I do my best to locate the highest ring and start from that point taking off one ring at a time. Chasing rings has to be one of the most relaxing things I do now days.
When the moon is in the right phase, the wood is properly seasoned, and I hold my tongue just right, I find myself relaxing into the job, too. Same for shaping handles. Those were the two things I feared/loathed/hated when I first started.
Good lesson for life. Lean into those things and you'll flatten the hills and straighten the curves.
