Hi Compassionates,
I hope you’re enjoying Spring, and all the magical moments it entails. The taste of delicious milk chocolate, frequent sightings of pink blossoms, wildflowers, the rapid activity of nesting birds, and the health giving warmth of the sun. So much to be grateful for! I’ve decided to devote this Spring blog post to creation and crafting following three great days with my nephews over the Easter break, and our latest nature and mindfulness meet up in the park to celebrate space day.
Crafting is really great for well-being, no matter our age. It can instantly take us into the zone, a surrender to the present moment, where life suddenly becomes much more simplistic and calm. For children, perhaps they instinctively know that crafting it is good for them, as they happily cut, paste, stick, thread, sculpt, they unwittingly work on refining their fine motor skills, and cognitive skills, whilst building self efficacy, that sense of achievement they get when they stand back and say, look what I made, I made that! 🙂
For adults, it’s perhaps more of a mental break as the chatter in our minds is silenced, and we start to appreciate the direct sensory experience of what we are doing. A little contented smile may return to our face as we no longer become so concerned with outcome, but instead relax and enjoy the unfolding process, and the sense of possibility.
Crafting can be an instant stress reliever, the therapeutic value is well documented, and one of the things that first drew me to the occupational therapy profession. It was partly founded on the arts and crafts movement, during the late 1800, at the time of the industrial revolution. Craft programmes were set up for disadvantaged people as an antidote to manufacture and machine production. And also used to help veterans recover during the first world war, as well as during the moral treatment movement, as an alternative therapy to restraining people living in mental asylums. It appears crafting is deeply rooted in humanistic values. And as a creative medium perhaps an important part of what makes us human.
Now I’m crafting outdoors with children for the most part, which is all the more mindful. It was lovely to see the children’s creations last Saturday at the nature and mindfulness meet up. It brought a real sense of joy to watch their creativity unfold, as the clay bots that they made took on personalities of their own. Here’s a picture of one of my favourite bots. It’s got a smiley face, perhaps a compassionate face, do you think it could help us evolve towards a more compassionate future? 🙂
Little Miss Compassion x
planetcompassion.org 