Have you heard the phrase “be a radiator, not a drain“? I don’t know the origins of this life philosophy, but I’ve seen it referenced by Reese Witherspoon and other publications (like this write up from The Aesthetics of Joy). The idea simply suggests that we should all strive to be radiators of good, positive energy rather than drain the energy of others through negativity.
I strive to be a radiator, and furthermore, I want to honor and appreciate the radiators of positive energy in my life. A few weeks ago, I was visiting my husband’s family when I was given the gift of encouragement from one of his aunts. The encouragement, wrapped in a reflective retelling of her personal life journey, was focused on being resilient and optimistic through change.
I’ve learned a lot about how people handle change and what makes it tough. My professional career as an organizational change manager in corporate IT was filled with research-backed approaches to helping people manage changes in the workplace. More than writing communication plans or conducting training, I counseled so many others as they embarked on new things; yet I personally have failed to give myself the same grace, after leaving that career, that I would have offered another.
So, as it turns out, I needed this message of self-love and acceptance from someone else, maybe more than I would’ve guessed. By sharing from a vulnerable place of lived experience, her story reminded me of how universal these moments of transformation really are. We’ve all stood at the beginning. We’ve all had something end. We’ve all wondered what’s next. Only the specifics change.
To show my gratitude, I knit a small drawstring bag as a thank you gift for her. Though the bag doesn’t have a true purpose, it already holds the energy that I infused into the yarn as I knit each stitch. Each repeat allowed me to recite prayers and meditations for its recipient, a true radiator.
Project Details
Yarn: Yarn Bee Yarntopia Yarn | Hobby Lobby
Color: Cerelean Blue
Weight: 2 – Fine
Content: 100% Acrylic
My Experience So Far:
I had scrap yarn leftover from The Jasmine Tee, so I immediately used it for this project. I think the classic color is a great choice for the intended recipient, and I love using scraps for small items!
Pattern: Custom
There are tons of small drawstring bag patterns available, but none had all of the qualities that I desired. So, I simply cast-on 70 stitches, joined in the round, and made it up as I went, using a standard Horseshoe Lace pattern, like this one. I didn’t want a scalloped edge, so I knit about an inch in stockinette before I split my circular knitting, and then worked back and forth to create the drawstring channel. Finally, I handknit i-cord for the drawstring itself. The final bag is about 6 in x 9 in.
P.S. Aren’t the little details sometimes the best part of a project? I’m really pleased with how clean the drawstring channel turned out, so I’ll definitely use this method again!
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