I remember being pregnant with my daughter in 2001. Wondering, as I assume all mothers do, what kind of world I was bringing her into. I had just left a pretty cushy job in Atlanta to move back to be close to family in Michigan when 9/11 happened. I was five months pregnant, crushed, and devastated at the events, as was the world.
At that time, things just seemed to spiral out of control. My daughter’s father, my ex, had yet to find a job since moving back and it had been over a month since the move. When 9/11 happened, it seemed that no one was hiring at all. I was working full time data entry at a place about ninety minute commute from me, and I was grateful for it. But as time went on, and I continued getting bigger, the drive, as well the toll it was taking on my psyche, were vicious. In December of that year, 8 months pregnant, the company completed the contract I was working under and needed to downsize because not as many people were needed for the next one. I, of course, was one they let go. The only stable form of income my growing family had was now gone. To say that I was depressed is an understatement. I felt hopeless, lost, and very alone. I found myself slipping. However, there was one thing that made me feel better; crocheting. It was simple, inexpensive, useful, and a skill I had taught myself. When I had finished my first baby blanket I was proud.
At that time, things just seemed to spiral out of control. My daughter’s father, my ex, had yet to find a job since moving back and it had been over a month since the move. When 9/11 happened, it seemed that no one was hiring at all. I was working full time data entry at a place about ninety minute commute from me, and I was grateful for it. But as time went on, and I continued getting bigger, the drive, as well the toll it was taking on my psyche, were vicious. In December of that year, 8 months pregnant, the company completed the contract I was working under and needed to downsize because not as many people were needed for the next one. I, of course, was one they let go. The only stable form of income my growing family had was now gone. To say that I was depressed is an understatement. I felt hopeless, lost, and very alone. I found myself slipping. However, there was one thing that made me feel better; crocheting. It was simple, inexpensive, useful, and a skill I had taught myself. When I had finished my first baby blanket I was proud.
I'm Not Alone!
I've always read articles about crocheting and different groups and events. However, over the last few weeks I've noticed more and more the theme of crafting in correlation with positive self-esteem. Take for example the Women's Outreach Center in Cleveland, Ohio. According to the article "Women find self-esteem, worth in crochet thanks to sisters' ministry,", women from all walks of life came to the center without a shred of hope and through the ministry of the group there and being able to create with their own hands, they found pride in themselves again.
A similar story is told at St. Mary's in Lexington Park, MD. In this article by Michael Abrams, dozens of women come together to laugh, love, and crochet blankets to give away. Their craft gives pride to them, and shows care and love to others.
Even CNN released an article just yesterday titled, "This is your brain on knitting" by Jacque Wilson which quotes, "There's promising evidence coming out to support what a lot of crafters have known anecdotally for quite some time," says Catherine Carey Levisay, a clinical neuropsychologist and wife of Craftsy.com CEO John Levisay. "And that's that creating -- whether it be through art, music, cooking, quilting, sewing, drawing, photography (or) cake decorating -- is beneficial to us in a number of important ways."
It's good to find something that makes us happy and full of pride in our work. Crocheting is my anti-depressant, my gateway to sanity.
What do you do that gives you pride? How do you relieve stress? What do you do that creates confidence? Leave us a comment.
A similar story is told at St. Mary's in Lexington Park, MD. In this article by Michael Abrams, dozens of women come together to laugh, love, and crochet blankets to give away. Their craft gives pride to them, and shows care and love to others.
Even CNN released an article just yesterday titled, "This is your brain on knitting" by Jacque Wilson which quotes, "There's promising evidence coming out to support what a lot of crafters have known anecdotally for quite some time," says Catherine Carey Levisay, a clinical neuropsychologist and wife of Craftsy.com CEO John Levisay. "And that's that creating -- whether it be through art, music, cooking, quilting, sewing, drawing, photography (or) cake decorating -- is beneficial to us in a number of important ways."
It's good to find something that makes us happy and full of pride in our work. Crocheting is my anti-depressant, my gateway to sanity.
What do you do that gives you pride? How do you relieve stress? What do you do that creates confidence? Leave us a comment.