Healing Through Art by Cheryl Chojnacki; Daily Herald; September 28, 2008
"The Awakenings Project won a Celebration Recovery award in 2006 for Outstanding Contribution to Recovery by a Non-Profit Organization. The project plays a vital role in the well-being of many who struggle with mental health issues. Through Awakenings, some are discovering, for the first time, that mental illness has an upside.
Virginia Goldrick, at the Eckert Center for Mental Health in Elgin, Illinois explains, "Some people see mental illness as a burden, as limitation. But it can also open your eyes to many things-not just to human suffering, but also to the depth of human spirit.
In her 1993 book Touched with Fire: Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament, Dr. Kay Jamison builds the case that mental illness often goes hand-in-hand with artistic ability-citing Lord Byron, Robert Schumann, Vincent van Gogh as examples.
The initial idea was to investigate Kay Jamison's claims of the artistic characteristic of great artists. Her initial research was very important to all of us because it showed that mental illness could be seen in a positive light. We give (participants) a sense that their work in art has a positive dimension, and it also provides a social dimension. The fact that we've been going for ten years now indicates that there's something of merit."
Virginia Goldrick, at the Eckert Center for Mental Health in Elgin, Illinois explains, "Some people see mental illness as a burden, as limitation. But it can also open your eyes to many things-not just to human suffering, but also to the depth of human spirit.
In her 1993 book Touched with Fire: Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament, Dr. Kay Jamison builds the case that mental illness often goes hand-in-hand with artistic ability-citing Lord Byron, Robert Schumann, Vincent van Gogh as examples.
The initial idea was to investigate Kay Jamison's claims of the artistic characteristic of great artists. Her initial research was very important to all of us because it showed that mental illness could be seen in a positive light. We give (participants) a sense that their work in art has a positive dimension, and it also provides a social dimension. The fact that we've been going for ten years now indicates that there's something of merit."
The Brain by Peter Austin, was purchased by Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Knitting and Crochet Offer Long-term Health Benefits; PRLog.org; August 17, 2009
"New studies show that repetitive needlework provides a number of invaluable health benefits. Stress exacerbates most medical conditions. In our increasingly stressful lives, Doctors are advising patients to manage stress as part of overall health.
Many argue that the repetitive movements of needlework activate the same areas in the brain as meditation and yoga. Knitting and crochet have a calming effect overall which can help manage anxiety. Additionally, the repetitive movements have been shown to help manage disruptive behavior and ADHD in children."
A Day in Women's History Month by Claudette Ortiz: Las Cruces Sun News.com, April 8, 2010
Three sisters crochet together and are aiming to create a scarf. "Through their laughter, they seem to not have a care in the world. Calling the evolving scarf "rustic" instead of "textured" a helping hand is needed from one sister to another due to the elder's debilitating stroke.
All the sisters are the sort who refuse to give up; maybe even when they should, the middle sister thinks, looking at the scarf. Stress seems to run away from things like released endorphins, shared politics and strange-looking scarves."
Peace Begins with You; Yarn Manufacturers' News; 2016
Christina Campbell's premise in her patterns, "If exercise makes someone feel less stressed, maybe encouraging peace was the answer." Knit Your Peace provided patterns downloadable on Ravelry and knitandcrochet.com
Proceeds from the pattern sales go to Peace it Forward in order to support the projects of international organizations. "I'm sincerely trying to build peace in our community and nation," says Campbell." So many people are looking for a glimmer of hope, and with this you get the pattern, you get the knitting. Through the blog posts you realize it's your choice to choose peace, which puts you back into being responsive to what's happening in the world instead of being reactive."
All the sisters are the sort who refuse to give up; maybe even when they should, the middle sister thinks, looking at the scarf. Stress seems to run away from things like released endorphins, shared politics and strange-looking scarves."
Peace Begins with You; Yarn Manufacturers' News; 2016
Christina Campbell's premise in her patterns, "If exercise makes someone feel less stressed, maybe encouraging peace was the answer." Knit Your Peace provided patterns downloadable on Ravelry and knitandcrochet.com
Proceeds from the pattern sales go to Peace it Forward in order to support the projects of international organizations. "I'm sincerely trying to build peace in our community and nation," says Campbell." So many people are looking for a glimmer of hope, and with this you get the pattern, you get the knitting. Through the blog posts you realize it's your choice to choose peace, which puts you back into being responsive to what's happening in the world instead of being reactive."
Project Peace
Ask an Expert - Five Ways to Find Peace by Staying Present in 2021 by
David Schramm; Utah State University Today; May 10, 2021
"It is easy to get caught up in the events of the past or the future. However, doing so only brings worry and causes you to miss out on the present. On the other hand, mindfulness – or focusing on the present moment – leads to better health, lower anxiety and greater resilience to stress. Learning to incorporate the concept of “flow” is one of several ways to increase mindfulness.
Have you ever enjoyed an activity so much that you did not feel time passing? This intense absorption and involvement is called flow. In addition, the enjoyment is usually lasting and reinforcing and provides a natural high that is not accompanied by negative feelings.
Finding activities that result in flow is exhilarating. Change things up by trying new things. Our brains crave variety and novelty. The key to finding flow is developing a balance between skills and challenges – finding something you are good at and enjoy, but that still stretches."
Read Schramm's entire article to learn how to practice activities that help flow come naturally more often.
It's amazing to me that many of the ideas from years ago still apply to achieving peace of mind/peace. Maybe it is time for us to consider the ideas with the hope and prayer that one day real peace will come to our world, one loving being to another. Let's give it a try together, one kind gesture at a time!
"I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable...but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing." Agatha Christie
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