In my quest to conquer all the various craft skills - well to be honest knitting and a bit of sewing. (Crochet is a wicked thing as far as I am concerned and I am very suspicious of anyone who can do it without dislocating a knuckle.) I have finished my blanket - yes I have. I am frankly embarrassed to reveal how long knitting all these little hexagons took. It was, I am pretty sure, started in this millennium. The whole idea was that it should be something that I could pick up and put down. I think I put it down a lot more than I picked it up. Still, I'm glad it's done now. Very glad. The main problem was a lack of urgency on my part. It was a big task even by a proper knitter's standards. (Yes it was - even my mum said so) and I kind of felt that I had forever to do it. Eventually though the flippin thing kept getting on my nerves so much that I was knitting through gritted teeth and then sewing it together with a sort of obsessive speed that did not add to the harmony of the household.
I read this week about a man who wanted to increase his mindfulness of how life was passing. He has calculated how many days he can expect to live if he lives to eighty. (All being well I suppose) He has then taken two jars and filled one with a pebble for each day he has left. At the end of every day he moves one pebble from one jar to the other. This signifies that a day has gone from his timeline - a day he cannot get back. I know this is a bit DOOM laden. What happens on his eightieth birthday when he moves the last pebble over? (Assuming he can still see the jar by that point) Does he just lie down and give in or run down to the beach and frantically try and fill an Asda bag with a few more to tide him over? Still, it a good thing is it not to be mindful that time passes? To think that, if we want to achieve anything, the best time to start is now?
If you are building anything slowly, whether it's a life or a stupid blanket, the principles are the same. Bit by bit. Keeping at it. Not letting where you want to finish up slip away. And, I suppose being aware that the time provided to get to be where you want to be is not infinite.
Well done you..most of us have unfinished patchwork or knitted throws unfinished lurking in our lofts.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Still - never again : )
DeleteI read about the 2-pebble-jar guy too. How can he presume to live to 80? What will happen if he is diagnosed with major terminal illness at 67 ? Psalm 90 says 'teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom'. Each day is a precious gift, but I think that a visual representation of 'gone' and 'still to go' is daft. My time is in God's hands [another psalm cant remember which, too tired to google it]
ReplyDeleteCelebrate the small [and great ] achievements when they happen [like blankets finished, kitchen cupboards tidied, wedding anniversaries] and store up treasures in heaven [blessedly rust and moth free]
Another thought provoking post to finish off my Sunday evening blog-reading, Thanks. off to make supper and watch musketeers....xxxx
I agree. You would drive yourself bonkers counting your days like that.
DeleteObsessive knitting: love it!
ReplyDeleteI like your idea of doing life in bite-sized pieces; though the pebble thing's a bit scary.