Less Fear

In the last week three people have asked if I intend to write for this blog any more. I told them I didn’t know.

I’m not exactly sure why I stopped writing. I think it mostly has to do with the fact that I wanted this to be a place where I could express myself without censorship. Turns out that’s harder than it sounds.

But, I have some kind of need to express myself that won’t go away so here I sit. Again.

Perhaps it would be appropriate to return to writing with my goals for a new year. They aren’t resolutions. Just ideas. And they revolve around the need to live, write and love with less fear in 2008.

I found the perfect expression of my desire in the writings of Franklin Habit, author of my favorite knitting blog “The Panopticon.” He was writing about creating things with sticks and string without using a pattern – just your imagination and an idea.

“I've decided it boils down to having these things at your command:
1 enough curiosity to want to deviate from written patterns, or make up your own;
2 a willingness to pause and examine what's in front of you;
3 a willingness to try different approaches until you create what pleases you;
4 a working knowledge of basic moves in knitting, including increases, decreases, and the basic effects on the fabric created by knit, purl, and y/o;
5 patience; and
6 the understanding that it's just knitting, it's done one stitch at a time at your own pace, and you can undo it if you don't like it.”

From “The Panopticon,” January 6, 2008 by Franklin Habit, www.the-panopticon.blogspot.com

Curiosity. Really looking at where you are and where you want to go. The courage to try new things. Basic moves. Patience. One day follows the next and each one is mine, to live the way I need to.

I feel better already.