As you may have spotted in a previous post, I have recently become familiar with Eckhart Tolle and Power of Now. This source, although a bit dated, was new to me based on the Dissect Podcast, where the host analyzed Kendrick Lamar’s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers album. Whether you are a hip hop fan or not, the podcast explores the many deep themes of the album, with an anchor in Eckhart Tolle’s teaching on identity and ego.
I have explored these themes through the lens of my own experience of the human condition, and I continue to find new angles to consider. Even blogging serves a purpose in helping me see myself more clearly. Sadly, my ego often makes an appearance as I am blogging, mostly through self-doubt thinking habits, like “is my knitting good enough?”, “is my writing clear?”, or worst of all “does anyone care?”.
The conclusion I have been reaching (through reflection fueled by my meditative knitting practice, of course) is that my mission isn’t truly hindered by either knitting or writing skills. It can only be hindered by fear.
For me, fear is most induced by uncertainty. And, an unexpected boost of clarity came my way in the form of a new podcast, Yarn Library Podcast featuring Adam from Cleevely Knits and Georgia from TuliPurl. In Episode 4, they discuss knitting as a “heritage craft” and the importance of accurate preservation of it. They describe the community of it, the people behind the craft, the hearts and the hands.
Do I think I have a role in preserving this heritage craft? In truth, not quite. At least, not from the perspective of terminology or traditions, per se. But the reminder of documenting the human experience appeals to me in a greater sense. Knitting is a teacher in my life, with mistakes, challenges, and growth destined to be woven into each project. The practice of knitting is an aid to finding presence, with the flow of my hands slowly creating space in my mind.
So, I created a blog, with knitting at the center, to share my human experience. In the same way that it nourishes my spirit, knitting feeds this blog with inspiration on how to share my version of living. In that way, I suppose my contribution to knitting history would be simply showing its influence, impact, and importance.
The blog evolves, just as I do. Sometimes, I write as though this space is a journal, just for me. Other times, I write to you, the reader, in honor of our common interests (projects, tools, etc.) or maybe even shared concerns (like the impact of AI, for example). Most of all, I write about an exploration of self through a timeless hobby.
P.S. This post was written after a lovely lunchtime bike (ahem, trike) ride. After which, I made tea, put on a jazz album, and started writing. If it was too deep and wandering, let’s blame the jazz. ๐
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