One of the beautiful things about living in San Diego is the amount of warm sunny days that just beckon you to come outside.
I spend many days quilting outside. I love the feel of the sun and the cool breeze that comes in from the water. I understand why so many people flock to San Diego. There is something peaceful and recharging about this place. Maybe its something in the fresh sea air, but I feel it very easy to slip into a meditative state when I stitch outdoors.
When I lived in Arizona I would take my crafting outside to work on. People would give me the strangest looks and would often stop to ask what I was doing. People seems shocked that someone so young would be doing 'old-fashion' stuff that their grandmother use to do. It was suggested on more then one occasion that it would be quicker to just buy the item at the store already made instead of wasting my time making it myself. Though I would try to explain the benefits of slow stitching and active meditation, all most people saw was a girl wasting time making something she could easily buy at Walmart.
In San Diego the vibe here is a bit different. I'm guessing its because so many people come here to slow down. In such a high tech, fast moving world, people here seem content to have long lunches on the beach or take a nap in the park while listening to the civic organ play. In a city where yoga pants is normal dress and bike riding is the preferred mode of transportation, meditative quilting fits right in.
I do not believe in coincidence. I know our family was stationed here for a reason. In just the short time living here I have gained more clarity in the path that my life has taken. I have also been able to solidify my desire to help others through promoting the benefits of hand stitching.
So, now sit outside again, my needlework tempting me into another session of relaxing repetitive stitching. The sun and breeze our conspiring with the needlework and I find it of little use to protest. So I am off again to stitch and meditate.
Please, as often as you can, take your crafting outside and enjoy the day. Nature is full of creativity and takes pleasure in seeing others being creative too. Go outside and stitch!
