I'm happy to join Kat and fellow Unravelers with what I hope is a nearly completed Hydrophily.
These things just haven't been conducive to sitting and knitting like I'd rather be doing, but fingers crossed he can resolve this without surgery. We'll see, but that's all the more reason to have a Hitch on the Move cast on and maybe a backup Hitchhiker for waiting room knitting.
I did finish several books this week. Now that winter is ending, light is returning, and the daffodils are almost ready to bloom, I thought it was time to finally finish Winter Solstice. My outlook is a bit different in March than it was in the depths of January, but MacLaughlin provides us with a wonderful meditation on all aspects of the winter season.
“Winter tells us, more than petaled spring, or hot-grassed summer, or fall with its yellow leaves, that we are mortal. In the frankness of its cold, in the mystery of its deep-blue dark, the place in us that knows of death is tickled, focused, stoked."
I found this to be true and especially agreed with the author when she wrote about our urges to honor the dark with festivals of light. I liked thinking about the universality of the experience, even if the winter solstice occurs at different times of the year for those of us in opposite hemispheres. This is a book I'll reread next winter and I look forward to MacLaughlin's Summer Solstice.
As soon as I finished Leaving two weeks ago I looked for more of Roxana Robinson's writing. She wrote Sweetwater 21 years ago and I think her writing was much less developed than it was in Leaving. Sweetwater is the story of Isabel, her life with her husband Michael and his mental health, their struggles with fertility, Michael's death, and her subsequent unsatisfactory life with her second husband Paul. It's told in non-chronologic order which caused me some confusion, but it's also a very bleak story. There was an event that happened so quickly without explanation that I had to go back and re-read to make sure I hadn't missed something. Much of the novel takes place in the Adirondacks and these sections helped me to round this 2.5-star book up to 3 stars. This book felt shallow yet filled with despair, and I would recommend Robinson's more mature writing in Leaving over Sweetwater.
I thought that Languishing was a book that had been pretty much written for me once I read the summary, so I was a bit surprised to find that it was just average after reading it. Corey Keyes first does a decent job defining the terms he is talking about. Languishing is an “absence of wellbeing that millions of people were experiencing but found hard to put into words” during the Covid-19 pandemic. He explains that this state of mind involves a lack of excitement, community disconnection, and “the constant feeling of unease that you’re missing something that will make your life feel complete.” Languishing is not depression or sadness, but Keyes does say it is the opposite of flourishing.
The author then goes on to discuss the daily practices he feels are necessary to move from languishing to flourishing: Learn Something New, Build Trusting Relationships, Move Closer to the Infinite, Find Your Purpose, and Play. Do any of these sound familiar? I haven't read a lot of self-help, but I think that these things have been mentioned in almost every self-help book available. I can't argue with any of them; they are so obvious as to almost be common sense.
While I respect Mr. Keyes' research in flourishing/languishing, some of his action plans seemed a bit vague to me and I'm afraid they would also feel overly forced. I think that the pandemic was an obvious time for so many people to feel as if they were languishing; before vaccines, we needed to be mired in a state of languishing to feel safe. But I also think that languishing has been a "normal" state for me after times of great change such as having children, the kids leaving home when they are grown, changing jobs, or or retiring from work. I view it as a time where I've paused and asked myself "What's next?". It's not just a stop on the way to flourishing or happiness, but using periodic languishing can be a way toward finding contentment. I think this subject and pertinent information could have been better presented as an article or TED talk.
The author then goes on to discuss the daily practices he feels are necessary to move from languishing to flourishing: Learn Something New, Build Trusting Relationships, Move Closer to the Infinite, Find Your Purpose, and Play. Do any of these sound familiar? I haven't read a lot of self-help, but I think that these things have been mentioned in almost every self-help book available. I can't argue with any of them; they are so obvious as to almost be common sense.
While I respect Mr. Keyes' research in flourishing/languishing, some of his action plans seemed a bit vague to me and I'm afraid they would also feel overly forced. I think that the pandemic was an obvious time for so many people to feel as if they were languishing; before vaccines, we needed to be mired in a state of languishing to feel safe. But I also think that languishing has been a "normal" state for me after times of great change such as having children, the kids leaving home when they are grown, changing jobs, or or retiring from work. I view it as a time where I've paused and asked myself "What's next?". It's not just a stop on the way to flourishing or happiness, but using periodic languishing can be a way toward finding contentment. I think this subject and pertinent information could have been better presented as an article or TED talk.
