Tony W

Knitting relaxes my mind and anxiety. It helps me to think clearly and keep positive which helps to soothe me. Lately it helps me with my mental health battles.

While I'm knitting, I feel so joyful. I've had so many bereavements in recent years and find it hard relating or interacting with people and society.

When I'm knitting, the stress is no more. It brings out a positive state of mindfulness and peace. Never would I have envisioned myself doing this kind of creative work.
It's almost like I'm creating a life form made from creativity, sounds strange, but I can look back and see what I've actually created in real time.

It's like all my pain and anxiety go into these patterns of shapes which form together to make something amazing. It also enables me to notice the space I've created to be in - at that moment, especially around mindful people.

I go away from this space feeling like a new person. Like I can achieve something. I feel like I've done something constructive and satisfying. I guess we don’t know how important our hands and minds are and what we can do with them.

When I'm knitting, I look at the stitch and patterns and try to understand how I am creating this using my hands and needle, concentrating all the time, like a meditation, breathing calmly and relaxed, capturing the thought peacefully.

I'm learning more patterns, which will take time to achieve, but I will also enjoy the journey mindfully along the way.

To me, every pattern represents a challenge, similar to life. So, I'm learning to take small steps. ‘Learning to be present in the moment, being connected, being free and most all becoming wholesome.’