After listening to our California Governor Newsom outline the current COVID-19 situation, I wanted to reach out with something humorous or at least positive. We are in the third wave of COVID-19 and facing new Stay-At-Home Orders, and even though there are several vaccines on the horizon, this is still very scary! Are you feeling stressed and anxious? Me too! I need a good laugh! Maybe if I share a number of my recent failures (opportunities), we can laugh together.
Because I’ve felt mental anxiety and depression, I have been trying new projects. Projects that I have little or no previous experience with. You know, to challenge me, and maybe give me a feeling of accomplishment.
From what I’ve read, the repetitive movement of knitting or crocheting helps relieve stress. That might work, but since I don’t know how to knit or crochet, I signed up for a monthly course that included a beginners kit, instructions, and video training. How hard could this be?
I read the instructions and watched the video training that came with the training packet. I tried but was utterly clueless.
It couldn’t be me. It had to be the instructor, right? I figured that I just needed to hear the basics of crocheting from a different instructor, so I began watching other crocheting tutorial YouTube videos. I watched one video where the instructor said she would go through the steps to each stitch, “REALLY SLOWLY!” I thought the slower, the better! Maybe I’d finally get it.
Apparently not, because if you look at my first effort, it is a complete mess! Finally, after numerous restarts, I gave up on the knotted mess and ultimately started over.
We all have different learning styles, and apparently, I need to have an instructor sitting next to me, which is not possible right now with COVID-19. After multiple attempts, my stitches did not look like the sample pictured in the instructional manual. My whole block was incorrect. I know that crocheting is not difficult for some of you, but I can’t even tie a knot. I guess I am lucky I can tie my shoes.
Luckily I have family members that are skilled crocheters. The daughter-of-my-heart, Stacy, and her daughter, the granddaughter-of-my-heart, are both adept at crocheting. They both looked at my pathetic pictures and gave me advice. Thanks to their input, I am doing better. Maybe not good, but better.
If I keep practicing, I will get this. Maybe not. Crocheting has proven to be a significant challenge for me. I am already behind in this “Very Easy” online course.
Another project I thought I’d try is a puzzle. How hard could it be? I selected a puzzle with an adorable picture of puppies. There are 1,000 pieces, but it should be easy, right? In retrospect, I should have started with a puzzle for toddlers. You know the puzzles with wood pieces with little wood knobs and a matching picture of where to place the puzzle piece. This puzzle is another significant challenge for me. I am clueless!
Everyone seems to love puzzles. Jim was making significant progress with the puzzle for a while, and then even he was done. I got a puzzle board so the puzzle could be moved around, and I’d resist the temptation to dump it back into the box.
It looks like this is another project I’ll have to update you on the progress.
Have I been successful with any new project? Yes, I have. I joined a book club, and apparently, I can read. On Facebook, I first learned of Steph Curry’s new book club. I am not a big sports fan, but I admire the man. He has a kind and generous heart and does many good deeds. So I was interested in the books he would recommend. Steph’s book club is the first book club I have ever joined. Yes, I did worry that I might not be able to keep up. I am not the fastest squirrel in the tree, and I haven’t finished any other project. But how hard could a book club be?
Steph Curry’s book club is titled Underrated. The book club is both eye-opening and inspiring. I’ve read two books so far, and they were both amazing.
The first book I read was The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates. This book is about two boys with the same name who live in the same city, and their lives take different courses.
The second book I read and my favorite so far is A Most Beautiful Thing by Arshay Cooper. I highly recommend this book, and there is even a documentary about this story now.
I look forward to next month’s new book. I also plan to read other books written by these two authors, Wes Moore and Arshay Cooper.
I am still in Crochet Kindergarten 101 and working on block one of thirty. The puzzle, well, I don’t know. What have I learned from my challenging learning experiences? Quite a bit, I have learned that even though I am slow and make too many mistakes, I don’t give up and keep trying. I need to give myself credit for that.
Are you working on new projects too? I’d love to hear about them. If you have suggestions for me, please send them! Take care, and stay safe.
Kudos to your for trying new hobbies and projects, Nikki! I love your posts and photos.
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