The Intersection of Asphalt Maintenance and Mindfulness: Cultivating a Balanced Approach
“The place to improve the world is first in one's own heart and head and hands, and then work outward from there.”
― Robert M. Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values
Most things in life require observation and pause, followed by action. Asphalt maintenance is no different, and mindfulness is key in asphalt maintenance. What is mindfulness? Though this word is used frequently in this day and age, as a concept it originates from the Vedic practice of meditation. It is the act of being intensely aware of your feelings and sensations, without interpretation or judgment. Pausing and listening.
Often in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we are simply too busy to spend some time being still and accept our thoughts as they are. For some of us, it takes till the dam breaks till we accept what we feel. We hold these emotions in our bodies and let it flow through our nervous system on a daily basis without realizing the toll it takes. The ‘negative’ emotions, the ‘positive’ ones, whichever it may be, in whatever form. The present moment, awareness and acceptance of body and mind, this is the basis of mindfulness.
Asphalt maintenance is well suited to the practice of mindfulness. As a repetitive physical action, it calms the mind and allows thoughts to follow a logical progression. Rather than stopping short, they reach their inevitable conclusion. Like when writing or painting, it allows one to attain a level of focus and clarity through this repetitive action. Maintaining asphalt necessitates observation, care, and finetuning your actions in accordance with what is needed. It requires attention. The finished product is only the cherry on top, but the art of it is in the process.
Like anything, asphalt is withered away with time and subject to the weather and whims of mother nature. Since the dawn of human civilization, our species has attempted to keep up with our natural environment. We as professionals have spent years observing, practicing and perfecting the use of asphalt to best suit a specific set of requirements. Mastery can be achieved at any skill with years of learning and practice, and maintaining asphalt is the same. You take all the variables into consideration and make choices that will result in a finished product that brings comfort, safety, and joy. As an asphalt maintenance business, it brings us deep satisfaction when our customers are happy, and we find an innate sense of purpose in making their lives easier. Fostering connections in the process, whether with clientele or with team members, is a happy byproduct of this work (and what keeps us going.)
Whether or not you choose asphalt professionals to take care of your properties, I urge you to pay attention to them. Tend to them. Whether that means de-icing, cleaning and sweeping surfaces, tree root management, or proper water drainage. These are all factors in maintaining your immediate environment. It is the balance between nature and civilization and its adaptation to it that is at the core of asphalt work. And if you need a professional to guide you throughout the process, we’d be thrilled to be your partner in all things asphalt!
