Taking a break from reasons to retire...

100 Reasons I'm Retiring

Hi, Friends! You may wonder why no “Reason” has appeared in your inbox in the last two days. Good question! I’ve been off from school for the Day of the Ascension and a Principal’s Holiday, so these two days haven’t counted as school days. It’s been great to have a little time to breathe, to work on some editing, and to sit and knit. Today, with its cold rain, is perfect for knitting by the fire.

As many of you know, knitting is for me a means of meditation as well as catharsis. I don’t think I would have survived the many years of my husband’s illnesses and accompanying ER visits and time spent in waiting rooms without my knitting bag. Not only did knitting keep my hands and mind occupied, it often provided an opening for conversation with other shell-shocked families who sat in nearby plastic chairs.

But as a writer, knitting is also a time for me to sift through my ideas for stories and characters, to test out phrases and—forgive the pun—spin my yarns. With the lovely knitting journal my son gave me for my birthday at hand, I can jot down notes that occur to me that may seem to have nothing to do with knitting, but are an integral part of weaving a story.

Until Monday, then, when Reason 79 will hit your inbox and the countdown will continue!

What hobby or craft helps you relax on those odd days off? Do you, like me, find they fulfill more than one purpose?