Every so often, I need a reminder to slow down, reflect, and enjoy who I am, where I live, and how I love and am loved.
We are always presented with images of Western ideals to which to aspire–many detrimental, vapid and ethically challenged standards that are best moderated or avoided altogether.
Once everything–school, work, kids, house, car, etc–becomes a competition, where will we find joy? Is happiness only to be found in “winning”? When is enough enough?
Even within our crafterly communities there are those who view the enterprise of creating as a race or a competition. Why not cheer each other on, encouraging independence and diversity? Why be a hater?
And why not just make what you love for your own enjoyment or catharsis?
Eh. I’ll finish stitching it whenever I finish.
It’s a mantra.
It would be kinda cool if you framed it as it. Kinda a case in point. The mantra reminds me of a bumper sticker I see a lot here in Hawaii: “Slow down, you’re not on the mainland anymore.”
I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m in it to win it. Heh.
So true.
I remind myself of this sentence nearly every day. Life is not a competition. Such a great and easy thing to follow.
You’re so right. How often do I see people get caught up in “x-a-longs”, ending up with so many projects!and the pressure of getting it done for that month or week… I’ve decided to do what I like, when I feel like it and in the way I feel like doing it. Much more fun, much more relaxing, and I really enjoy the process, not the progress….
One of my favorites. Nadia Boulanger, right?
who?
these words just came from a brief conversation on twitter about asinine competitive comments on Flickr.
I don’t have any idea what twitter/flickr convo you’re talking about, but Nadia Boulanger was an early 20th century composer/teacher/conductor and a really interesting woman. I’m not sure if this is something she also said or not, but it definitely sounds like something she could have said! She’s eminently quotable, and I think you’d enjoy her -
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/n/nadia_boulanger.html
http://thinkexist.com/quotes/nadia_boulanger/
Brilliant, and Soooooooo true! Especially when it comes to the things we do to relax.
So right and a thing we (as a community) sometimes forget! I love seeing your beautiful and often thought inspirering projects! Thank you for reminding me to take it easy and enjoy!
sigh. it’s beautiful.
I love that you stitch without a hoop.
And this is a wonderful reminder, and so beautifully executed.
I actually like that piece better for being a little bit unfinished.
And I agree – it can be easy to get caught up in crafting “quickly” or “impressively.” It’s important to me that my crafting be a hobby I can relax into, so I’ve been trying to resist that over the years.
So nice – I love that variegated red on the linen.
I love it C! It is so true even though we lose sight of that way too often. Have a wonderful day!
Since I’m a cross stitcher, I completely embrace the slow. It’s frustrating sometimes to see how fast other crafters/artists complete projects when I’m still slogging through the same sampler or other BAP but at the same time while I envy someone making a quilt in a day, I kind of enjoy tracing the templates, cutting the pieces out by hand and even hand sewing. There’s something so peaceful in those quiet acts, but envy hits when I see how fast a quilt can be whacked out with a rotary cutter and sewing machine.
I do let myself get caught up in stupid things sometimes. This is an excellent mantra, and something I need to remind myself of when I get worked up. Thanks, C. Also, Dan’s comment is awesome. ;)
Most importantly, your stitching is beautiful.
Amen, sister! It can be so hard sometimes, when the bulk of my crafty/artistic friends are online, to wade through the competitive-crank-it-out-talk-smack stuff to get to the amazing and supportive community that can also thrive. And don’t even get me started on the competitive parenting thing. Oy.
It’s not? Wow, I needed that reminder again…
here, here!
The embroidery I’ve left unfinished for ages is a quote from Samuel Beckett:
Try.
Fail.
Try Again.
Fail Again.
Fail Better.
I love you more & more, oh Wise One.
And yes! Don’t finish it!
agreed! I’m not a competitive person by nature though I sometimes wish I was, because I think it’d make things at my realjob easier someimes? I do appreciate a deadline – even if it’s just a random point in time.
Beautiful stitching and sentiment.
Love it.
I need to try cross stitch again. I haven’t tried it in probably 20 years (eep i’m old). I would love a cross stitched mantra for my office.
Ces’t vrai!
Love this piece best unfinished, I think.
I always feel torn between the concept that competition is a good thing but needing to be the winner is bad? Needing to win sometimes? Is wanting to win good but needing to win bad? I am not super competitive except when..I AM.
I should really print this out and tack it to the fridge. And maybe also tattoo it on my forehead.
Well said. Thank you.
Love this post. Maybe you should leave it unfinished. Kinda makes a statement!
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I saw this at the perfect time! I am about to head to a neighbourhood mommy meet up at the house of someone who makes Martha Stewart look like a slacker…meanwhile my house is covered in kids craft supplies, the remnants of playing school, cardboard boxes mangled up from creating forts and it was stressing me out. Thanks for the reminder to just be. You’re awesome as always!!!
That is an excellent one to remember and remind others too.
fabulous all around
Beautiful, it reminds me of this post by AngryChicken.
http://angrychicken.typepad.com/angry_chicken/2011/05/just-some-pleasing-dishtowels.html
Love it!
hear hear.
if only more people subscribe to that mantra.
correct my friend! :) do you draft all of your own patterns?
So true!
I’ll second that! (the absolute worst has to be competitive parenting. such inherent insecurity in that.)
Your stitching is stunning. No, I didn’t miss the message, I try to live by it every day but there are many who don’t agree or understand. Besides, being the “best” is fucking exhausting! Creative on demand sucks too!
i love it! and it’s such a good reminder, too. time spent comparing ourselves to other people is time wasted!
Excellent. Really lovely embroidery, and the thought is perfect for so many of us.
(((hugs)))
Very good message and as always beautiful work.
Sometimes it feels like a competition against death, though … and I say that as a reasonably healthy person with decades to go.
Thank you for the reminder but also your beautiful photography. You make me want to take up cross stitch when it is the last thing on my mind. I have started doing all my quilting by hand including piecing. Slows down the completion time but it slows me down and that is the really important thing. Keep the slow down times.
Thank you!!
Thanks. I could use a daily reminder. It’s so silly and not all that hard to just be content when you remember that’s the whole point.
I’ve missed quite a bit on my break from the internets…funny how it is this post that I look at from your space first. This weekend I finally took the steps and ended a relationship with a friend that I’ve had for over a decade. There were many reasons for doing it but what I finally couldn’t handle any longer was the competition I’ve felt from her over the past 3-4 years. Competition in almost every aspect of our lives (not only do we have similar hobbies, but we are in the same field of work)…which lead her down a path of not only not giving me any support, but going the other direction…trying to belittle me all the time. But there are always doubts when you let something of importance go. This morning I read your words, nodded in agreement, and finally breathed a deep sigh of relief. Thank you. And your stitching is, as usual, amazing.
just love this post!! so true :)