Long week.. lots of ideas..

This week has been a long one, the house got sick and anyone that has kids understands what that means.. thankfully we are on the mend, but yuk!!! So the to do list this week has gotten longer and longer not shorter...
I dislike to do lists, but if I do not have it written down I will not remember that it needs done. I have used apps on my phone, and even an old palm(tm) to keep track.. but I keep going back to paper.. for some reason seeing things marked off on paper is more satisfying than having them disappear, or get checked off on the phone. I find that paper also helps me to prioritize better. I know people that the apps are better for them, that is good! find what works for you and run with it!! there are many things in life that there is no right or wrong ways to do, but each person has what is best for them.. from my years in retail I can say that 2 or more people in an area with different methods is normal and can cause a headache for the boss. But when they work together and find a method that can work for the area, then the real work starts to get done...
Hmm.. that gets me thinking about how people work together, and the learning process that can be. We live in a "unconventional" household, several generations, single, married, kids... but I think that gives us a stronger foundation to work on. oh yes, we have our disagreements and the one thing we always say is that we will work together to solve the issues, some issues are with 2 members others with 3 and still others with 4 or more. But the family we have here is stronger for us all being here. My mother also lives in a home like that and the same thing works (the process is different, but the outcome is the same). There it is again.. the process is different.. each member of the family has to keep growing and learning to keep the process going. The day one stops is the day that the system starts to fail.
Food for thought.. what have I done today to keep learning and growing? is it a new skill? a new way of looking at an old problem? a book that made you think? something someone said that lit the bulb? the options are limitless, as long as we are looking to grow and learn for ME.

Epiphany

After several nights of not being able to sleep, I wasn't exactly thrilled at another sleepless night. My back was acting up again and nothing I took put the slightest dent in the pain. So I went trolling around on pintrest to see what was new. There wasn't much except an article about how we are killing crochet. With all the free stuff online it's getting harder and harder to make a living in the craft world. Instead of paying for a class you can go on YouTube and learn the techniques for free. As for patterns, you can find almost anything online for free. And don't get me started on all the people that undervalue their work.
I didn't agree with everything the article said, I am more of the opinion that the craft business community needs to adapt to the availability that the Internet provides. Classes can focus on a project or on design. Books and patterns need to be multifunctional to appeal to those of us willing to spend money on such things.
It may take a new generation of crafters to see these changes made. But we crafters are a hardy lot. We will survive. We will adapt and change and grow.

Thoughts

The last few weeks I have had lots of things running in my head..
With both Lisa and I loosing our dads with in 6 months of each other, my outlook on many things has changed. I am wanting those I love to know it every day, I cherish the days I have, and try not to put off things that are really important.
This last month I have had several conversations that have helped with some things I wanted to make sure were clear to all, I have been working toward several things I have wanted most of my life...
The day coming up this weekend is one of those that most people like to go out and buy things to show their love.. I have issues with this, not that I dislike getting things or buying things for others. but that people think that is what they should be doing. I like the special things that are done anytime, not because of a day. My dad liked to get Mama flowers, and he did it most Fridays, but I know that there are times he would just because.. now that he is not here us kids are trying to do random things for Mama, just so she remembers that we care, even when she is feeling the worse. Those are the things that speak to love, not just one day a year (or 2 or 3 if you count birthdays and other special days).
This year John, Lisa, and I are planing on getting away for a day or so for this holiday, but more that it is a reason to, not that we think we have to. But I am working on plans for things that I can do all year long to show my love. Right now I have knitting projects for some people, and other ideas for some. There are still those that I have no ideas for, but I will keep thinking...
My challenge for this year is to find little ways to show my love all year..

Creating vs.Depression

I've been doing a lot of thinking the last few months. It all started when my dad passed away in July.  He loved working with his hands. I guess that's where I get it from. And then today someone in one of the facebook groups I'm in asked about personal passion and how other busy mothers fit that in. My thoughts went all over the place. One thing that stuck me was that when I don't follow my passions, if I'm not creating something, with my hands or with my mind, I sink into depression. In our house we make time for creativity. It may not be much. It may be 5 minutes between chores. We always have something with us when we go to the doctor. Those dead times are perfect for working with our hands. There are times when I have a ball of yarn in my pocket or bag and my knitting needles or crochet hook in my hands. That works for times when standing in line is necessary.
The holidays were a rough time in our house. As I mentioned I lost my dad in July. My sister found out in November that her father had stage 4 lung cancer. So the holidays were spent traveling back and forth. And in January he passed away. Our minds have turned more and more to our creative sides. That is what we both learned from our fathers. Both of them had careers that were mainly intellectual, but they both enjoyed working with their hands and creating things. They put so much love into things they created. Whether it was something they wrote or something they built, they put so much of themselves into it. It was just part of who they were.
Now we both feel like that part has passed down to us. Our creative outlets may be different that our fathers were. But we still carry the tradition on. Creativity is in our blood. It is part of who we are. Without it we are only half a person. I think that is why I have to be creating something or I start sliding into depression.