For context, let me begin with a bit about my personal crochet journey.
I live with fibromyalgia, and at times can be couch-bound for many days, due to the severity of the pain.
It was in the midst of one such period where I was frustrated and depressed with being stuck in this way (having always been a creative doing type of person), that I realised I needed to find something, anything, that I could do. I needed some inspiration!
As I couldn’t move, but still had my mind and my hands, I started thinking about what I could do within these limitations. Somewhere along this contemplation, I remembered my grandmother sitting on her lounge peacefully crocheting, and I thought to myself… I want to give this a go. So I searched on Youtube for how-to videos and promptly taught myself to crochet!
The next problem was that I didn’t really find most crocheted items appealing, either their function, styling or colours… So I got to dreaming again.
I have always loved prayer flags and I thought… hmmm, I wonder. And so Crochet Bunting came to be. But not happy with the crochet alone, I just had to embellish them with ribbons, mirrors and sequins – so they were even more vibrant and fun!
But this article is about the amazing benefits of crochet, so let me tell you what happened next…
- In challenging myself to learn a new skill, it stimulated my brain, which resulted in less neurons being available to register pain – and so my pain levels reduced over time.
- I felt inspired to be creating, even though I was stuck on the couch, and this helped improve my mood and free me from the grips of depression.
- I noticed I felt better in general, as I was making things that all my friends loved and enjoyed. And on top of this, they were giving me great feedback and compliments, which made me feel even better!
- I learned that whenever I felt stressed, anxious or overwhelmed, all I had to do was sit and crochet, and all that would disappear – I would become quite relaxed and centred again.
- I found that the practice of crochet, with its soft repetitive actions, brought me so deeply into my centre, deeply into creative flow, that I started to feel deep inner peace. In investigating this, I realised I was participating in a type of active meditation, a mindfulness practice of creativity.
- As a result of starting and finishing projects, I felt like I was achieving again. And this led to feeling more in control of my life once more.
- And in the end, I now have these wonderful items that I can share with others, to bring colour and joy into their homes and lives. And this makes my heart sing!
I have no doubt that my journey is one shared by others, and that anyone picking up a crochet hook will experience many of the same benefits. In fact I am certain there are many centred, blissed out, peaceful crocheters around the world, crocheting at this very moment!
Are you one of them?
In Light and Creativity
Jocah
Thank you for this helpful and inspiring article. It was written by Jocah and posted in 2018, and it’s blessing me today, Wednesday 6 October 2021. I’m going to get out my hook, and source some thread to get back to this calming pastime. God bless you, Simone