Picked up a random poetry book From the crowded shelf. Quick easy hour read: Delight and wonder. Then, Found…
Distraction Chaos… Trying to Find a Hobby Despite Low Self Esteem
Every year on the week of Thanksgiving, my friends and I get together for a brunch. I had been looking forward to catching up with my friends. Friendsgiving: a new holiday tradition a lot of people seem to be doing now.
In addition, I had been recovering from oral surgery. I had been doing fine after a week so I went with eagerness to the brunch. We each brought a yummy dish to share. I brought the frittata dish my husband had prepared. There were also a potato dish, fruit, and bacon. I had not had bacon in a while, so I greedily took a piece. I ate all of the deliciousness with pleasure. Then I took a bite of the bacon. I did not think anything about it until I suddenly noticed the glue bandage at the roof of my mouth was no longer there. The raw skin left behind tasted metallic: blood. I rushed to the bathroom to spit out the awful truth. I should not have eaten that sharp bacon. My daughter, Olivia, and friends all rushed to help me. Olivia called my surgeon’s office to find out putting a warm, wet tea bag on the area for fifteen minutes will help stop the blood.
Two hours later, my mouth still bled. My husband took me to a surgeon who told me everything looked fine. I had stopped bleeding. The surgeon gave me medicine for the pain. My husband took me home and I satin my chair wrapped up in a blanket the rest of the day.
Now at the same time as I rested, Olivia and her two friends were behind me in the kitchen making an apple pie. They had never made a pie on their own without supervision. I trusted them to figure it out. They were following a recipe. All of them at 12 years old had proven themselves to be responsible and capable at cooking. They had no major crisis, except to find the 1/4 measuring spoon. Their pie turned out beautiful; they’d even added a decorative lattice crust on the top. The pie filled our house with the warm cinnamon apple scent.
All the while, I had been trying to write an article for a local magazine. Looking at my notes, I had trouble focusing on the words. My brain seemed to be drifting in response to the pain in my mouth. “Community,” “fun”, “leaping”… all adjectives flying off the page, yet disarrayed without sense. The actual writing I did not question my ability; the making sense I decided would be up to my husband’s opinion.
A tropical spool of yarn sat beside me along with a crochet hook. My husband, who can crochet, had been crocheting earlier. I want to learn and actually make items by crochet. Ten years ago, my grandmother’s friend had me over to her house. She tried with the sweetest patience to work through a basic stitch with me. I could see how she moved her fingers between the hook and yarn. Then when I tried to replicate the motion, my fingers were clumsy and inept at crafting a perfect loop. How hard is it to make a loop and a knot? Not that hard until the lady tried to help me. She sincerely gave me encouragement, plus cookies, but I just could not make it work. I went home and continued to try only to give up shortly thereafter. I never went back to it.
Now years later, I am determined to try again.
Since my whole blogging niche happens to be mindfulness, trying new hobbies is just one more way to improve your confidence and self-worth. Plus, once you get good at your new hobby, like crocheting or baking pies, you can share the products of your new talent with others.
Mary, one of my dear friends, and I are starting an online market boutique where we will sell homemade items. She has inspired me to try to be more crafty, hence, the urge to crochet.
My brother in law, Mike, had come over the other day and crocheted a small bag in under an hour. He made it seem so easy. I should be able to get my brain and my fingers to work together.
I have the confidence. I have the materials. I just need to relax my mind and try again.
Harvard Health says, “Experts agree that long-lasting change is most likely when it’s self-motivated and rooted in positive thinking… The idea is that each stage is a preparation for the following one, so you mustn’t hurry through or skip stages. Also, different approaches and strategies (called “processes of change” in the TTM model) are needed at different stages.”
My whole point today is that no matter what happens, whether bacon tries to ruin your day or you feel discouraged at something you want to do, do not give up! As a parent, I want my girls to keep trying and not give up until they have made an honest effort.
Amazon offers these products to help you start a new possible hobby:
- Learn Crochet by Susan Bates
- Beginning Whittling Kit by Editors of Woodcarving Illustrated
- Get a Hobby! Idea Book
- Crafts and Hobbies: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creative Skills
Thanks for reading my blog! Please subscribe and check out my Amazon links!