Go to the frame

I am listening to myself a lot these days because I am writing again. Nearly every day since late December I have taken the time to write out my thoughts. And it is a release. Telling my own story to myself is something I often forget or avoid. Lately, I am trying to renew my connection with myself. And I do this through walking, writing and hooking rugs. These three things make me more myself.

Sometimes when I have a really busy day and I skip over my quiet time in the morning, I feel all day as if something is missing. I feel off. That little retreat that I take for myself in the morning is golden. In the dark with a few favourite books and a glass of water, I remember who I am and what I have to do. And when I say what I have to do, I do not mean a list of errands, I mean that time I take in the morning makes me think of what I am here for, what my purpose is. 

As I go out into the day and get caught up in the conversations of the world it is easy to just carry on. To wait for the plumber, to stack the dishes, to buy the groceries, cook the dinner without thinking. I cannot say that everything thing I do is an act of prayer because so much of it is done mindlessly. But when I sit to hook I do it with intention. The frame brings me back to my morning self. The self that reflects and notices, and takes time. Time to be with myself, time to be myself. Whether it's for twenty minute or two hours, it is a time that carries me swiftly back to the things that matter, to my why, to what I want to do.

And we all have a why or two. We all have a reason and a purpose here and sitting to hook helps us see that more clearly. When we make, when we create, we get to know ourselves.

Over time rug hooking has helped me become a friend to myself, one who listens carefully without too much judgement. A friend who wants the best for me. I never expected that when I started rug hooking. I thought I was just making rugs. I thought I was being productive. But it seems that the best things we get from rug hooking is sometimes the comfort and solace of some self understanding. It helps us gain clarity about what is important and what can be set aside. It deepens our understanding of the world around us and the row that we are hoeing. And this is a gift we give to ourselves when we stop everything and go back to the frame.

I am looking forward to the Renew Retreat Online.  I hope you can join me for beautiful weekend of heart filled rug hooking.