Hi RegG. I second what everyone else is saying here. It's way too easy sometimes to start confusing the work ethic with the hobby of ship modelling. And it has long been my observation that nobody is more capable of being an oppressive boss to any of us than we ourselves.
There is some solid psychology behind this discussion. In fact, any creative process, or art form, requires that one must relax to the point that our dominant brainwave activity is somewhere roughly between 7 hertz and 12 hertz (this is called the alpha level). If the frequency is higher than that, we will stare at the work and feel frustrated or distracted by thoughts of other issues. If we feel "blocked" or "stuck" this way the first thing our brain might try to do is to counter it with greater force-of-will, which often makes things worse. It's certainly not necessary that we take up a study of brain waves. We know when we feel comfortable, and also when we don't. Alpha brain wave dominance is a measurable physiological message that clearly says, "You are really and truly relaxed, and at peace, in this moment." So I'm done talking about brain waves, and going back to basic human perceptions. Am I wrong? Doesn't every member of SOS know that, when we are relaxed enough to focus on it, the model shipyard becomes a place where you can lose yourself for hours at a time? The flow of time, itself, sometimes changes dramatically. Occasionally, you might almost forget who you are. It works even if you're engaged in problem-solving some aspect of the build. You're absorbed in real work, but you're also experiencing bliss!
Obviously this is all different if you are a professional model builder. But if you're not a professional, there are multiple studies showing that the benefits of a hobby are the same benefits that can be attributed to formal meditation. Everybody in this discussion is correct. For most of us, ship modeling is a hobby. If you have to push yourself, stress enters the scene and a beloved project stops being a hobby. Do something else. Or take a break. Unless you are truly going through a major life change, the model shipyard will call you back when the time is right.
Can't believe I just wrote all this c--p. It's a good thing I'm ready to finish building the last 2 long guns for La Salamandre. Going to the bench NOW.
