Knitting and Fibromyalgia

I posted this photo yesterday on Instagram (I'm cc_almon if you want to follow me).


For me, knitting truly is a gift. I began knitting back in 2005. I had always wanted to learn so I finally purchased one of those teach yourself to knit kits and dived in. Since then, I've knitted a gazillion afghans, scarves, baby blankets, hats, etc. I eventually taught Damaris how to knit and she has made some amazing pieces in the last year or so.

Knitting has been with me through some difficult times, through grief, through pain, through stress, through illness. Knitting has become such a part of my life that I'm rarely without a project sitting next to me or in my bag.

Knitting is part of the rhythm of my life, as the needles make their clacking sound, as one stitch after another is formed, as the yarn wraps around the needle, as a finished piece appears.

Breathing out frustration, breathing in calm,
breathing out pain, breathing in relief,
breathing out tension, breathing in peace.

As my health has gotten worse in the last couple of years, I've had people wonder how I continue to knit. But, how can I not continue to knit?
Yes, at times it is painful.
Yes, at times it is difficult.
But more times than not, the calm and relief and peace that I experience as I knit outweighs the pain.

I'd be lost without knitting. It has moved from a mere hobby to being an integral aspect of my life.

So I keep the rhythm going, as the needles make their clacking sound, as one stitch after another is formed, as the yarn wraps around the needle, as a finished piece appears.
Breathing out frustration, breathing in calm,
breathing out pain, breathing in relief,
breathing out tension, breathing in peace.

Shalom.