creativity

Weed, Edge, Mulch

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I quit drinking almost a year ago. I have been looking for ways throughout my day to reduce my stress and anxiety. In the past, I would work hard all day, just pushing and pushing, knowing that I could have a drink at the end of the day. The glass of wine or hard kombucha would help calm me down. It worked for years until it didn’t. The drink at the end of the day was actually creating more anxiety for me. I still have busy productive days, which I love, but I look for other ways to slow down.

I love putting on my overalls and heading outside to garden. The outfit feels important. I like to limit my work in the yard to an hour, so it doesn’t start to feel like too much. My gardens have been beautiful this year. It makes me happy to weed, edge and mulch. It brings order and beauty to them. It gives me happiness and makes me feel grounded.

There is research that says pulling weeds is good for your brain. Weeding can ease anxiety and depression. Repetitive action like weeding can help reduce cortisol levels. It calms the mind to focus on one task at a time. There is a sense of accomplishment from creating order out of chaos. There is immediate gratification when you pull out a clump of crabgrass!

I love the time outside where no one bothers me.

What are you doing to lower your stress and anxiety? Please share. We need to support each other.

Love, Mary

I made a sweater!

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Creativity was my word for 2025. I like my creativity to be functional, so I decided to start knitting. I first made a scarf and then went on to a sweater. The woman at the knitting store tried to encourage me to make a hat after the scarf. I told her I really wanted to make a sweater.

My friend Wendy is an excellent knitter and I knew she would help me through the hard parts. I also attend the library knitting circle when I can. It is a new sit down activity for me. Some days, I can’t believe I am in the library knitting and talking about pie. I really enjoy it. It has been great to meet new people. You just sit there. You don’t need to eat or drink. You don’t need to talk if you don’t want to. You sit and knit and 5 months later you have a new sweater! The ladies are so supportive and everyone tells you how much they love your sweater. Knitters are very nice people.

On to my next sweater!

Love,

Mary

Creativity

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I have decided my word for the year is creativity.

I started knitting again. I haven’t knitted since college. Back in the day, I was low on funds. I decided to knit hats for Christmas gifts. This time, I thought I would really like to knit a sweater. I went to Mother’s Knitters in Red Bank with my friend, Anne. I decided a sweater was a bit ambitious and it would be best to start with a scarf. I am making it for myself! Dante at the store suggested a super merino wool and told me to go with a light color. Apparently, you can see your mistakes easier with a light color. Anne got me started and now I am about 2 feet in. I am really enjoying it. I knit in the evening during Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. It is not just straight knitting either. Every row has a knit purl section to it. When I make a mistake, I go to You Tube to learn how to fix it. Thank you You Tube. Next, I will knit a sweater!

I told my therapist that I started knitting again and she sent me this quote from a Native American woman.

“Grandma how do you deal with pain?” “With your hands, dear. When you do it with your mind, the pain hardens even more.” “With your hands, grandma?” “Yes, yes. Our hands are the antennas of our Soul. When you move them by sewing, cooking, painting, touching the earth or sinking them into the earth, they send signals of caring to the deepest part of you and your Soul calms down. This way she doesn’t have to send pain anymore to show it. “Are hands really that important?” “Yes my girl. Think of babies: they get to know the world thanks to their touch. When you look at the hands of older people, they tell more about their lives than any other part of the body. Everything that is made by hand, so it is said, is made with the heart because it really is like this: hands and heart are connected. Think of lovers: When their hands touch, they love each other in the most sublime way.” “My hands grandma… how long since I used them like that!” “Move them my love, start creating with them and everything in you will move. The pain will not pass away. But it will be the best masterpiece. And it won’t hurt as much anymore, because you managed to embroider your Essence.”~Elena Barnabé S

Gardening season is coming. What do you like to do with your hands?

Love,

Mary