Start Quote
Many women, especially if they have children,
simply can't find twenty uninterrupted minutes
every day to meditate.
[And] those of us who can carve out
those precious twenty minutes to sit down and be still
often find our minds racing on without us.
The truth is that traditional meditation methods
take time, practice, and discipline
before they yield restorative rewards;
after a few attempts in which nothing happens,
many of us get discouraged and give up.
Because this is real life, I've tried to find other ways
to induce a meditative state, even in the midst of chaos.
One of the best methods is through meditative handiwork.
When other people see that our hands are busy,
they often give us a few moments' peace
before making their next request.
What they don't know (and we shall never reveal)
is that when our hands are busy, our minds can rest.
The creative artistry of handicrafts
has been a part of women's domestic daily round for centuries.
Handwork in all its many varieties
was high art for Victorian women.
This intimate and intricate soul craft
gave exquisite outward expression to countless authentic artists
who were often straitjacketed by the expectations of a rigid society.
It's only in the last thirty years that what was once esteemed
has been demeaned, as handicrafts have been demoted
from being every woman's accomplishment
to the personal pursuits of a chosen few.
I know the argument well:
women today don't have the time for crafts
the way our foremothers did...
[Really? You think they had more time?
With cloth diapers, and baking bread every day, and no electricity...
We all have 24 hours.]
Women have ALWAYS had too much to do.
It's just that Victorian women often coped better than we do;
they realized the restorative power of
rhythm, routine, rest, recreation, and ritual.
They preserved their energy by
alternating household and childcare tasks
with centering pastimes that provided
creative fulfillment and relief from tension...
Consider weaving, basketry, bead craft, needle craft (embroidery, needlepoint, tatting, cross-stitching, lace making, smocking), sewing, knitting, crocheting, quilting, leather craft, rug hooking, pottery, stained glass, ribbon craft, paper craft (decoupage, collage, marbling, paper cutting), bookbinding, framing, and carpentry....
Start small...
Whatever handicraft you choose to pursue,
be sure to keep your favorite project in clear view.
If you store your unfinished needlepoint canvas in the closet,
that's where it'll remain...
"Nothing is so often irretrievably missed
as a daily opportunity."
For many of us the daily opportunity missed
is the pursuit of pleasure.
End Quote
You have 24 hours a day.
We all do.
If you find yourself making excuses,
start making a list of them so you can become aware
of what they are and start arguing against them.
Tell yourself that you can make the time.
For example, a few of my friends are going to have a crochet party. Instead of crocheting by ourselves, we're going to do it together.
Sure, I have a lot to do.
But doing what I love is one of them.
***
Gratitude Journal
***
1) Looking fabulous. Here is my blue dress! Thank you Nana for taking the picture. Of course, I'm slouching so the picture doesn't do the dress justice, I think one of the sleeves is still crooked, and I was covered in peanut butter smudges and the heat had my hair all crazy...BUT, with the picture you get the idea. Just trust me, it's fabulous.
2) Good friends.
3) Christ. His unchanging and unconditional love is life altering.
4) Nana. I called her up to see if I could just come by for like 30 minutes while I was in-between something and had some time to kill, and she was like yes! Not everyone will let you bring your three little munchkins into their home at the drop of a hat. Thank you Nana for loving us.
5) The weekend is over! I'm so looking forward to this week!
No comments:
Post a Comment