Daffodils

When life is as hectic as it is for many of us, it's easy to lose sight of the things and people that make us happy. We sometimes go through each day on autopilot, mindlessly chugging through our tasks without really thinking about the task, or the direction of our day, or even the direction of our lives.

Don't get me wrong, sometimes autopilot is good. It's taken me years of practice to be able to knit well on autopilot. There's nothing better than being able to space out and let your hands lead you through several inches of repetitive stockinette stitch. . . except maybe getting your hands and brain to do that with a more complicated stitch pattern.

When we get so used to being on life-autopilot, we (or at least I) tend to overlook some of the good things that are happening in our lives. This week I've been reminded that sometimes it takes things getting a little rough to make me recognize all the positive things I have around me. In the midst of one of the most trying weeks I've had for a long time, I've seen how much love and support I have from my friends, and gained a new appreciation for my chosen craft. (The craft/art dilemma is a topic for another day. Let's just say that I consider it to be an art, but it is my craft.)

Knitting is always a joy for me, but this week in particular I am reminded of the almost cathartic qualities it has. I am so happy and thankful that I have a craft that excites me and calms me at the same time. When I knit, especially this week, I find the perfect balance between zoning out and thinking about things that might make that particular day or week difficult. It's a beautiful thing to exercise some skill and get meditation AND a sweater out of it.

One can't be alone to think and knit all the time, though, and that's where friends come in. I have been guilty of not appreciating mine as much as I should in the past, but after the past few weeks it would be impossible for me not to sing the praises of the wonderful people I have around me. This difficult week derailed me from my autopilot track, and though my friends can't get me totally back on track (that's something only I can do), the love they have shown me has helped me more than they know.

I guess my point is that we could all benefit from stepping back and appreciating the things that can make us happy even when we're down. We all have different ways of realizing those things--for some it just takes a little thoughtful knitting. And sometimes, if you're lucky like I am, a little gesture from a friend or a roommate who knows you've had a bad day helps to remind us how lucky we are to have such wonderful people around us.