
I hit one of those milestone birthdays last year, and it impacted me in a way no other birthday had up to that point. It was not the fact that I was now 2 generations older than the "kids" in the family, nor was it the issue of being an older female in a culture that celebrates all-things youthful. For me, the impact came by way of mathematics.
By my calculations, and based on my own expectations, I realized that I had already lived around 2/3 of my life, which meant that if I am lucky (and I plan to be VERY lucky!), I had just that final 1/3 left - and that was before checking the current actuarial tables, which predict average lifespans.
This was a sobering realization, and helped me to reevaluate a number of priorities in my life, including career plans at the tail end of my working years. Almost simultaneously, I began to notice things in my life for their TRUE value. It's important to understand, before I share these, that they were always important. What changed is my realization that they represented the wealth, contentment, happiness and other "goals" that we tend to chase in our younger, working years, but which, in truth, have nothing to do with career or salary or status.
I've been lucky to have the opportunity to pause and appreciate these things over the past year an a half, especially, but I experienced 2 specific incidents this month and was inspired to write this blog post.
A couple weeks ago, I was at a Friday night football game, watching my first grandchild, who is a senior trombone player in his high school marching band. At the end of home games, the band lines up and marches in formation back to the high school. I have been taking pictures and videos to create a digital folder for him of some memories, and was standing along the "parade route" so I could get a good angle of him when they marched by. As they stepped off, I started the video, capturing the majorettes and color guard teams. Next came the low brass and as he passed, his eyes looked left and saw me, and he smiled - a genuine, "I'm glad you come to watch me march" kind of smile. It was so spontaneous and real that my heart filled with joy and I had to swallow hard to keep filming as the rest of the (~185 member) band marched by.
Intellectually, I have long known that the important things in life are not material. I have also certainly experienced other "heart moments" like this one, but at this point in my own life as I ponder time and the meaning of it all, it was a moment that hit me with a seismic force,
Not long after that I attended the first Open House for my youngest grandchild's pre-school. As her "entourage" walked in, we were greeted by one of the teachers, who leaned over and asked her who she brought along this evening. With a BIG grin and her easy, yet mischievous, smile she exclaimed "Grammy!". That smile and her recognition of me as someone special to her touched my heart and I was, once again, struggling not to get weepy as we moved on through the Open House activities.
There are no bonuses, promotions, job titles, house upgrades, lottery winnings,... (you get the picture) or anything else that can EVER bring me the joy, happiness and contentment in life that instances like these 2 with my oldest and youngest grandchildren gave to me.
As I have held these - and other - memories close in my heart and felt deep gratitude, I realized that my "relationship" with knitting, crocheting and sewing are related. Having learned to sew from my mother and crochet from my grandmother many years ago, these skills represent deep ties to family. In addition, I have multiple examples of sewn and crocheted items made by these women for me over the years.
Beyond those connections, the simple act of putting yarn to hook or needles, or cloth to needle and thread, has the ability to bring contentment, joy and a sense of satisfaction that cannot be purchased or won in a contest or competition. The coffee cozy below is a good example. I rummaged in my stash one night and found some leftover yarn. Since they were traditional Autumn colors, I searched online for a quick and easy pattern, and a little while later - voila! I had turned leftover yarn into something cute and useful.

I know that the manufacturers and retailers need us to keep crocheting, knitting and sewing (and therefore shopping for fabric and yarn) so they can maintain their businesses. I say that as a statement of fact, and not a criticism. I do love browsing and shopping new fabrics and yarn! BUT,... I think we need to keep crocheting, knitting and sewing to remind ourselves that indeed, the BEST things in life are simple, close to home, and ours to embrace in moments, here and there.
Wisdom texts from multiple traditions have counseled that the true essence of life lies in the recognition and appreciation of the present moment. Crocheting, knitting and sewing are very MUCH present moment activities, and for me, are reminders of a simple, but profound, wisdom about what is TRULY important in life.
Wishing you smiles from people you love, overflowing hearts and enough yarn and/or fabric to keep you grounded in, and connected to, your truth!
(C) 2024 Stitch 'n Dish
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