Life’s DIY Undertakings

A DIY project is a unique stamp on life, a tangible manifestation of one’s deepest desires, passions and capabilities. Embarking on a DIY project demands not only time and effort but also an admixture of creativity, patience, and perseverance. Today, I wish to recount my significant DIY undertaking: the construction of a wooden actuarial table.

To start with, an actuarial table, simply put, is a table used by actuaries to statistically calculate life expectancies or other probability-based events. As an actuary by profession, I had always wanted to design my own manifestation of this life and death predicting entity. I decided my version should be a wooden table, embodying uncertainty with an element of beautiful craftsmanship.

My journey started in a small local hardware store where I observed different kinds of wood, selecting the one who spoke to me. I chose an oak panel – a wood known for its durability and warm aesthetic appeal. Next was the gathering of necessary tools: hammer, saw, nails, chisel, and sandpaper, the fundamental items required for my landmark creation.

With my tools and materials in place, I took to drafting intricate blueprints, ensuring my design was accurate before initiating the construction. I felt the weight of the hammer in my hand, the wood’s grain under my skin, the sheer determination flowing within me.

The first step was to shape the oak panel into the tabletop, sawing slowly and steady under the afternoon sun. Then came the formidable task of creating the sturdy legs that would support the tabletop. I measured, sawed, and sanded each leg, ensuring they were uniform and sturdy.

As the table began taking form, I spent countless hours chiseling and sanding the edges, refining its design. The sound of the chisel echoing in the workshop, the fine dust flying up with each strike, the smell of freshly chipped wood – it was monotonous, yet mesmerizingly intoxicating.

A crucial component of my actuarial table was to ensure that it contained the mathematical symbols and equations that are the lifeblood of actuarial calculations. This required painstakingly engraving this symbolism into the table’s surface, a delicate and precise process that tested my patience and attention to detail. Finally, when every symbol was engraved, I carefully coated the table with a smooth layer of varnish to preserve its allure and protect the wood.

After countless hours, several splinters, and an ocean of patience, the polished oak actuarial table finally stood in front of me, shining under the light. It was more than just a piece of furniture; it was a symbol of my profession and my passion, a testament to my dedication. It was a tangible expression of life’s uncertainties manifested in beautiful craftsmanship, a proud addition to my home, and a living record of my life’s DIY undertaking.

In my humble opinion, the process of creating the actuarial table was also a reflective journey. With every nail hammered and every symbol engraved, I embraced the uncertainty of life, seemingly mysterious but approachable when we commit to understand it. Amidst the hustles of life, DIY undertakings like this can make us pause, reflect, learn, and grow, adding a rich layer to our existence.