Posts Tagged ‘learning’
20 Dec
A Girl With a Book
Nearly a decade ago a young girl read a book about another young girl who had dreams of becoming a newspaper reporter. In the book, the young girl produced a family newspaper. With her camera she took pictures which she included in her newspaper. This tale inspired the young reader to start her own family newspaper. For about a year the girl made a newspaper for her family every week and even included photos she had taken with the camera she had received from her parents. She brought the camera everywhere she went, including to her family reunion where she photographed her relatives. This was the first time she had been to a reunion in a long time and she knew very few people. Normally timid and quiet, behind the camera she was brave and confident, and she learned that meeting new people was less scary than she had previously thought.
Upon arriving home and reviewing the photos she had taken, she, with the encouragement of her parents, entered some of her photos into a competition at the county fair. Her pictures did exceedingly well and she learned it wasn’t so scary to highlight her abilities in the public.
A few years later, now more fully grown but still in her youth, she received an unexpected phone call. The caller was a board member of a club to which the girl belonged and explained that the club was in desperate need of a replacement newsletter editor for the upcoming year. The girl, knowing she had the skills required because of her experience making a family newspaper, agreed to the request and accepted the position. As the newsletter editor, the girl learned that meeting deadlines and maintaining professionalism was quite satisfying.
Looking back, now as a young woman anticipating college, she realizes the book was a bigger influence than she realized. Reading the book had inspired her to develop skills and confidence. What seemed to be a simple choice of a young girl lead to profound self-discovery.
12 Jan
A Woven Connection
I have often noticed that weaving provides an excellent opportunity to think. There is something in the rhythmic movements and actions that brings one closer to their center and clears their mind, enabling them to think more clearly. Whether the thoughts are deep philosophical ponderings, every-day problems, or simply daydreams of one’s own creation, it is easier to go over them while weaving.
There are many other handcrafts that provide this mental solitude for people. I think this might be part of the handcraft ‘revival’ as it is sometimes called. People feel more of a need to connect with a sense of calm, peace, and quiet as their lives become ever busier and more filled with noise.
Handcrafts can also bring people together. We join clubs and guilds in order to learn from others who have more knowledge, to share ideas, tips, and companionship. Sometimes, even while we are still learning, we find ourselves sharing our knowledge with others. We realize we’ve joined a circle of giving and taking, learning and teaching.
Handcrafts can draw us closer to our history and our world, to family and neighbors, to our community and even to people half-way around the world. As we weave, knit, spin, crochet, or quilt, we are also creating a common thread with others who enjoy the craft. If we take a step back and look at it, we realize just how beautiful the whole thing really is.
ayla's allegories 