What are you making and reading this week?
Your Hydrophily really is gorgeous -- your color choices, your stitches, Sarah's design. I enjoyed those close-ups!
ReplyDeleteI hope John can get through or around his cervical neck issues without surgery. (My dad had that last August. It's been tough.) I know it's hard for everyone in the house when there's a pain- or health hurdle. Sure makes us appreciate (and miss!) our 'normal'! Good luck. Truly.
Thank you, Carolyn. I'll keep knitting on my Hydrophily and taking John where he needs to go. He's had three sacral back surgeries previously so he knows what to be fearful of!
DeleteHydrophily continues to make me happy - and it's not even mine!! LOL. I sure hope John can avoid surgery. When I had a herniated disc in my neck and surgery was a strong possibility, instead I opted to do home traction and some PT...and it worked!! Thank God. It wasn't fast or easy, but anything to avoid surgery is my motto.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I don't see anything wrong with languishing (as long as it doesn't continue FOREVER). I think it can be a time to re-charge...a time to rest...a time to contemplate, etc., etc.
John has just started his first week of PT, so I'm hopeful that he can get some relief soon. He is being very good about doing his exercises. Hydrophily makes me happy, too, and I'm glad you feel the same way!
DeleteI'm sorry to hear about John's neck/back issues, and I certainly hope a solution other than surgery is able to be found and he can get some relief soon. I also hope none of the anxiety over this issue finds its way into your shawl, which continues to be stunning.
ReplyDeleteI think after a lackluster week of reading, you're due for a great read next! I'm trying to decide what book to start, as I just finished a Big Book (A Little Life) last night.
Hydrophily is quite an accomplishment! I've really enjoyed watching it grow.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Hopefully, you'll get to see a finished Hydrophily next week.
DeleteOh ugh, John. I am sending all the healing vibes I can muster his way! Too bad that gorgeous Hydrophily does not have magical healing powers when wrapped around ones body! (although I am pretty sure knitting has magical powers... perhaps John can take it up after doing his PT exercises!!) Your reading this week is inspiring to me... who could not manage to finish a single book!
ReplyDeleteOh, Bonny, that Hydrophily is so lovely! I'm sorry to hear that John is having neck pain and issues and I hope it's something that is easily fixed.
ReplyDeleteI am hoping and praying that John feels better soon, what a crazy amount of testing but now they have good info to help him. May you have many many knitting hours this week.
ReplyDeleteYour Hydrophily is so lovely! The Sarah's design and your knitting and choice of colors work beautifully together! I hope John gets relief of his neck pain soon!
ReplyDeleteYour Hydrophily is lovely, Bonny. I hope your enjoyment in knitting it is equal to its beauty. I have been unable to get into a book for a while now, but hopefully that will happen eventually. I am trying to be patient about that, and I have been reading a lot of extremely simplistic books just for escape. Of course, all my library books have become available just as my reading mojo disappeared. I have had cervical neck issues since I was a teenager, and I feel John's pain. Exercises and good body mechanics have helped me avoid any invasive procedures, and I hope John has the same experience.
DeleteThanks, Debbie! It really is a wonderful pattern and I've often marveled at how well Sarah did coming up with something so lovely.
DeleteOOPS! Didn't mean to reply to Debbie. DUH
DeleteAll the best wishes to John!
ReplyDeleteIs languishing a bad thing?? I tend to think of it as a restful -- possibly meditative -- state, which may not be the definition, and perhaps there's a point when it could tip to depression, but I think periods of languishing are probably good. It can't be healthy to be in a prolonged state of excitement, either. Everything in moderation, as they say... rambling ...
Sending John and you all the good vibes. languishing in the "good sense" only! like maybe a nice nap, with some comforting knitting, and NO NEED AT ALL to move forward. xxoo.
ReplyDeleteAnother fan of your Hydrophily here!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much!
DeleteThe shawl is so very pretty. I keep writing the same thing but the combination of colors is just perfect together. I'll hold a good thought for you and John. I hope the PT is helpful.
ReplyDeleteYour knitting is lovely. I hope Jack's physical issues resolve through PT -- it can do wonders. I recently read an essay about how adults should emulate toddlers, not the tantrums but the almost constant play and delight with the world. I am all for that!
ReplyDelete