Inspirations - Community, Environmental, Creativity

An uncategorized pile of 'clippings' - that's what we started with.  I tell you nail clippings are more interesting, but I supervised anyway; after all some of it is going into my blog.

I've managed to get her to sort most of it into 3 piles - which are roughly defined as: 

1. Community (stuff that brings people together in positive ways)

2. Environment - this is a big one - from massive save the planet stuff all the way down to recycling used coffee grounds.  It includes some interesting science, some technological developments, some 'inspirational' individuals, and some weirdness....

3. Creativity.  This whole inspirational clippings process started with F looking for interesting knitted ideas (to use up stashed yarn), and a new and challenging craft to try and learn in a locked-down world - so, although more of a personal journey, a few of those ideas are in there too because they are usually colourful.

There are a few outliers - usually stories of outstanding humanity in challenging circumstances. 

And some things straddle two categories, so we are going to start with one of those.

This one falls into community and knitted creativity.  First the link: MAKE GIVE LIVE

This is a story about knitting groups set up to bring isolated people together - to knit, primarily hats.  Knit one (to a set pattern) for sale and get the materials to knit one of your own creation  for giving away to someone who needs it.  The groups help (particularly) new arrivals in the community meet others, learn a new skill or develop their existing, feel less lonely, feel less anxious, have a sense of purpose and have an opportunity to give something back to their community.

We guess this idea of a creative group could be extended to other crafts or skills, and to some extent is reflected in the Mens Sheds movement.

If you have read all the way to end of this and explored the links you might have developed an idea that F has some underlying fear of isolation or loneliness.  She assures me that while not currently lonely or isolated (solitude is something that cats adore) she is fully aware that it can creep up on humans as their years go by if they don't practice being 'not lonely' and pursue ways of ensuring they stay connected within their community.  She has seen perfect examples of loss of connection in previous generations of her family (and great examples in a grandmother, and her father, both of whom she adored, of working hard to maintain connections).  Humans all have to find their own ways to connect, and these are a couple of inspirations for that.