Annual Pencil Sharpening Celebration
Anytime you suffer a setback or disappointment, put your head down and plow ahead. – Les Brown
In case you missed it, more than a thousand people in Minneapolis recently attended what has become an annual celebration – the sharpening of a giant number 2 pencil. Yes, a pencil.
The 20–foot–tall pencil was sculpted out of a giant oak tree that was damaged by a storm a few years ago. Neighbors and friends mourned the damage of the beloved tree. Yet, the owners of the tree had a plan. According to the story, the owners saw it not so much as a loss, but as a chance to give the tree new life.
The sharpening ceremony on the front lawn has evolved into a community-wide event that draws hundreds and is filled with music and pageantry. Some people come dressed as pencils and erasers.
In the wake of the storm, the owners knew they wanted to create a sculpture out of their tree. Given the shape and circumference of the log, they conceived the idea of an oversized pencil.
When asked why they chose a pencil, the owner replied, “Everybody uses a pencil. You see it in school, you see it in people’s work, or drawings, everything. So, it’s just accessible to everybody.” They also stated that they wanted to do something that would bring the community together.
The owners said, “We tell a story about the dull tip, and we’re gonna get sharp. There’s renewal. We can write a love letter, a thank you note, we can write a math problem, a to-do list. And that’s a chance for renewal, that promise, people really seem to buy into and understand”.
Now, each year they sharpen the pencil. It’s a community celebration, and its inspiration came out of something that was initially very disappointing.
Life has a way of throwing us curveballs. Things happen in life that we didn’t see coming, and we feel the sting of disappointment. And while we can’t choose what we go through in life, we can decide how to respond to it.
When John and Amy Higgins lost that tree, they were disappointed. But out of that disappointment came a joyous celebration that now draws people by the hundreds. It all comes down to your choice.
John and Amy chose not to make it about them or their grief, but instead, they saw an opportunity to do something more meaningful.
Here are a few lessons we can learn from John and Amy about turning disappointments into celebrations.
Your attitude is a game-changer.
John and Amy could have simply mourned the loss of the tree and moved on with their lives. But instead, they chose to do something positive that would have far-reaching outcomes.
This is emblematic of individuals seeking the greater good and those with a positive attitude. And this is what will set you apart in life when bad things happen to good people. John and Amy chose a positive attitude, and now many come annually to celebrate something good that came out of a loss.
Additional Resource: Attitude Checkup: Three Questions You Need to Answer Now
Your focus sets your course.
John and Amy didn’t make the loss of the tree about them. They decided on a plan to create a giant number 2 pencil, and it evolved into an annual community celebration.
When disappointments come your way, as they surely will, your focus will determine where and how it will end. As you guard your attitude and chart the course, good things can come from the things that brought you pain.
Additional Resource: It’s a Matter of Focus
You can choose pity or a party.
John and Amy could have chosen a pity party. But as it turns out, they chose a party. From the log of a fallen tree now stands a 20-foot number 2 pencil that serves as a reminder that good can come from adversity, and sometimes we need a good sharpening to be more productive.
I encourage you today to reflect on your attitude, think carefully about what you choose to focus on, and opt for the party over the pity.
©2025 Doug Dickerson
