I originally wrote this back in the midst of the pandemic. The life lessons seem timeless, and worth sharing again.

The pandemic brought a lot of “new” things into many of our lives. Some were scary and frightening, while others were pleasant and even welcome! As part of my own journey, I have decided to focus my attention on the blessings, even as I acknowledge/respect some of the scarier aspects along my path.
The shutdowns that came with the wave of COVID-19 precautions changed the way we do MANY things: from shopping, attending school or college, participating in weekly religious/spiritual gatherings and even work situations – it seems that EVERYTHING changed.
For many, this shift was disruptive, but for others it brought welcome new customs and habits. In my own corner of the world, I rediscovered the joy of yarn. With less time commuting back and forth to work (my role transitioned to being mostly remote), I had more time to explore the creativity of crocheting and knitting – skills I had learned decades ago and that often fell to the wayside as the demands of my professional life and career took center stage.
With more “bandwidth” in each day I was able to select, start and finish several projects that happily coincided with the arrival of my 4th grandbaby this past April, like the sweater pictured above. I also indulged in several “fun” projects for older grandchildren like small “amulet” bags for secret treasures, a crayon pencil case, and headbands/ear warmers.
Yes, there has been a lot in the news to cause worry and concern – but instead of focusing on those things, I turned to a practice that my grandmothers and great-grandmothers passed down to me many years ago: the crafting of things with my own hands to give to others.
The world has now (mostly) moved to a post-pandemic “normal”. While we welcome the ability to return to old activities and gather once again with friends, I’m going to hold on a little longer to the slower pace.
My “yarn adventures” have kept me grounded, peaceful and calm during a tumultuous time. While it might be due to the Zen-like rhythm of making each small stitch, I think for me it is also a quiet connection to the women in my family who crocheted, knitted, and sewed through the last pandemic (1918) and passed down their skill for creating small tokens of love, one stitch at a time.

(C) 2023 Stitch 'n Dish
Comments