WHO IS YOUR REAL ENEMY?

04.March 201804.March 2018Leave a comment

This might seem to be a question that you think you know the answer to. If anyone popped up in your mind when reading the question they surely would not make it to a list of people you would rely on.

Life is an interesting adventure. Some call it a game. Others think this life is a punishment. Whatever is your take on life, life is best lived. Life challenges make us grow stronger wings. And flying is the ultimate of gifts which we don’t seem to be mastering without an engine. At least not yet.

So, who really is your ultimate enemy?

Enemy, who wakes you up in sweat in the middle of the night. Enemy, whose voice is so difficult to hear. The one who seems to know you so well. The one who doesn’t let you go anywhere on your own. You are never alone. They are watching every step, every breath you take.

WHO is it?

See if you can relate: Your INTERNAL critic! The voice that we hear every day, almost in every moment of our waking time.
Criticizing our past decisions, actions, future endeavours, ideas…and in the process, creating insecurities and anxieties.

Now, if you don’t have one of these internal voices, you are a very fortunate being.

However, for those of you, who can relate to the above here are some personal tips and well known strategies.

How to deal with your enemy with some extraordinary strategies

Accept it as part of your personal journey.
Recall who in your past could have the same kind of voice.
Learn to change the tonality in which their voice speaks to you.
Bring some fun into their existence (e.g. in your mind’s eye, imagine it as a movie character with a husky voice).
Turn an imaginary knob and tune out the sound of this voice and replace it by some harmonious sounds.
Appreciate that its primary function was to preserve your safety.
Kindly explain to the voice (only in your head preferably) that you will be fine even without his suggestions.
As the saying goes: “Feel the fear and do it anyway!”
Become aware of when the voice takes over your moments.
Learn to love the ‘enemy’.

10 Things to Celebrate About Crochet

11.February 201811.February 2018Leave a comment

Crochet might be sometimes misjudged as a bit of a “craft from the past”, thought to be perpetuated mainly by keen Grandmothers. This has been mainly due to lack of knowledge and understanding.

Crochet has a capacity to bring joy and happiness, as well as warmth, to those involved in making it and the receiver of the item.

The misconception about the age of crocheters is also being slowly shattered, especially in crochet communities which are now being visited by the younger generation of crochet enthusiasts.

While overseas there is still the need for heavy warm woolen garments, especially in the midst of freezing winter blizzard, here in Australia we don’t need such items in most places. There might not be many occasions to use rich woolen garments. However, there are still plenty of useful everyday items and toys, which are being masterfully designed and created out of the variety of available yarn.

If it was receiving a fair judgment, crochet would be acknowledged as much as paintings or other forms of art and craft.

Before we can bring forth a change in the views of the majority about crochet, we need to be able to celebrate our own little wins and achievements.

Little Big Wins and Achievements

The ever growing body of evidence shows that when we appreciate and celebrate something we already do have, we will get even more of it. This applies even to crochet. Below are a few suggestions, which can help to bring your focus on the many things to celebrate about crochet.

The list is not exhausted, and if you are keen crochet enthusiast you might come up with more suggestions.

10 things to celebrate, when it comes to crochet:

You have a dedicated place where you crochet
2. The yarn you have bought was sufficient for the whole item
3. You only made a few invisible mistakes in your project, so there is no need to frog it
4. You already own more yarn than you could ever use
5. Sale in your yarn store
6. You have a few ergonomic hooks
7. You happen to get your crochet, with a cutter on a plane, without trouble
8. Going away you packed just enough yarn you happen to need
9. There is the option to buy yarn online and have it delivered to your home
10. Your family is tolerating your craft supplies and ever growing stash

If you already experienced any of the above, please raise a glass of your favorite non-alcoholic beverage. In case that you experienced ALL of the above, take it a bit further and call upon your friends, and invite them to celebrate with you. Share the love and spread the word.

Crochet is a form of meditation, helping to keep me sane in this world, while I love its creative flow. So while sometimes it could be looked down at by others, there are still many reasons to value it as a modern day craft, and even as a form of craft therapy.

If you are keen on crochet and happen to be in Brisbane (Australia) here is our great Facebook group ‘Brisbane Crochet’. https://www.facebook.com/BrisbaneCrochet

Happy hooking!

The Importance of Mental Health

16.January 201816.January 2018Leave a comment

Cranberries lead singer Dolores O’Riordan suddenly died on Monday at the age of 46.
Now for all fans of Cranberries that are some shocking news.

Why is it so significant news for me though?

Not only did I like their songs, but there is another part in the story that interests me more than Dolores’s singing. And that is the mysterious reasons behind her untimely death.

It is still very early to know all the details (if we ever truly will know) surrounding her passing, yet some information is known already.

Dolores was diagnosed with Mental health issues, called ‘Bipolar Disorder’ only just about two years ago. However, her mood changes started a long time before that. When she would have felt on the top of the world (this is called mania) at some stage (pun not intended) and it would last for about 3 months or so. After that time Dolores would fall into depression. This is a common swing of moods in people with mental disorder called Bipolar.

What interested me in the articles where I read about her passing is, that she claimed to have been TREATED for this Bipolar disorder.

How Well Are We Treated For Death?

What that can mean for someone suffering the same symptoms is that they might not have been diagnosed yet and/or treated appropriately. What I meant by ‘appropriate treatment’ will be left to your imagination.

I would love to state that there are different forms of treatment for such an illness. However, most people in our western cultures are finding the final help in the hands of a psychiatrists. In the ideal culture, these symptoms would be understood as a change of perception and a break through the belief structures of the individual.

Now, my own question is “How do we educate people well enough to be able to foresee the signs of overall change of personality? And how to best deal with it naturally, without the need for chemical substances and locking the person up from their life?”

There is still a lot of stigma associated with mental illnesses. When more people come out of the closet and start to share their story and what it actually means to deal with some form of mental health issues, we will have more general understanding of the situation and how to best be of assistance.

In the meantime, please be open to learning more about the experiences of people with mental health issues. And if you know about someone in your environment who needs help with any aspect of their mental health, please be kind enough to point them in the direction of a suitable professional help in your location.

Breathe freely.

Sources:

http://www.tmz.com/2018/01/15/cranberries-dolores-oriordan-dead-dies/

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/the-cranberries-lead-singer-dolores-oriordan-dead-at-46-20180115-h0iriy.html