Blogging As Crafting

I came across a really interesting article the other day that I'd like to share..."Why Crafting Is Good For Mental Health"  .

May is recognized as Mental Health Month  , and I know many of us who blog have hobbies outside of writing that include crafting (as defined in the first link)...I like crosswords; some knit, and others prefer the great outdoors. How we relax doesn't necessarily have to define us in any way...as long as we can relax.

And blogging is a craft. It's a form of art the same way a novel or magazine commentary can be. When you treat it like such, it can be cathartic. It keeps your mind active in ways your physical being might not want to respond to. I personally can't knit, and my mom tried to teach me...there are a lot of things I just don't have the patience for. But blogging, or any writing for that matter, can provide us a creative outlet we might not be aware of within us.

Speaking as a mental health patient, I have to keep a regular routine of medications...and when I don't I go off the rails. Being able to write about it helps; it puts my mind back in place the way a pill (or many) can't. If I don't continue doing what I enjoy the most, I will suffer. Writing is still to me what I do best in life. And there's no greater exhale than the one that comes from posting a blog entry you're proud of. Just like finishing a quilt, or topping off a fantastic chef-inspired dinner, or simply taking your shoes off after a long day.

In short form, always do what makes you happiest. Find your release point. If that means counting stitches or watching your grammar, all the better. You can make arts and crafts however you please, as long as you continue to keep doing it...and understand that for some of us, blogging is the best option.