So much goodness here Kavitha! You write with such eloquence and honesty. A wonderful read! Getting to a point of being consistently kind to ourselves and doing what brings us joy is key. Soak in all that your walking brings to your mind, body and spirit. Releasing those endorphins and building you up with every step.
Doesn't it stink when we feel out of control of our lives. Especially when we start to realize that we are the ones doing this to ourselves. UGH! Where does it say that 'this or that' has to be done? None-the-less we can get ourselves tied in knots trying to please others, .... or what we think others expect from us. I can honestly say Kavitha I do not think any less of you for giving up running as a form of exercise. It is of no worry to me at all. But then running never was my thing. I'm more of an indoor exerciser in the winter and yard tender in the spring and summer sort of exerciser. I like Tai Che, but I seem to need a group to keep regular with it. I do a little yoga anytime I feel the need to be kind to my body. I also like things like volleyball and dancing. But I live in a rural setting that doesn't have an adult gym for that sort of thing. Luckily, I live in a 2-story house with my workroom and bedroom upstairs. I go up and down those stairs many times every day usually carrying clothes, books or knitting. Hopefully that counts for something. 😅
I need to tell you that I found knitting while walking was not for me. I can do it with effort, but it makes me feel like I am missing being outside. I love nature...like seriously LOVE nature and so it was asking a bit much for me to ignore it here in MAY! as I was trying to knit while walking. Heck, as much as I enjoy audio books while knitting, I don't even listen to music or audio books outside when I mow. But then I am lucky enough to live where I see eagles and owls and hawks most every day and squirrels, deer, grey foxes and such quite regularly. I love that you added a quote from Kahlil Gibran. He is a favorite of mine and well worth making the time for when one is in a dither. Did you know that Mother Theresa was a huge Agatha Christie fan? True! Also love your sweet Ansh Cowl! Would make a fine gift to have on hand when needed! I have some very pretty single skeins of yarn that would be perfect for this pattern!
Sandy, thank you so much for all your kind and encouraging words. 🤗 It honestly sucks to finally discover that a lot is not in our control and like you RIGHTLY said it is mostly our own doing. 😅 Yoga, Tai-Che, tending the garden all sounds like great activities that would leave body and mind refreshed. Volleyball sounds amazing too. I hear you about walk and knit- if we are able to clearly tell something is not for us, we need to take the signals. There are some moments knitting can feel irrelevant - may be there is nature or there is good music or great company that we fully want to immerse into. And that's quite a number of animals and birds you get to see! 🤩
I've never heard that bit about Mother Teresa! 😱 I hope to read every. one of Agatha Christie's novels and IMO she was the pioneer what we today call as "cozy mysteries". 😁
I am so glad you are pondering Ansh possibilities! :) Thank you.
Kavitha, thanks for understanding about my knitting and walking issue. We have been having a rather nice spring. Today, I'm watching lots of lovey-dovey birds in all of the pretty green trees!
I just downloaded The Ansh cowl pattern. I have a skein of a shiny dark gold yarn in a silk-blend that I think might show-off the pattern. Looking forward to knitting it! Now that you mentioned her, I may listen to an Agatha Christie, once I get started! 😉
PS Thanks for the links to the instruction videos for the Russian Bind-Off and Whip Stitch that come with your Ansh pattern! 😃
Thank YOU for the support. Silk blend sounds lovely for Ansh. I had used an Alpaca blend and it turned out drapey. Lol! that is a great combo for knit+read. I am trying to include links (sometimes my own, sometimes others') in my patterns. Hope you enjoy the knit. 🧡
Current knitting project, summer tee made with DK weight linen/cotton blend - many inches of in the round stockinette stitch until I get up to the entertaining lace yoke. Current Audio book - War and Peace! Tolstoy is perceptive, and very very funny and his characters are people I would like to meet, and the lifestyle of those Russian nobles is spectacular, and it is very obvious why the serfs were so susceptible to Lennin’s communist/fascist propaganda, and rather amazingly current in relationship to ongoing world conflicts, both political and economic. Thank you for this great site.
Linen+Cotton blends are amazing and wear beautifully. I am sure your tee is going to turn out lovely! I haven't read War and Peace myself but I can imagine it must be such a wonderful read. Especially there is value in reading history up close and understanding perspectives instead of just in 'broad brushstokes'.
On your poll: I like knitting one-skein shawls because I have a lot of fingerings weight yarn in just one skein, but... I've found that one-skein shawls often seem a bit small to me, so I've been warming up to ones that take two
Ohhh.. there can be all kinds of dilemmas around shawls. :) You are right, one skein shawls can feel small. I have been turning my attention to long and shallow shapes that can be wrapped a couple times around. Thankfully, there are so many shaping options to explore.
This is such an inspiring post! It resonates with me so much! I, too, recently stopped running after about 5 yrs and my body is much happier, but the guilt has been heavy. I love your way of reframing. I love walking and biking and will try and see it as “good enough” in my mind since they are so much better for my creaky knees! Thanks as also for your wonderful musings!
Thank you Alexa for weighing in! It sucks to be not able to do something we aspire and I agree with you on the guilt part. It took a long while to process these things. But right now, like you say, I am much happier with my body and my knees are definitely thanking me.
This is very true of me. I had to stop running because of an injury and surgery. I was very upset for quite a while, judging myself and missing the runner’s high. But I had become obsessive, and was using exercise as a weird punishing activity. I still miss it, but know that overall it wasn’t good for me. Thank you for sharing this and reaffirming my thoughts and feelings.
Thank you too for your sharing your experience Jeanie. I slid down the path of self judgement and over-exercising too, after deciding to quit running. It took a while to connect the dots, actually listen to my body and work towards energizing it and keeping it healthy.
