Can't get interested again

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cowchaser

Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2007
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927
Location
Bartlesville, Oklahoma, USA.
Most know I have had some recent brain surgery and have been out of commission for about quite some months now. Well now I am all healed and can do what I want, but I just can't get myself to go to the garage. Haven't turned a thing in such a long time I probably forgot how. Keep telling the wife I should sell the equipment instead of letting it rust in the garage. She says I will get going again.

Anyone else been through this for similar causes? Was it just all the sitting around while you were unable or what was the case? How did you get yourself up and going again? I have alot of money just sitting and going to waste in the garage.
 
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Set yourself a small goal, maybe doing a pen for Christmas for close friends and family as 'thankyou' or maybe try something new in turning like small boxes or bowls if you havent done them before.
You could also clean up and rearrange your workshop, that may get things going again,or
visit your local woodturning club if you have one, see what other turners are up to.
Im sure you'll get back to it eventually and good luck to you.
regards,Bill
 
I got started turning pens and had to make a trip back to the States for my mom when she was ill. She started getting better and had a heart attack and passed away. I was not interested in turning for about 5 to 6 months, and then it came back. I purchased another lathe for my Stateside home and started making pens again.

I do think your situation and mine are different though. Mine was strictly from an emotional loss. Yours is probably as much from chemical change from medicines and the anesthesia as well as the brain trauma, either of which can affect your personal feelings towards something in a dramatic way. I have seen many people in ICU or their rooms within a couple of days to a few days after heart surgery, and the after effect of medicines used cause emotional responses that one would not believe some people are capable of having. You say that you are all well now, but for some people, the residual effect lasts months.

I think what you are experiencing is not unusual at all, and if you don't return to enjoying pen turning, don't worry about it. However, I would recommend mentioning this to your doctor just so that he is aware of some personal likes and dislikes being changed since surgery. I think some changes along this line are normal, but your doctor should be aware.

If your passion for making pens does come back later, we welcome it. We still want your friendship on this forum as well as your input on pens. Lifting you in prayer
 
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Maybe just try to turn a couple of pieces even if you lack the motivation. I'd be willing to bet that the satisfaction in the completed work will rekindle your creative energy again... Break a leg... :wink:
 
Dustin, First very good that you are well. That is the important part. I have off and on spells with turning and I am one of those that likes to try different things to help keep it interesting. I will tell you that stress, which I'm sure you have had more than your share of, can really interfere with "desire" for anything. My number one suggestion is to just relax about it. I honestly suspect that eventually a desire to do something (but who knows what) will return. at that time you can make decisions concerning your tools etc. Heck it might be making stained glass or knitting, but it will be then that you will "Know" what to do. I think that is more of what I am trying to say. When it is time to either start up the lathe or sell it you will "Know". This is completely the opposite of what I would advise people ordinarily. I always tell people to think with their head not their heart, it is much better at the job. But in this case penturning or anything else is about what we "Feel" like doing. And finally even if you do not turn you do not have to give up this group. you still have knowledge, and there is always room for friendship here. Who knows you may one day see something that just says "I gotta try that one". Then again maybe you won't either way really is okay. I just hope that some interest in something is kindled for you.
 
cowchaser said:
Most know I have had some recent brain surgery and have been out of commission for about quite some months now. Well now I am all healed and can do what I want, but I just can't get myself to go to the garage. Haven't turned a thing in such a long time I probably forgot how.

How did you get so lucky? I can't seem to shake this addiction. I am fixin' to go to the shop now and it is 37 degrees out there. That is a serious obsession!!!!
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I'm glad your back and feeling well.
I must tell you that motivation is a hard thing. I'm in a slump myself right now.
 
Duston, When my wife died at a youg age, I did notgo near my shop for over two years. I do not know why, but all of a sudden I got the urge to do some woodworking. I than my God for the rescue. I wish you the best. Carl Bakkum
 
Dustin,

On December 27, 2005, I had surgery to remove an unusual cancer called carcinoid from one of the bronchi leading to the upper half of my left lung. The surgeon told me he wouldn't know if I would wake up with half a lung or no lung on the left until he got me on the table and visualized the tumor. Fortunately, I still have half of my left lung.

Can I compare my surgery with yours? In a word, no. However, the psychological results of major surgery are often similar. I was off work for three months, and planned to accomplish many things, including lots of turning. Frankly, I accomplished very little. I was not interested in much of anything. I followed the site, and went to my shop occasionally, but did practically nothing there.

It is my opinion that such surgery as you had focuses your priorities. You know that you could have not survived the surgery, and that can have the effect of eliminating hobbies from your day to day life. My mother often said of difficult times that God said it came to pass, not it came to stay.

Keep reading the forum, check the library and download some pdf to your personal library, check out the Yahoo pen turners group and save some of the files available there. Hopefully, your interest in turning will return. We'll still be here, awaiting your return.
 
Glad you're feeling better. It sometimes happens to the best of us. Sometimes I get this I just don't give a s... It'll get better, though it may take a little time. And besides, you gotta get back to it, there are only so many OKIE's out here.:biggrin:
 
I get inspiration from looking through the photo albums on this forum, then when I feel like turning a pen I need to get quick results to keep my motivation up.

Generally it will be a Sierra pen that I make which is a single barrel and a very easy build, don`t try anything new to you as negative results at this time will only set you back.

Get into your shop even to just tidy up a little, pick some of your best woods or acrylic blanks and think what it would be like finished, and remember we are all here for you!

Good luck...!
 
Dustin, how about a road trip down south and spend the day talking, turning,casting or whatever floats your boat....
cowchaser said:
Thanks for the advise guys. I'll either have to wait it out and see what happens or just get up and do it. Maybe it's time for a road trip to get me going again.
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OKLAHOMAN said:
Dustin, how about a road trip down south and spend the day talking, turning,casting or whatever floats your boat....
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Sounds like a plan. I will get with you and we can work out some details. I am on the night shift right now so it may be a few days before I get back to you.

I can't view IAP from home. For some reason it takes 10 minutes sometimes to load a page I click on.
 
Dustin; I went through a similar thing when I had a triple bypass I felt great and was in the best health I'd been in in many years, but the Muse that made me creat jewelry took a vacation, I wanted to sell off the casting equipment and the tools and stuff, but my wife held tight, finally one day I looked in the shop, and saw a stone laying on the floor next to my old bench. I picked it up looked at it had no intentions of doing any thing but about an Hour later I'd made a ring, End of quitting.
I was afraid after cutting off my fingers last summer same thing would happen, but I couldn't wait to get on it again.
I think it has something to do with being deeply anesthetized for an extended length of time, it tends to mess with the psyche. I hope you don't give up, eventually the desire will return.
 
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