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.