Let’s
knit
Last week I went to see my Lupus
specialist and I told her that I have found the perfect antidote to depression.
People living with chronic illnesses tend to get overwhelmed by the
side-effects – pain, sleeplessness, lethargy, anxiety – and these make everyday
chores a challenge.
“What is it?” she asked me.
I told her that it was knitting.
“Knitting?”
I had her interest.
“Yes,” I said. “I get up before
sunrise to pick up my knitting or crocheting where I left off the evening
before. I enjoy following patterns I find on Pinterest and making gifts that
are different. I also find it relaxing and while my hands are busy, my brain is
putting my day into order. After an hour or so, I’m motivated and ready to face
the day – and not focused on pain or anxious about what I can’t do. I’m ready
to do what I can do.”
Later that day I found myself in
the pharmacy queue. My sticker number was 498. The pharmacy was wall-to-wall of
outpatients waiting for medicines. I was sitting next to a young woman from Zimbabwe
and when I took out my knitting, she showed an interest in what I was doing. I
asked her if she would like to learn. When she said yes, and I took out an
extra pair of needles and wool to show her. She was also left-handed, so every
stitch had to be worked the other way around – if you know what I mean. We
became engrossed in the knitting we were oblivious to the people around us –
who were watching with interest. Very soon they joined in with encouraging
words (South Africans are amazing social people). It was a perfect ice-breaker
and soon everyone was talking to the person next to them. By the time we were
called for our medicines (3 hours later) we were friends, and said our
goodbye’s as though we had known one another for years!
It’s a ‘human-condition’ to need to
feel part of society. To feel wanted. To create. To change. To conquer challenges
and face our fears fearlessly. Achieving this has to come from within. It happens
when life has purpose. People who are
unemployed – or unemployable – have some skill they can turn into a hobby that
can even bring in a small income. If you’re lucky enough, making something for
somebody else gives you the joy of giving it away.
Start a hobby today.
