06 March 2011

Priorities

I am a person who prides myself on understanding priorities in my life.  Perhaps it is related to my love of lists, or maybe it's just the way I am wired.  Admittedly there are times I get overwhelmed, but when I can stop and think about it, the priorities fall into place nicely.

Recently, my friend and Sunday co-worker Andrea decided that she needed to make a list of her knitting priorities.  This was partly because she felt that some of her knitting was out of control - lots of starting, little finishing - and also because she wanted to do some other things she liked, such as quilting, riding her bicycle for enjoyment, not only to get someplace, etc.  Everyone immediately started asking her, "You mean you're giving up knitting??  Why would you do it?" 

But her plan was never to give up knitting; rather, she wanted to make some real progress on things she was making, and get some balance into her life as far as crafting and enjoyment go.  Since then, she has finished up a few projects, and though she hasn't finished everything on her list, she says it made her feel more organized and reasonable about her knitting.

I've been giving this some thought, and I like the idea.  I do love to knit, but I also love to read, cook, bake, walk, bicycle, and many other things as the mood strikes.  I always feel like I should spend more time on _____.  So in the next couple of weeks, I'm going to make my own list of knitting priorities.  It may not be extensive, and it won't make me knit faster, but I know it will make me feel like I am accomplishing things, rather than spinning in circles.  For the first time since I learned to knit, I have more things than I really want "in-progress" and some of them in particular I really want to finish - 'cause I started the projects because I couldn't wait to use/wear them!

I do reserve the right to have a pair of plain socks going at any given time, and during the week at least, keep them in my locker at work to work on at my lunch time.   But I think that is a reasonable "exception," don't you?

So stay tuned to see what I decide will be on my list.  I'll also be going through my stash to prune it as well, so maybe this early "spring cleaning" will make me feel like I have a fresh start.  And that always makes me feel better about things.

Having said all of that, if this whole plan makes me start to feel overwhelmed, I guess I'll literally have to go to Plan B ...

7 comments:

Marie said...

You have a Plan B? Dang, I need a Plan B. Of course, I need a Plan A first. I guess Plan A would be to "finish that darned sweater, then you can start on something else." I must have a one-track mind when it comes to knitting.

Brigitte said...

I've been struggling with the same knitting issues as well. I have far too many projects on the go, and instead of finishing them, I then to abandon and frog them. I need to be a bit kinder to myself, and think twice before starting something.

Who knew knitting could bring out such deep psychological road blocks?!

Mariss said...

I know exactly how you feel! That's why I don't want anymore hobbies ;)

SissySees said...

Interesting. Seems I managed to sort it out without any intentional effort... seems I can't be fit and knit much. Huh. Maybe in time, I'll figure out how to knit while I'm on the elliptical trainer?

andrea said...

Oh B! You sum up exactly how I feel and what my priorities list is all about so much more eloquently than I do. Hurray for getting balance in life! I do think there's something about temperatures rising that makes us want to feel free.

Carrie#K said...

Oh no. I may have just realized why I don't finish anything. Normally it's my goal to accomplish NOTHING in my free time. It's free! and time! (is on my side.....) or not.

But that said, I LOVE lists! Can't wait to see yours. (Eventually. As it's all about accomplishing at work).

knitseashore said...

I can really relate to your post, because I have many interests besides knitting: art, writing, cycling, reading, and I've just started to take yoga classes too. Sometimes it feels that no matter what you work on, there's something else you should work on.

My plan is to finish my 2-3 current projects, and then work on only one thing at a time, to finish it in a reasonable amount of time. Can't wait to see your list!!