I went to bed last night thinking the predicted storm might not be so bad for us. The meteorologists were calling for heavy wet snow for the nearby Catskill, Adirondack and Berkshire mountains – over a foot. But as of 10 PM, we were only supposed to get 2-5 inches.
Here’s what it looked like at 8 AM. When my Personal Assistant left, the snow was over her shoes. Side note – she’s a gem for driving here at 5:15 AM to get me out of bed and showered on days like this. She never calls out due to snow.
My office was closed today because the building lost power due to the storm. Even though it’s been 23 years since my last days as a full-time student, I am young enough to appreciate a snow day. Especially one I did not expect!
So far, I have been fabulously lazy. For the past 4 hours all I’ve done is crochet while binge-watching episodes of Bondi Rescue on Netflix. Yes, I know, it’s crap reality TV. But it’s sunshine, blue water and Australian (mostly shirtless) life guards. When this is the current view outside, I’ll take mindless sun and surf any way I can get it!
That’s my van Clyde buried under the snow.
How about you? What’s your favorite snow day activity?
Last week, even though I have a living room full of boxes to still unpack, I started crocheting a new shawl. I bought new yarn last spring but had not done anything with it and was eager to get my hands into something. It doesn’t matter that there are at least 20 crochet projects in my apartment in various stages of development. I wanted to use THIS yarn.
Thanks to a day-long meeting and the six hour defensive driving course spread over two afternoon, I finally completed a crochet project!
Well, nearly done. I still have to sew in the ends and block it.
Right now, I am just grateful for time to crochet and finish a project. And thankful for my Personal Assistant who was willing to model it so I could show all of you.
It’s really clear the most precious resource we all have is time. – Steve Jobs
Yesterday I had a day completely to myself, with no plans. I spent hours working on an essay I have been writing on and off for several weeks, trying to get it just right. I didn’t get it right yesterday. Sure, progress was made and words were written. Actually, more than two thousand words were written. I knew as I wrote them, most would be temporary and would not make it into the final version of the article. But, not wanting to lose out on a day of uninterrupted writing time I just kept writing, enjoying the hours at my computer lost in thought.
In the middle of the afternoon I took a break and visited Facebook. One of my online writer friends posted a comment about completing her writing work. I made a comment about not completing crochet because I have spent so much time trying to complete my writing. And then it dawned on me.
I miss crochet. I have sacrificed my time with yarn for time with words. I have made scant progress on the many partially completed crochet projects stuffed in bags throughout my apartment. I have not even started working with the sumptuous yarn I brought back from Tasmania.
Because I was unhappy with my writing progress, I started a time study to investigate how much time I spend each day on writing and how I might return to the hobby I love. The numbers shocked me. Although I know I have very little “me” time, I never realized how few hours are mine and mine alone.
24 hours x 7 days = 168 hours (keep this number in mind)
I manage 49 hours/week of my personal care. This includes time I spend in the shower, preparing and eating food, in the bathroom, etc. I work a minimum of 37.5 hours/week and spend a minimum of 5 hours/week commuting to and from my job. I am in bed for 8 hours/day or 56 hours/week. I will do the math for you: 142.5 hours of each week are accounted for.
This leaves me 25.5 hours of unobligated time – on a good week. Just a bit more than one complete day. When work obligations require me to work on the weekend or into the evening, I have even less.
Sure, there are moments during my 49 hours of personal care when I can make time for me. I can, and do, check social media while my Personal Assistant is braiding my hair. I often take my turn in Words with Friends while I’m eating. I respond to emails while supervising my Personal Assistant as she prepares my meals. I complete personal writing during my lunch break at work.
I have been so proud of my discipline at maintaining my daily writing habit (today is day 316). Until yesterday, I had not realized how much I had sacrificed my other creative endeavors to make this possible. I have not balanced my love for words with my love for yarn. And as the facilitator of our writing group said yesterday, “Writing at the expense of your relationships and responsibilities is not sustainable.” (Thanks Christine!)
I have pursued my writing without making time to maintain my other creative passions. I have committed myself to one activity at the expense of a hobby I love. My rekindled relationship with writing has damaged my long-term commitment to crochet. And that is not sustainable.
Today, I am publicly announcing a change in my time management, because if I tell all of you, you will become defacto accountability partners. I know you will because you have helped me remain faithful to my writing since September. Thanks in advance for your help.
Starting today, I am committing to carving out at least fifteen minutes each day for crochet. I manage to carve out thirty minutes each day for writing, so I will find at least 15 minutes of each day for crochet. Why fifteen minutes? It takes about fifteen minutes for me to complete two rows of a blanket, which is enough progress to make me feel a sense of accomplishment.
I have to recommit to crochet for another reason. After I finish writing the memoir about me and my sisters, I have to write a second book. The inspiration for this project came from my fellow writers Tonia, Roslynn and Stella. They know of my passion for yarn, and each of them made comments yesterday which helped me recognize the void in my life once filled by crochet. Tonia even went so far as to create a faux cover for the book, and gave me permission to share it at will.
Ladies – thank you for providing the encouragement I needed to set a new goal. I know I will learn important lessons from this new discipline. I promise to dedicate my second book (which Tonia has titled “Hooked”) to all of you.
Full disclosure – I did not crochet these pieces! Image created by T. Hurst.
What about you? Have you sacrificed one passion for the sake of another? How did you make time for both? Share your experiences in the comments below!
I had no idea there was a National Crochet Month. I know, I’m a poor excuse for a crocheter, not even knowing there was an entire month dedicated to my hobby. I’ve had other things on my mind.
I love to crochet. I enjoy the feel of yarn in my hands, watching something take shape as I create. I usually have a crochet project in my van so I can take it out and work on it whenever possible. I crochet in waiting rooms, in coffee shops, while waiting for a show to start at the theater, on the train, during day-long continuing education workshops – you get the picture.
Crocheting Melissa’s cowl while on the train to New York City in January.
Now that I know about this wonderful month, I plan to celebrate in style. Packing up my apartment, I learned there are seven projects in various stages of completion on my hooks. Yes, seven. They include:
A purple and white cowl for my friend Melissa. See photo above.
A gift for my friend Kelly, which I wanted to have completed in December.
Socks for my sister Sandy, which were supposed to be her birthday present last year.
A blanket for my co-worker’s new baby.
A blanket which was supposed to be a gift for my niece’s baby, the baby who will be five years old in a few months. At this point, it might make a great blanket for her dolls.
A shawl for myself, made from AMAZING yarn I bought last year with the intention of making something for my ex. It’s the most expensive yarn I’ve ever purchased and I am so glad its softness and luxury wasn’t wasted on him.
A blanket for my nephew and his wife. They got married last May. I might have it done by their first anniversary.
I also have yarn for projects I have yet to start – blankets and sweaters for friends, leg warmers for myself, pot holders for my sisters to use next year for cookie bake.
I don’t have a problem starting new projects. I have difficulty finishing them. I start with good intentions, then life intervenes as it often does, and projects fall by the wayside.
Today I am making a public declaration. I will not start another project until I complete the ones on my hooks. I will not enter another yarn shop until I reduce the size of my yarn stash, no matter how amazing the colors look with the skeins neatly arranged by hue. I freely admit my stash is getting a bit out of control, particularly since I already have so many projects in process.
So, if anyone wants to join me for a stitch ‘n bitch, I have plenty of yarn to spare. Just bring your own hooks and patterns. And maybe wine.
DeeScribes 