Remember when you were little, and learning how to tie your shoes was a big deal? Or writing your name? Or riding a bike? Or drinking from a grown-up cup? Maybe you've had children and you remember the small achievements that seemed so big to them—and to you. I have a habit of glossing over… Continue reading Lesson 6: Celebrate Small Victories
I've looked for answers to my mystery illness in doctor's offices, in books, and—big surprise here—on the internet. Sometimes I discover something helpful, but most of the time I'm left with more questions than answers. The most helpful approach has been trial and error, or a much looser and less rigorous version of the scientific… Continue reading Lesson 5: Experiment
Today I woke up with a headache, feeling slightly groggy. By mid-morning, I felt a little better. In the afternoon, I was tired and foggy in the head, but I couldn't seem to nap. My limbs started tingling, which happens from time to time. That went away before dinner. Now I'm feeling decent. Everything changes.… Continue reading Lesson 4: Everything Changes
I find it difficult to write about pain because: a) I'm not a Buddhist teacher with decades of experience and accumulated wisdom b) it feels like such an intangible thing to me that I almost don't know how to put it into words and, c) pain sucks. I'll give it a shot, though. Life is… Continue reading Lesson 3: Pain Happens
Survival stories are my jam these days. I can't really relate to most movie-worthy feats of extreme physical and mental endurance, but survival stories have messages that are helpful when my chronic illness makes it hard to get through a whole grocery shopping trip, or I've woken up feeling sick for the hundredth time this… Continue reading Lesson 2: Solve One Problem at a Time
This is the first of thirty lessons I've learned from my chronic illness. Thirty is an arbitrary number—I've probably learned more than thirty things over the past few years as a result of having an unrelenting mystery illness. Or maybe I've learned far fewer than that, and by day 14 I'll have to start making… Continue reading Lesson 1: The Best Day to Start is Today
You've heard the story before: someone goes through a serious illness or accident, returns to health, and their entire outlook on the world has changed for the better. They consider it a blessing in disguise and they no longer take their life for granted. They may even consider themselves better off than they were before… Continue reading 30 Days of Life Lessons from Chronic Illness
This year I am phasing out my stash of acrylic yarn, and here's why: our oceans are becoming polluted with tiny synthetic microfibers, and it's bad news for marine life. I don't enjoy being a Debbie Downer, so I promise you that I will end this on a positive note. Here's the gist of the problem,… Continue reading What can knitters and crocheters do about synthetic fiber pollution?
Making your own home goods, clothing, and accessories can be even more satisfying when you know it's reducing your footprint on the Earth. What makes a something "eco-friendly"? It's a rather broad term, and is probably applied in places where it shouldn't be. There's no universal definition. I tend to think of eco-friendly crochet patterns as ones that… Continue reading 7 eco-friendly crochet patterns
I've been on a Fair Isle crochet kick lately, and I decided to try something more muted and a little bit....spooky. A friend of mine is a lover of bats, creepy things, magical things, and creatures of the night. She also prefers neutrals and darker colors. So, the Nocturnal Creatures Bag was born! It's the… Continue reading Nocturnal Creatures Tote Bag Pattern
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