Someone sent me an email last week. Shock horror! I know! That is not the interesting thing. The interesting thing is that they asked me how I stay so positive all the time, and if making things made me feel positive. Wow. That is an interesting question, I think.
I thought about it for a while, and then I wrote this back to the emailer :
Thanks so much for your email! You know, craft and making things DOES make me feel positive, for sure. But also writing and having people who care about the things I care about goes a long way toward making me feel that things are peachy too. I think it can be really hard to live this 21st century lifestyle, and creative rituals really help us to connect to ourselves and to other people (through blogging or writing or meeting up) too. So I would say that being part of a crafty community is the thing that makes me feel so positive… and not JUST the making! Does that make any sense at all?!
Okay. That is a bit of a garbled response, I guess, but you get my point, right? For me making is very important, for sure, but also feeling part of a movement way bigger than myself is really the best part of my life (family aside, of course, although I guess they are in fact included in this movement!) I am reminded of this every time I spend time with other crafty or creative people. I am reminded of this when people send me emails and talk about the things they are doing in their creative lives. I am reminded of this when I see the really amazing things that people do to harness the making-bug and put it to good use (like The Social Studio, Frankie Magazine, Brown Owls and Softies for Mirabel, for instance.) I am constantly reminded that there is a big gang of awesome creative souls out there, and that I am a teensy part of that gang. It’s a really great gang to be in. It makes me feel really optimistic to be included in such fine company.
The other part of this discussion is that I am NOT always positive. I make blogging my daily positivity ritual. It is my time to think about what is good and who is good and to appreciate those things. Often on those days I feel like slapping someone or staying in bed. See, those things are not very positive, are they? But slapping and staying are not going to get anyone anywhere, are they?
I think that it’s much better to kick yourself in the pants and get on with things. There is absolutely no point in being morose. Granted it’s really super important to acknowledge the things that are making you sad or frustrated or antsy in this life. But there is absolutely no point in dwelling on the negative, constantly looking backwards or wallowing in the hard times. Well. Maybe a bit of this is okay and certainly a steadying glass of wine or packet of biscuits can help too. But once the crumbs are swept away and the glass is empty it’s really time to move on.
SO. That is how I stay positive. That is why I stay positive. And I am not always positive! How is it for you?
xx Pip
Wonderful Pip! Three cheers for you & your crew & the big gang of creatives making stuff & thinking about stuff right along side you.
Hooray for the daily positive too. xxx
Very true Pip, very true. xxxx
Yippee! Thank you Pip, those are wise words. I can see how the emailer would have assumed that you are always positive. You write in such a cheery manner, and always seem to be in a good mood! I think it's great that you strive to stay positive.
A good cup of tea and something sweet always seems to cheer me up! And cuddles with the man.
I thought that you would might be interested to know that I am making my first, unsupervised attempt at sewing a dress! I have made one before, but this one is quite tricky and fitted. A nautical, sailor type dress. Making progress is keeping me very happy, and any mistakes that I make are made with the "everything can be fixed" mantra in mind.
xx Claire
http://www.jemimaandgeraldine.blogspot.com
great reflection Pip!
I love your new blog header by the way!
Philene
Thanks Pip! What a great post. I love being part of the crafty community too, and blogging. Especially being a new mama, it makes me feel more connected to like-minded souls during those sometimes long days at home with the babe. And it is so inspiring! I love having a great big list of awesome projects I want to make. That makes me really happy. AND LEARNING TO CROCHET! Just last week! Thanks to my mama and YOU! Awesome. I also agree with you about the kick in the pants bit. We all need that sometimes. Thanks for your blog, it's one of my favourites 🙂
Thanks for this post Pip! Very thoughtful. You are such a positive person. I love your outlook on being positive. I think it does require a kick in the pants every now and then.
Yesterday was one of those days for me; a nap, cup of tea & ginger biscuits and some embroidery did the trick eventually for me! Next time I'll move on as soon as the crumbs are swept away or the glass is empty! Great idea and I love your outlook on things.
Very timely for me to read this, so thank you.