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i'm keeping knitting on the list

9.07.2010





i started this sweater way back in may, but had to put it aside for the summer as i went to school and we traveled our hearts out. but i finished the last sleeve last week, and stitched it all together. my first sweater. my third knitting project. i'm pretty proud of it.
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last night cj and i made some lists. these past two years of not having a job and going to school on and off made me feel that if i was free from a job i should do, well, everything. of course, soon i was overwhelmed and life was crowded: full of every hobby imaginable. so i had some serious "cleaning" to do, and i roped cj into doing the same thing.

list numero uno was "the liberating list": a list of all the things i don't need to feel i have to do or accomplish right now at this point in my life. so i felt free to give up sewing my own clothes, learning french, learning how to play the banjo, pressure (brought on by me, of course) to have professional looking photographs, becoming an expert historian on every period in every region under the sun, calligraphy, and many many more. maybe someday i'll come back to these items on this list when it is just the right time.

list numero dos was "the right now list": a list of things i want to put all my energy and effort into. school tops that list for me (and that includes studying for the GRE and learning how to speak spanish), i'm sticking with one instrument (the piano), knitting, cooking simple healthy meals, writing, studying one period and region in history, and a few more things that are on my list.
the de-cluttering of my life has begun!

12 comments:

Cassie said...

you are seriously talented to have completed a sweater (and such a beautiful one at that!) for your third project! well done!

I love the sounds of these lists you've made. I've had to do a similar sort of thing over the summer, due to pregnancy: the slowing down, the doing less, telling myself it's okay to go a little more slowly right now...

Cindy said...

Oh my goodness! Your sweater is amazing!!! I'm proud of you too!!! I grew up knitting with my grandma and I would LOVE to do that again. Congrats! :)

I absolutely LOVE your liberating list idea. I think I want to write my own and link it back to you, of course. I hope that's okay with you. I've never thought about it that way and I think you just opened my mind up to a few things.

Anyhoo, I don't always comment on your pages but I do stop by and read. Love your posts.

xoxo
Cindy

Ann Marie said...

cindy,
i'm excited to see your liberating list! it's such a great feeling to make a list of things you can cross off before even doing them ;)

Tiffany Kadani said...

I just don't understand why you don't just go ahead and publish a photography/poetry book. It would seriously sell millions.

Char said...

i adore the idea of a liberating list. that is perfection.

Unknown said...

this is smart. i think i need to do this.

stephanie said...

I am completely inspired. Thank you for sharing this, because I really need to get with the letting go and get on with "this is what I need to do."

Cindy said...

i think your two lists are great and love your photos. having some sort of plan helps, a lot. otherwise we just tend to drift. de-clutter away!

Dianne said...

I can't believe you made your sweater. For some reason, I thought you would have as much trouble as I do. And, it actually fits. I just don't get how you did it so swell.

Gailen Audie said...

Just simply stunning! (my jaw dropped)

drollgirl said...

i am here via char/ramblins, and i am happy to check out your blog.

LOVE the sweater! fan-farking-tastic!

i also love your idea of making a liberating list. i struggle with procrastination, lack of motivation, and lots of ideas i never get to, which leads to guilt. trying to find a balance in life is TRICKY! but i guess all we can do is try!

ELK said...

hello .. a list should feel this way ..elk