To be really happy and really safe, one ought to have at least two or three hobbies, and they must all be real. - Winston Churchill
I find Churchill’s quote profound in that he offers his perspective and points out that two or three hobbies would make it real! It makes me happy to know that my many, many (too many to count, and at times to control) hobbies fall well into the category of making it real! I told my husband not to worry about the amount of yarn hanging about the house!
The many pandemic pitfalls we are living through currently makes having a hobby a great stress outlet to ground yourself and slow down the chaos within your life. It’s also a way to be safe!
I am an avid knitter. I enjoy rocking and knitting every evening and any opportunity during the day! I often have three various projects, all at different levels of expertise, going at once. You will find me on airplanes with my knitting pouch attached to the tray table, knitting away while racking up frequent flyer miles. I can be found at various conferences knitting while listening to presenters, as it helps me focus and listen (especially government regulation meetings). I have a hobby room in my basement that is more piles than hobbies, but there I have my orchestrated chaos with a sewing machine, Serger, Quilting supplies, lacemaking (tatting) board, and color-organized cupboards of yarn!
While traveling and visiting new cities, my special stops are Uber rides to local yarn shops. Imagine my husband’s surprise on a recent Scotland trip when he opened his duty-free box of whiskey to have two skeins of yarn pop out the box (like I told him, yarn does not weigh much and can be stashed in tight places in the suitcase).
Find something that requires your attention and creative genius and can keep you calm and serene! Locally, during our COVID-19 “indoor” time, yeast was just as popular as toilet paper and was disappearing off the shelves. Baking has become a huge hit. Homemade face masks are also bringing those Singer machines out of the closet. Reading and gardening have made a resurgence. I had to search for dirt (potting soil) as our local hardware store ran out for the first time ever. I have a girlfriend that has a “Stitch and B*tch” club. Everyone comes with their projects and they chatter a couple of hours of frustrations away. I’m still waiting for them to solve world peace. My family has always been tolerant of my hobbies and can often gauge my mood based off the speed of my rocking chair and the clicking of my knitting needles! If there is an exciting football game (Big Nebraska Cornhusker fan) during the winter months, I can knit a scarf by the end of the 3rd quarter!
CDM, CFPP friends – get out there and find those hobbies that will help you stay sane!