Rachel's Reflections

My body trembled as I moved through the woods. I tried to corral my racing thoughts, paying no attention to my surroundings. I wanted to flee the trauma that had been dredged up in the seminar that morning. Emotions that I usually kept locked up in a dark closet in the recesses of my mind had been let loose. I was afraid that it would be impossible to herd them back into their closet. My physical shaking was a reaction to the inward turmoil. I was determined to reach a certain spot. I needed space. I needed quiet. I needed safety. A whiff of the surrounding woods seized my attention. I halted mid-stride as the saying "stop and smell the roses" came to mind. I breathed in the pungent, earthy aroma of moss, fallen leaves, and a nearby marsh. A chorus of crickets and frogs drifted up to me from the marsh. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves high above my head. I heard birds singing and flitting from branch to branch. I could feel the tension leaving my body. I noticed I wasn'...

I got frustrated and wanted to give up. It had become harder than I had initially thought.  I had promised Mama R that I would teach her how to do it.  I had been looking forward to giving hand-made gifts to new mamas and watching their faces light up with joy.  I had already bought a lot of the needed supplies. Unfortunately, the first blanket I attempted to crochet was tiny and dense. I had not planned well.  Then, I attempted a not-so-beginner-friendly stitch... and failed. That's when I wanted to give up.  The world of crochet, however, is forgiving. Going back to square one, I practiced making a square with each different stitch. I unraveled and reworked the squares many times until they were perfect. Confident enough to move forward, I planned and prepared for my next blanket. I measured out the appropriate lengths. I chose the color scheme I wanted. Then I went to work. Baby blanket in progress At first, I had to make a few adjustments, but I am dete...