Thursday, June 2, 2016

Crochet for a Happy, Healthy LIfe

I've been crocheting for about a year and a half, and I don't see myself cutting down anytime soon!

Seriously, if you'd asked me five years ago if I would be a crochet-a-holic, I would have laughed in horror. Of course I wouldn't be a crocheter! It was an 'old lady' hobby, not the past-time of a youthful, active mountain biker.

But here I am, a happy hooker! And I have crochet to thank for my greater peace of mind, and a softer, happier outlook.

How does the craft of crochet help with overall mental well-being?

  1. Crochet is inherently meditative When you are counting stitches and rows or rounds, that is all you are doing. Just that. Nothing else. This means that your mind is not running around like a squirrel in a box, thinking about everything that is stressful.

  2. It requires learning. The adult brain does need to keep learning new things in order to stay healthy, and even beyond the initial learning process, there is you can continue to learn in crochet. New stitch patterns, more complicated techniques, colourwork, designing your own pattern...

  3. It's creative. Being creative is important, and lets you explore your inner emotions.

  4. You can't be angry when you crochet. No, seriously, this is key for me. Sometimes I'd be crocheting and realize I was angry about something (see, the meditative aspect actually lets you be more self aware!). And then I would think, "Hey, I'm creating something wonderful. Something for somebody else. " And poof! Anger dissipates, maybe to be addressed later on, or maybe never to return. 
The benefits I've gained through the craft apply equally to knitting, so get a hook or get some needles, and join my on my journey to inner peace.

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