Spirituality, Joy, and Sewing? Really? I have a love/hate relationship with sewing. Really, it is more of a love/love/love/love/hate, the 80/20 rule. Back in high school my best friend tried to teach me to sew. She sewed a lot of her clothes back then and figured I needed to learn. Well, that was a total fail. I made more mistakes than right moves. We never finished and I figured my sewing days were over.
A few years later I tried again. I bought my first sewing machine in 1987. Many mistakes later, I actually started to get the hang of it. My grandmother was a master seamstress, from a family of tailors. I can’t imagine ever aspiring to that level, but I do love to sew. Really, I love to piece quilts. That began in 1989. The wife of a Navy friend of my husband’s said she was going to make her husband a quilt. I was intrigued. The rest they say is history. It will be 30 years this fall since I started quilting, but that 80-20, love-hate relationship continues.
Finding My Joy in Tote Bags
I just started learning how to make tote bags. Perfect Christmas gift, right? Um, maybe the third one was easier, but the first? Oh my! I made more mistakes than I can count. Right now I have three under construction. I had to walk away so I wouldn’t drive myself crazy. Maybe I am getting older, since I am not as discouraged that my first attempt isn’t Pinterest perfect. Mellowing? Maybe. I am excited by trying new projects, learning new skills, making people feel loved when I make a gift for them.
Sewing does feed my joy. It feeds my joy to use talents to give gifts to others. This Christmas I was able gift quilts to my four great-nephews. Many times I have sat at my sewing machine feeding the pieces through. The motion is relaxing to me. That is when it is going well. I can spend long, soothing times in front of the machine. Creating things, especially items to give to others feeds my joy.
Oh, and sewing a great way to procrastinate. In January of 2019, I had a huge oral board. It was a major step in my ordination process. I needed to be reviewing and studying. But, if I wasn’t ready at this point, I was not going to be ready. So, I sat at the machine (I will get back to it after I am done writing, another thing I love to do), created, thought, and prayed.
Finding a hobby you love is a great way to feed your joy! What do you do to feed yours? Discover it! Dive in and enjoy!
For some more info on Spirituality that just may help you Find Your Joy, please check out these articles:
9 Benefits of Increasing Your Spirituality
Spiritual Growth. What is it? 10 Steps to Achieving It