Sunday, March 18, 2007

Sunday Scribblings #51 - Inspiration

The Crafter´s Companion projects : ALL DONE!
The prompt "Inspiration" urges me to talk about the shift in thinking that I mentioned a few weeks ago. The book The Crafter´s Companion came along at just the right time for me and I thought it would be fun to try to make all the projects in the book. I didn´t realise how moving all the stories about the bloggers in the book would be for me and while I went through making each item I thought about the experiences of the person who designed it, which role crafting, selling and creating plays in their life and also in my own life.
When I started this blog I hated my job, I thought that crafting would get me out of the rat race and enable me to earn money from home and have more time with my kids. I was unsatisfied with my appearance and with my surroundings and I felt more like I was "trying" ways to live rather than living. I used to spend a lot more time watching TV, dreaming about a life I could have, a figure I would be happier with and how I could change my job.
The steps I took - with the advice and encouragement of the people who leave comments here - were to try and make my working days more enjoyable by surrounding myself with music and things I love in my office and doing my work 100%. Now I am a lot more successful at teaching and it is such a joy to watch people understand and feel comfortable with a new language. I have made it an aim to help my students become more confident and recognise their strengths and I see that I have made a difference to many people. Now I love my job and I can finally really start to enjoy crafting as a hobby without putting pressure on myself just like many of the bloggers I read about in the book. There are many who have made their craft their occupation but there are also many who have a day job and I have come to realise that this is right for me too.
I look around me and see that the world is made up of people in all shapes and sizes. Taking care of my body, eating nourishing and delicious foods and enjoying eating without worrying about calories or my figure - that is how I have learnt to live. I don´t eat fast food and I don´t diet - over the last year I have stopped eating all those white and empty carbohydrates that had me feeling tired and heavy. I weigh myself only once a week and slowly but surely I am headed for my goal weight of 85kg (7kg to go!). I go for my walk/ride my indoor bike every day and I have found shops which sell lovely clothes in my size.
What I really want to say is that my inspiration is here...you, your blogs, your comments, your books and projects are my inspiration and have helped me to recognise my boundaries, make changes and learn to appreciate so many things that I felt negative about.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Blogland is a wonderful and vast sea of inspiration. I'm glad to have come across your blog too. :)

Michelle | Bleeding Espresso said...

Wonderful post, and congratulations on feeling more fulfilled and content :)

Jennifer W. said...

What a wonderful post, and congratulations on making it through all of the projects! You are my inspiration!

Anonymous said...

hooray, HOORAY!! What a marvelous post and a wonderful way to be - I am so happy for you and proud of you!!! What a post to read - you made me so so happy!!

megg (blogger won't let me login to leave comments...)

Michelle said...

Fabulous post and well done to you for being successful and now enjoying your job too.

African Kelli said...

It is amazing how when we look for happiness, it bowls us over. Congrats! Your projects are as beautiful as your attitude.

Berber said...

Well done on finishing all those projects!!
I'm so glad you're feeling happier now :))

Jamie said...

Wow! It is so wonderful to be here reading this, Claudia. What a joy to have watched this transformation. It fills me with joy to see you so confident, creative and positive. You are truly a force for good and I'm glad to know you.

Anonymous said...

Lovely post, Claudia. You are an inspiration yourself for finishing all those projects! Wow. I'm glad you've found a content place in life. We are changing so much about ourselves right now that we are busy looking to the future (when we'll be doing things "right") instead of being content with now. It feels exhausting.... Thanks for the insight.

mormar said...

I agree you are always an inspiration to me. Everytime I read this blog I so admire you. I love this post it gives me such hope for myself, I often feel the same way you did and I am trying to move forward to a more positive attitude. Thank you

Elizabeth Metz said...

What a great post -- it's very inspiring, both to see all the completed objects, and to "hear" you talking about such radical self-acceptance. Thank you for letting us all take a peek into your life. :)

Anonymous said...

Such an inspirational post. I'm still struggling a lot with body image/weight stuff. I am aiming for your state of mind, at least.
Thankyou so much.

Anonymous said...

Well done completing all those lovely projects - I am just starting my first one! What a wonderful post!

nasty_wench, AKA sharon-lizette said...

I know exactly where you are coming from. Crafting has made me happy again.

I adore your blog!