So here we are. Quarantine time to stay at home and try to do our part to prevent the virus from spreading. Is everybody listening and heeding this advice? No. I would love to stay home more but my current part time work is still open (Michaels crafts store) and I could use the paycheck so I still go to work. The thing that gets all of us who work there right now is why people still keep coming in and yet amazed we are still open. I get it, people need something to do while they are at home but from what I see not many people are staying home like they should. The thing that is challenging for most families right now with kids is the schools are closed and the date keeps changing as to when they might go back to school. Ours just got pushed farther to April 10th now. How do you navigate your work at home (if you can) and home school your kids and try not to get sick in the process. My only child that is home still is 16 so it is not as difficult for me but I still wonder how things are going to play out for the rest of his junior year in high school now.
I bring all this up right now to show that as a nexus knitter/crocheter all of these things play into my craft life. The connections and process of balancing work and life are becoming intertwined even more than normal with the closures and interruptions of life right now. But, also with that comes the piece of mind and calmn that my craft gives me ever more now as it is needed. I can shut off the ever changing noise there is of news and changes because of this medical crisis we are in and just sit and focus on making things like my stitch markers or a new hat, or a shawl or even just potholders and washcloths. It gives me a chance to just take a breath, relax and unwind from all the stress of the unknown and what can or can’t happen. There is so much we can’t control right now and people are stressing so much. The one plea I will say is please do whatever you can to lower that stress level in your life right now because it will help you immensely to fight this disease more than you know. When I was fighting cancer 22 years ago as a new mom with a 1 1/2 year old if I didn’t have the ability to think positive and relax and focus there was no way I could have beaten it. There is so much info and most of it not 100% correct out there with the internet now. We need to take a moment and breathe and just chill for a while. Read a good book that you haven’t had time to do, start a new craft skill, take time to be with your kids, There are positives to this crisis and we need to focus on the positives and try to keep our attitude in check. It lowers our blood pressure, keeps are heart rates normal and in turn keeps our overall health in check. Yes, you need to do all the things they tell us to as well. Ive found I can do multiple things like listen to a audiobook while I am working on my crafts and it takes me to a happy place. Keeps me going and strong so I can keep working. Let me know what that thing is for you in the comments if you will. I’d love to hear. If you have a good book you recommend I’ll take it too. Im making items for the summer markets right now in the hopes that we will have them. I am also working on things for myself to just chill with and love to just focus on the project and nothing else. Making that connection with me and my craft. Putting my mind at ease. What puts your mind at ease. Let me know. I will try to do my best to post more and share what I am doing to get by during this time and hope you all stay well and stay safe, and help others to do the same by staying home. Make it a positive, peaceful time. Till next time, happy spring.
thenexusknitter 