A new normal

They say that you are never given what you cannot handle... I feel very strongly this is a mis-quote. Surely we are given situations in life where we throw our hands up in the air and wave them around at something and give up, momentarily... But we soon realize that screaming and flailing our arms about is really not the best way to cope with stress. No, the saying should be, Even when you are given situations that you cannot handle, hang in there, stay the course, keep on walking, do not look back (unless you drop a $20 in the ground) and most importantly, be thankful for those that are walking the journey with you.

The past few years have been pretty high on the stress-o-meter. Between school, being a mom and helping to take care of my mother I am not quite sure how I have survived. It had to be the two trips to Ireland.... Yeah, that must of been it...

But this past year has especially been difficult on all of us. So in my second quarter of Grad school I was faced with an opportunity! What shall I create? When I first thought of the tapestry project I knew it held a sense of community. Tapestries have been the life-blood of my world for as long as I can remember. I never had a "woobie" that I carried around. But I have always had a blanket/throw/comforter that I love curling up into and losing myself to TV land... It becomes my cocoon. During my massage years I covered my window, walls and table with Celtic knot work tapestries. These represented my longing for Ireland and how I yearned to go there.

When I arrived at the idea of friendship bracelets, at first I was not sure where I wanted to take it. But after experiencing Marie Watt's "Engine" installation at the Tacoma Art Museum, I was inspired to do something with blankets. "Let's make a tapestry out of bracelet's" I thought.... Then I began to think, wow I would need a lot of bracelets for this project... So I sketched it out and decided I must have at least 400 bracelets to make it work. I quickly learned that I would need some serious help in that department. I put the call out to my friends and family on Facebook and the response was amazing!!!  20 people dedicated time and energy into helping me produce friendship bracelets. For those that needed string, I sent them a package of it in the post. :-) Out of the 20 who originally donated time, I have received 14 packages in the mail....

This is where I have to go back to the beginning of my blog today... It is within these times of trials and confusion that the universe reminds me just how lucky I am to have so many phenomenal people. I feel so surrounded by love and support by these wonderful bracelets I am receiving in the mail. Each one is so different from the others! For those that have invested time into this project, I appreciate you... I appreciate your energy and support at this time in my life and I am thankful we are walking this journey together... Thank you for instilling me with a sense of community during a time where I have felt very alone with my emotions and fear. And while I am weaving this tapestry this Saturday I will be sending each of you special prayers of gratitude and happiness... I love you!!!