for letting me know about the cute fish link not working for you. I will look into this more. I will download Firefox to see if the issue is the same for me (still learning the ins and outs of web design). Let me know if this link does not work for you: tumbleweednaturalist.com/thanks-for-joining-my-community/ Cheers from Saskatchewan, Canada!

[@sachertorte9806]

@@steven.abbott Hi Steve, the link works, and it tells me "Hello!" , and that was it, so I suppose I have joined your community :-) Meditations in the morning after I open my eyes, before anything else. Just sit up a bit, trying to stay conscious of my breathing and not fall back asleep, haha. Sometimes 5 minutes, sometimes more, I really do not like looking at the clock. But the difference it made that I can see in my daily life is - calm. I do not get upset, I do not take things personally as much, I sort of see things as they come and go. Some mornings I actually miss (I fall asleep and alarm gives me a sudden wakeup call), but I think to myself, never mind. I read a lot about spiritual things, all sorts, I love to read about Tao and Zen, and I just take what speaks to my heart, and follow it. Works ok. I fall and I get up. So what, never mind, and I go on. Detaching from things that really do not matter in my opinion, and I wouldnt say I do not care, I would say - I just do not mind any more. Not sure if the meditations were the point that helped me in this, but those are the changes I have noticed. Life is good for me, I want for nothing, I work at home since this situation, the computer work which is not very satisfying, but then - later I have books, I have things online that I like, and I have my guitar, too. And a large park with two big ponds, nearby. Saskatchewan!! I wanted to say, lucky you, but I am in Austria, so near to beautiful lakes and the Alps, so cannot complain, cannot complain at all. Before canoeing, 30 years ago or so, me and my husband were sailing on a 10 m sailing boat, and living on it. I loved the silent moving through water! Speed or destination, those two things were never important to me. Now we are much older, (me: 61), canoeing is beautiful, as we both love the water. Stay happy and healthy! Nela.

[@steven.abbott]

Thank you for this wonderul message! I seem to have missed the notification for it. I am so glad to hear meditation and mindfulness is helping you to find peace in these times. Its a journey I am on myself as well. When I do sit meditation (opposed to active meditation like whittling) I use Headspace guided meditations to help me stay focused. Just trying to stay disciplined with it, long way to go! Would love to travel Austria some day, your country looks very beautiful. Especially in winter! Cheers from Canada! Steve

[@abigailfortier3470]

Just decided to get into whittling and found your channel on whittling reddit. Love the video! Would you ever consider doing a more instructional video on intro whittling :)

[@steven.abbott]

Hey Abigail, certainly, it should be ready by the end of this week, it's next on my list. I am so happy you found my channel, I am excited for lots of projects upcoming.

[@mirellakades2635]

What type of wood are you using?

[@steven.abbott]

I believe that was a species of Alder.

[@MARCOSARMESQUITA]

👍👍👍🏅🏅🏅🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷

[@WoodPigeonOutdoors]

Cool video ... What type of tarp is that?

[@steven.abbott]

Thanks! It's a Rab Siltarp 1: rab.equipment/ca/siltarp-1

[@tomevans4402]

👍

[@70agrr]

Wonder if anyone found it?

[@steven.abbott]

Hope so! I carved one on a canoe trip once and found it the next day downstream! I was very satisfied haha

[@insanetrain7]

When you want to hike but you want to fish.