A knitting project whether a garment or an afghan/blanket is a lot of work. A knitter often follows a set of directions which at times have to be adjusted to fit the situation or size of the item. It takes concentration and attention to details to be successful much the same as life and relationships. If you make a mistake in the pattern, you have to take out stitches back to the place where the pattern is correct and start again and if you don't you end up with a project that looks odd and in the end is not something that you can be proud of.
I love to knit clothing for my family and friends. It gives me great pleasure to see them wear and enjoy the items I've given them. But more importantly to me I want each stitch to represent a connection between us. I knit because I love. I never knit without that awareness.
When I realized that knitting was a representation of how I wanted to live my life it was like a moment of epiphany. I thought about the similarities between life and knitting and I suddenly found a way to make sense of the big picture of life and how I fit into it. I realized the importance of integrity and character and intention. It made me more determined than ever to live that way and to approach others with those values in mind. I began to work harder than ever on my string of pearls, the things I wanted to be important in my life. It hasn't always been an easy process, in fact it has at times been painful because although I began to change how I viewed life, the rest of society continued on .......imagine that!
Friday, December 28, 2012
Knitting Pearls
I love to knit.......I like to crochet, paint, create, cook, read, sing and play the piano.................. but I LOVE to knit.
Several years ago I read a book that described each of a woman's life experiences as representing a new pearl in her "life necklace". I can't remember the author or the title of the book but I know I have a copy of the excerpt at home (when I get back From my vacation I'll look it up and share it with you). It made a powerful impression on me at the time and the idea has stayed with me ever since.
I realized about 5 years ago that my life was in the process of changing. I had the sense of reorienting my focus and priorities in other directions from what had been my norm. Activities and interests that had been important to me became less so with some of them falling away completely. But oddly I was finding a peace and satisfaction in the new. I felt myself being pulled toward a smaller but richer focus of priorities on family and individuals. I realized that what I wanted to leave in this life was not what would be talked about or recognition for something I'd done but rather the real action of the doing for someone else. In my family and close friend circle it was making the time that I had with them rich in quality. In my everyday world it was leaving something positive with everyone that I interacted with as I went about my day. I became more focused on appreciating in real time everything that I was doing and everyone I was with. It felt so good and soon I realized that I didn't feel a need for approval from anyone. I felt good about myself and that's what became my compass.
Several years ago I read a book that described each of a woman's life experiences as representing a new pearl in her "life necklace". I can't remember the author or the title of the book but I know I have a copy of the excerpt at home (when I get back From my vacation I'll look it up and share it with you). It made a powerful impression on me at the time and the idea has stayed with me ever since.
I realized about 5 years ago that my life was in the process of changing. I had the sense of reorienting my focus and priorities in other directions from what had been my norm. Activities and interests that had been important to me became less so with some of them falling away completely. But oddly I was finding a peace and satisfaction in the new. I felt myself being pulled toward a smaller but richer focus of priorities on family and individuals. I realized that what I wanted to leave in this life was not what would be talked about or recognition for something I'd done but rather the real action of the doing for someone else. In my family and close friend circle it was making the time that I had with them rich in quality. In my everyday world it was leaving something positive with everyone that I interacted with as I went about my day. I became more focused on appreciating in real time everything that I was doing and everyone I was with. It felt so good and soon I realized that I didn't feel a need for approval from anyone. I felt good about myself and that's what became my compass.
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