Introducing Things I Made

Today seems like a good day to start a blog, so here goes. My name is Vera.

This is my first blog. I haven't even been an avid blog reader. But, I have things to say so this seems to be the appropriate media.

Things I Made is a metaphor but also a part of my reality. I like to do crafts. Also, I believe that we create our own reality through our attention and intention. I have made my world and therefore, Things I Made, refers to my entire reality.

Sometimes I will be political, sometimes sad, sometimes angry, sometimes all three. But, as a person aware that life is a spiritual journey, it is a record of my choosing to live in a positive way in the reality that makes me angry and sad.

The purse above is what I made yesterday. Its a fusion of sorts, the outer part is knitted on a circle loom, a very easy and relaxing thing for me. The interior is sewed by machine and even has two pockets for cell phone and keys. I've carted around my sewing machine for 20 years but am only getting back into sewing and am still not very good at it. The drawstrings are crocheted (just chained but double yarn), and since I really like beading I made a handle out of big wooden painted beads. I love getting lost in a day of creativity of making something like this. It takes my mind off other things.

My other project yesterday was to try to find a house to buy. I have lived in an apartment for eight years. I choose to be in a part of town that is expensive but that is where I work and I do not drive. One of my great pleasures is walking to work. So, every couple of years I look for a place for a day or so, decide I can't afford it and sign another lease.

Here is something I made a couple of years ago when I was going through this same thing. I was looking at a house that I really, really liked. It was in a place that I could walk from in about 15 minutes, but was out of my price range.

I remember crying my eyes out after I had done all of the math and thought seriously about what my priorities were. I just was not willing to commit that much of my income to a house payment and I wanted to be within a comfortable walking distance of work. So, I had made a decision and that was that. I sat for hours listening to Abraham-Hicks tapes to help me get back into a frame of mind that felt good. While listening I strung strand after strand of glass beads to make this necklace which is vaguely modeled after something I had seen in Santa Fe.

It would be easy to become very angry about the economy right now. It is supposively good, but I believe that is true for a shrinking number of people. The rest of us are making do the best way we can. I have a good job but because of a visual limitation that prevents me from driving, I am restricted in where I find it feasible to live.

Yesterday, again, I listened to Abraham tapes. From Abraham and others I have learned not to use words like restricted and limitation. From Buddhists, I have learned to simply observe my life and to accept what is without judgment. Sometimes there seems to be a disconnect between these things and the frustration and resentment that can creep in as a response to my experience.

The thing that pulls me back to a feeling of centeredness is the knowledge that my respons to my reality is what continues to create it. If I respond negatively, which is what I want to do when I think of economic realities, I downshift into unpleasantness.

When I look at the simple things I have created I see abundance and joy and a playful spirit. That is the true me and that is the place where I want to be. That, in a nutshell, is why I decided to start this blog. I wanted to write about making the choice to experience my world from an abundant and joyful place. Sometimes it is not manifest in the world that I see around me but that is no reason to choose not to prefer to experience the world as creative and good.