As I have for the past several years, I have chosen a word for 2018 and that word is kind. I am excited about the possibilities and opportunities this word will bring to my life . . . to my actions and attitude . . . to my goals and values . . . to my daily habits and my creative pursuits. I will be kind . . . to myself and to others . . . the ones I love and the ones that challenge me because kindness matters.
Happy New Year, let’s make it a year of being kind.
Peace is my One Little Word this year and it’s been on my mind a lot. I’ve found some great ways to incorporate it into my home as well as into my life, and, even though I have pretty much dropped the ball on the monthly prompts from Ali Edwards, it’s been a true experience of growth this year.
So, in that spirit, I have decided to sign up for Project Peace again. It was slightly on my radar (but not really) and then yesterday I read The Healthy’s Knitter’s blog post called Say YES to Peace and next thing I knew I was texting Kym and asking her what she was planning and then, just like a monkey on a cupcake, I was purchasing the pattern.
I’m not sure about the time frame (and whether or not I’ll stick to it) and I’m not sure what yarn I will use (but I’m sure there is something in my stash that will work) but I am sure that anything that helps me to focus on peace as a daily habit is good.
Won’t you join us on the peace train?
Today is the last day of the Peace Project Cowl. It’s not the last day for me since I still have (cough cough) several repeats to go but it is the last day The Healthy Knitter will be blogging tips and prompts about practicing peace. It’s also the day that we are all knitting in the name of peace from our own little corners of the world.
To say that thinking about peace has been inspirational for me would be an understatement. It’s something that has inspired me so much that, as I told you before, I have chosen peace as my One Little Word for 2017. I’m very excited about the ideas I have for keeping peace in my world and I’m looking forward to exploring lots of ways to expand and expound on peace.
Tonight will be the unofficial start of that for me because, while I’m knitting and thinking about peace, I will also be celebrating the solstice. As we have for the last several years, Dale and I will write down our regrets for the year 2016 and then burn those slips of paper in the wood stove. We will listen to a playlist that includes not only seasonal music but also Here Comes the Sun. We will state our intentions for 2017 and we will toast each other with glögg and say God Jul.
And we will wish for peace.
Like many knitters, I have been working on the Project Peace Cowl.
This is where I was on December 4th. Right on track.
And this is where I was Monday night after town meeting. Less progress? How is that possible? I’ll give you a hint.
join in the round, taking care not to twist
Yep. Twisted. And I didn’t notice until I had completed 7.5 rounds.
So. Ripped and reknit, this time with a 4 row garter stitch edge and, most importantly no twist.
Issues aside, I’m enjoying the pattern and the prompts related to peace that go along with it. So much, in fact, that I have decided that peace is going to be my One Little Word for 2016. I’ve been tossing a few words around for a while now but last week the word peace just clicked for me.
I’ll talk more about it, I’m sure, but for now I’m just thinking about how I can incorporate more peace into my life. Knitting for peace definitely worked Monday night at town meeting when someone, on speaking to the article to approve applying for a grant for a library renovation and expansion project, called libraries a luxury. I was furious and nearly jumped out of my seat to give a lecture on the importance of libraries and to talk about how libraries level the playing field among the haves and the have nots. But I didn’t. I kept my head down and I knit on. And the article passed!
Maybe there really is something to this knitting and peace thing.
As promised, and just as I did last year, I am ready to share the word I have chosen for 2016.
A new bracelet, this time from Stella & Dot, with an engraved charm that reads shine.
After joy and grace this really just seemed like the perfect word. It’s time to shine!
