Trying to Stay Open to Things

I am determined to work on aging well...or at least decently. And yes, a little bit of that is keeping up appearances. But a lot of it is mind-set and attitude. I think we each know at least one person who is spiraling inward as they age: refusing to learn how to use technology, setting ever narrowing boundaries for themselves, uninterested in new ideas or relationships. But don't we each know at least one person who is doing exactly the opposite? Someone who is actively seeking out opportunities to try new things, make new friends, understand new ways of thinking? It is this type of open-mindedness and open-handedness that I am seeking as I grow older.

And I naturally tend toward cautious list-making, so I have my work cut out for me.

And I'm not hoping to become one of those toxically positive people, either. They make me cranky. You know the type: people who tell you to live each day as if it were your last. Really? I always picture myself emptying my bank account and buying a sailboat or something. But I recently heard a TED talk where the speaker encouraged living each day as if it were your FIRST and that seems like a better goal. Because first experiences are filled with wonder and curiosity and outright awe. Talk about keeping an open mind!

One of the ways I try to wash the windows of my assumptions every so often is to take a class and learn a new skill. When the skill involves fine motor skills, I can almost feel my brain stretching. Making myself vulnerable to being bad at something new isn't always easy, but it is always good in the long run.

We have a couple of great classes coming up at yarnology which are sure keep your brain bendy:

The first is all about the clever ways to Knit Small Circumferences. Think sleeves, socks, hats, and necklines. If you're avoiding knitting these tubular projects because you haven't yet found the method that suits you, this is your class. You will try circular needles, double pointed needles, and a few other methods that might surprise you!

We're teaching this mind-blowing Circumferences class TWICE: Once on a Thursday evening (July 17, 4 to 5:30pm) and once on a Saturday morning (July 26, 10-11:30am). You only need to come once, but we thought we'd give you some options on timing.

And then (drum roll, please) we have a two-part Learn to Knit Socks course (July 31 and Aug 7 at 5-7pm). You'll make a small sock to learn all of the techniques without a lot of homework. 

Your feet are wider than they are long? We've got a tip for that. Your arches are super high? We can help you with that. Socks never seem to stay up when you walk? Let us give you some solutions. Because the most amazing part of handknitting socks is that you get to make them just as you've always wished them to be.

Let's all practice keeping our attitudinal windows a bit cleaner. Let us try to read new authors, eat new foods, make new friends, listen to new music, and always, always learn new stuff.

Cheers,

Gaby