A Lesson Learned While Knitting

I fell into the world of knitting on a humble. I put my daughter in a class at a local knit shop and the mothers got to learn free of charge. I knew how to crochet from childhood but never learned to knit. The class was all it took. I was and am forever hooked.

There is a sweet rhythm to knitting that pulls me away from all that bombards my consciousness. It rocks me and soothes me gently like a loving mother. And it is enhanced by the bond of sisterhood that is found among those who share my passion. To knit with others who also enjoy the craft is a welcome respite from the demands of being a wife and mother of three in the 21st century. It is a source of encouragement, learning, and lots of laughter.

It didn't take long before the art began to speak to me. And it does so almost every time I knit. It's more than knit and purl, worsted weight, and circular needles. More than turning a heel, twisting a stitch, or froggin' a hat. It speaks life lessons, "purls of wisdom", truths that become a part of who I am.

Here's one that I'd like to share: Life is a combination of "simple complexities" repeated. All of the beautiful patterns of knitting are created from two stitches worked over and over again: the knit stitch and the purl stitch. Once you get them down you can make anything you want because every other stitch is just a variation.

Isn't that like life? A few "basic stitches" such as treating others the way that you'd like to be treated or putting yesterday in the past can go a long way in creating new and exciting things in your life. Think about it. What simple lessons do you go back to and apply even in the most difficult of circumstances? Is it saying thank you or merely looking someone in the eye and smiling when you greet them? Is it putting things back where you found them, thinking before you speak, or letting by-gones be by-gones?

When you think about it, life really is a combination of "simple complexities" applied repeatedly and over time. Go back to the basics and create something beautiful today.

Until next time...