Mindful and Joyful
Sometime in the winter of 2023 and 2024, I got the itch to start a new handwork project. Being on a strict budget, I wanted to see what I could do with materials I already had. I had a smorgasbord of yarns—various colors and lengths—and remembered that yarn scraps lend themselves to granny squares. So I found some free granny-square patterns online and started crocheting, one square at a time, to scratch the itch. I really enjoyed it. I've been crocheting, knitting, and embroidering since I was a kid, and often have one or more projects going. But there was something different in the quality of my enjoyment this time. My guess was it had something to do with growth in the area of mindfulness: learning how to be more present to the place and moment. I realize mindfulness is a buzzword, but it's also a real thing that is very helpful for coping with chronic illness or big feelings (both of which I have). So I've spent the last several years learning about and practicing mindf...
