Since I began blogging a week ago, I have been positively cheerful in my daily life, seeing small joys everywhere now that I’ve very simply become more mindful of them. Although it has only been a short time, and a honeymoon period is expected for new ventures, I have noticed a marvellous transformation in myself as my mindfulness has manifested in a greater tolerance and patience for those around me. For example, our (pet) cat Salmon is very affectionate but especially when I’m working intensely on a project, I would get easily frustrated by his constant seeking of attention. The last few days however, I have taken the time to enjoy nuzzling his wet nose and feeling his soft, silky fur beneath my hands, and luxuriate in his fervent purring (he’s like a warm little engine humming away on my lap!) so that by the time he has had my undivided attention for just 5-10 minutes, he’s happy to play or nap alongside me while I work and not mew or paw at the crack beneath my door incessantly. Our relationship has improved so much. Our newfound closeness was evident when The (Big) Cat left the bedroom door open this morning, Salmon crawled into bed with me and nestled himself between my feet and snoozed away until I woke up.
salmon, the (pet) cat
Yesterday, I found a wonderful website called Handwork TV run by a beautiful woman who shares videos of her needle felting. She is so generous, she gives away all of the projects she creates on her show. I have to admit I got a little impatient wondering when my felt set would arrive after catching Melody’s infectious love for her crafting that I badgered Melissa, whose beginner set I had ordered over at the Wild Hare last Friday, just to double-check my order went through. Melissa very kindly replied within a half hour that it was safely deposited at the post office that Friday so it should be well on its way. I have some ambitious things planned for all that wool roving!
As you all know, I have been immersed in some pretty amazing craft blogs lately, and it is no surprise that a good handful of these talented craftsters are selling their handmade items on Etsy. Last winter, I also delved into an Etsy business and was fortunate enough to see more success than I ever anticipated of selling my handmade jewellery online. Since then however, I have closed my store, the motivation being a combination of becoming more time-poor and not really liking the business-centric orientation my life was taking. Seeing the lovely stores run by my new favourite craft bloggers have tugged at the heart strings and made me miss all the fun and exciting things about selling your handmade goods online, but an article in the Sydney Morning Herald last Friday reminded me of another benefit of not having a store that I could learn to appreciate in the meantime. The California Institute of Technology examined MRI scans of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and central straitum in a small experiment and discovered that we experience the same joy from giving and sharing what is ours as we do when receiving, if not more. Reading this article struck me that perhaps this blog may become a way to hold giveaways, especially as I’m learning new skills like needle felting, I would love to see my pieces go to loving homes so that I may clear my bench tops and continually practice and create new things. I want to keep those tempting desires to begin a business at bay and learn to enjoy sharing my knowledge and handiwork with others for a little while yet.
I’m glad you feel happy.
And I’m really glad you are inspired by all those crafts blog.
I never had the patient or the hand dexterity to to do those . . . so I avoid craftsy stuff. But kudos to you to do all that stuff!
I’ll stick with words as my creative output!
By: Tara on 4 March 2010
at 2:44am
You are very modest to say that although some people would say you definitely need a good dose of both patience and hand dexterity to be a writer as well!
By: Bun on 4 March 2010
at 10:56am
I can totally relate to feeling generally happier during days when I have time to notice tiny joys around me. As a child it felt like I had all the time in the world to watch bees darting in and out of flowers. Sadly, in my current state, whenever I catch myself doing such a thing, I just feel guilty about being so leisurely with my time. Reading your entries reminds me just how out of touch I am with what I really want in life, and whether that publication/career-advancing opportunity is really worth the price.
By: Fiona on 4 March 2010
at 10:50am
When I was younger, I used to call that mindfulness religion, but I think I’m discovering how healthy it is to just have that attitude anyway, regardless of what religious beliefs and values one holds. By sheer coincidence perhaps, almost all of these craft blogs I have been reading are written by stay-at-home mothers, some of whom are homeschoolers as well, and it makes me wonder whether working mothers even have the time to spend a couple of hours a week blogging about their appreciation of the wonders in everyday life.
I began this blog because I too, read the blogs and realised I feel out of touch with what I really want in life, so I can definitely relate to how you are feeling at the moment, and since the confusion with my Amsterdam trip, I have begun to come down to earth about how ‘awesome’ an academic career really is. We must continue this conversation over intercontinental tea!
By: Bun on 4 March 2010
at 11:21am