A number of old bananas inspired me to make a few banana breads this morning. I quickly mixed the ingredients with less precision than usual, and unsurprisingly the banana breads were not as good as usual. Precision matters when it comes to the best baking.
I always marveled at my Aunt Betty's baking. She was precise, and everyone looked forward to her marvelous cookies, cakes, and pastries over the holidays. Betty's precision could also be seen at the many homes she decorated including her own.
As I think about good living this morning, I'm thinking about the role of precision. Sometimes people can be too precise leading to a dull, punitive, and uncomfortable presence. There is a good balance when it comes to the use of precision. Yet, there are some jobs where precision is important. For example, you don't want a surgeon or hair stylist who is not precise, but you might prefer a more creative, less precise art or dance teacher.
As a writer, it has taken me a long time to become more precise with punctuation, spelling, and choice of words. I'm still working at that skill. It's easy to misspell a word, forget a comma, or use the same word over and over again. It takes time to hone those skills. Without the crazy 24-7 schedule of classroom teaching, I am also focused on many more at-home jobs fixing, repairing, making, and updating spaces--most of these jobs require precision.
As we think about what is valuable to good living, we can't ignore the role that precision plays. I will think more about this in the days ahead and I welcome your thoughts.