#8. My Preferred Handheld Device
There is time for viewing, but it also so important to make time for doing
My phone had a front row seat to my life. Sometimes, I think it may have been more present than myself. It was stored in the safest pocket, nicest pouch or, I held it in my hand, as I walked around.
I would move to the phone when I needed to “unwind” and would scroll through spools of content, woven by the algorithm to keep my attention.
But then knitting and my own desire to be more intentional about my time, came into my life, and instead of wishing for a third hand—to do it all—I put the phone down. My device became an afterthought. Sometimes it hitches a ride in a pocket, but often its left on the windowsill.
Yes, I still use it and appreciate for the communication tool it is, and even the computer skills it brings along with such ease—maps, translate, the opportunity to take a decent quality photo. I like it, I like it, I like. But my phone needs to remain a tool that I use to complete a task, and when that task it done, the phone is put down.
When presented with “me time” I think I have straightened out my priorities. I find myself deciding between a book, or needles, and either option is an enriching one.
My current project has a pull on me: my first sweater with our, farm yarn. I am working on a new skill: knit front, knit back, to make raglan increase…or so the pattern tells me. Beyond this, it’s a lot of garter and stockinette which gives my brain enough ease while still in growth mode.
Will this sweater fit? When watching videos—on my phone—of talented knitters, they are dubious and recall that their first sweaters did not fit at all. Hm. But they advise to not take it personally and keep on learning.
My brain buzzes with a question:
“How to know if your sweater fits?”
My fingers reactively swipe away the video and conjure the keyboard—on my phone—to type this question but I intervene and no question is typed. Autopilot interrupted.
I’m on the journey. I’m knitting this sweater. It’s in motion. It might fit, it might not. But my goodness I rather work on it, than tumble down an internet tunnel about what might or might not be.
There is time for viewing, yes, but it also so important to make time for doing.
I pick up my needles, my most favourite handheld device that I have ever had the pleasure of owning, and continue with the next round.
No notifications pop at me trying to catch my eye, no battery threatens to die, no red bubble inflates around my email app, suggesting unfinished work.
I suspect that my phone, as smart as it is, doesn’t respect me and spends most of its time testing my boundaries. My knitting needles, inanimate as they are, might not respect me, but we are in a partnership, as we work through this pattern, together. I intend to hold onto that as long as I live.
Sew, until next week, I knit.
Kaitlyn
From the Swiss camera roll: