Adjusting the Cut

The first pass is never perfect.

A saw bites into the grain and tells the truth, too shallow, too deep, a hair off the line.

The test cut is not a failure. It's the conversation between blade and wood, between intent and reality.

We check for depth, for plumb, for alignment.

The hands know when it's right. The eye confirms it.

We adjust. Again. And again.

The work is not about rushing to the final cut. It's about listening to what each test cut says.

In life and work, our first efforts are often rough.

We try something, and it tells us where we stand.

We recalibrate. We refine.

And only when the setup is true do we commit to the piece that matters.

The blade teaches patience.

The wood teaches honesty.

The cut teaches that precision is not born from perfection but from the willingness to adjust until it is right.

There will be no piece without the first cut.

So cut, listen, adjust. This is your kata for life.

Field Note:

Trust the first cut to be honest. It will tell you exactly where you stand, and precisely what to adjust, if you're willing to listen.