Loved reading you and relate to a lot of what you say here, Kavitha. I always hated running, and never really saw the point (unless I need to run away from danger or run to catch the bus or the train, and nowadays, even these only make me run if it's not a sweat.. :P). I never liked sweating because it makes my skin itch since I was a kid, so I run away from it. :D But there's always a thought in the back of my mind that running would make me a better person, or that it would mean I'm the kind of person that can actually run and be consistent. This thought is losing strength though.
I'm really consistent in taking walks with my dog and crocheting every day. And that's good enough! With time, I've come to understand and accept that we already have enough things to do that we don't like, and it's better to incorporate only what we and our bodies and minds can sustain without pain, and not put ourselves under unnecessary pressure. Small things done a lot of times, small moments of enjoyment that give a stretch to my legs, my hands and my brain, suit me better as a "self-care" routine, than doing something that will give me pain and discomfort and set me up for failure. Like running!
(I don't knit - saving that for retirement, 'cause I'm afraid I'll become obsessed and I already struggle to crochet all I want - but would knit the red version of the Nasha shawl. It's beautiful and the smaller size means I'd be able to wear it more easily and more often.)
I am so glad it resonated with you. You are so right about the feeling that goes : "running would make me a better person." Some of these feelings are so unreasonable yet we let them take over our lives and they are not easy to let go!! (: It seems like you are in a lovely journey of understanding your needs and caring in the best ways possible and I love that and wish more of us do that too. Lol!! I understand being wary about another hobby. :)) Thank you so much for your kind words about Nasha.
I took up running with the BBC coach to 5k app and was amazed to find I could actually run 5k. I never bothered with times or distances, but would just go out and run and enjoy the experience. I didn't run fast but it felt good. I looked around me and said good morning to people as I passed them. I absolutely love the decoupage! At the moment I'm nourishing myself with my new allotment which is ultimate joy. I'm a passionate gardener. I've also developed an exotic plant passion. Every morning I get up and look at my seedlings and feel that the earth has got back in its orbit. I've been without a garden for three years.
Ahhh, that’s so right Lily! I used to love running with Nike coach. It was fun to discover that you could do so much. I am eager to see what you’re doing with the allotment. It is so exciting! I agree, watching plants in the morning is such a joy.💚 I have always loved gardening and used to grow a variety of things whenever there is an option. Right now, I have turned my attention away from wanting to grow veggies to just caring for house plants. I am not able to dedicate more time than that. But hopefully sometime in future, I might return to more gardening. 🤞
Hi Kavitha, Thank you for sharing your running experiences. It can be so hard to let go of things that aren’t good if it feels like failure to stop. I kept trying to run even though my body told me no. I ended up with a torn meniscus and months of PT. It’s been a struggle for me.
I’m finally getting back to being able to walk reliably without pain. Our bodies have so much wisdom if only we can learn to listen.
Oh my, that sounds awful. Glad you are getting back to normal. You hit the nail on the head - it is up to us to learn to listen to our bodies. I had gained more body weight and was slightly insomniac even with so much 'active running'. It took a long time for me to connect it to the running and the stress I was inviting for myself over running.
I hear you on this. Very interesting write-up! I don't like running, though I have considered in my mind, whether I should start. My sister runs without fail. My husband has finished two half marathons and gearing up for a full. I tried running on the treadmill, didn't like it and then gave up. I am a walker and that has stopped for the past two months due to extreme heat in my neck of the woods. I love listening to music and podcasts while I walk. At home I walk and read most of the time.
Thank you Vidya! It's hard not to compare when people around us are doing things that we wish to be doing ourselves. It's really hard. At these times I try to remind myself about how unique we all are and what works for others necessarily wouldn't work for me. If my physical goals are achievable by other exercises, then that's what I will do. If you have access to a treadmill, why not walk on it when it is hot outside. You could find something fun to add to it as well. Once you've figured your routine, don't let slip ups build. I try to tell myself I can't miss two consecutive days of walking.
After commenting on your post, I reflected a bit and have begun my walk since yesterday. I had stopped my walk around the nearby lake cos the road conditions were really bad. I don’t like walking on the treadmill in the gym in my apt complex as I find it claustrophobic in there. :)
I had to quit doing what I was doing because of my back issues. My neighbors helps me with yard work. The inside I do when I can. I just had another back surgery since a month ago. I wasn’t completely healed so they went in to see why hopefully this will fix the problem so I can go back and start living life again.
My brother was a runner most of his life until his knees gave out. He had both replaced. He didn’t go back to running but started to ride a bicycle, less strain on the knees. You will figure it out of what’s best for you as you have a strong willpower. You need to keep your body strong and if running doesn’t do it then think of something else you like to do. As my brother always say. It Is What It Is.
Robin, you always have such kind things to say to me. I am so sorry to hear about your back issues. I hope there is some kind of pain management available to you and sending you every wish and prayer for complete healing. Thank you for sharing about your brother. It is great to hear about how people overcome things that life throws at them.
So much goodness here Kavitha! You write with such eloquence and honesty. A wonderful read! Getting to a point of being consistently kind to ourselves and doing what brings us joy is key. Soak in all that your walking brings to your mind, body and spirit. Releasing those endorphins and building you up with every step.
Oh Jodie! Such kind words, I am sure I will hear in my mind every time I step out. Thank you so much. ♥️♥️
Doesn't it stink when we feel out of control of our lives. Especially when we start to realize that we are the ones doing this to ourselves. UGH! Where does it say that 'this or that' has to be done? None-the-less we can get ourselves tied in knots trying to please others, .... or what we think others expect from us. I can honestly say Kavitha I do not think any less of you for giving up running as a form of exercise. It is of no worry to me at all. But then running never was my thing. I'm more of an indoor exerciser in the winter and yard tender in the spring and summer sort of exerciser. I like Tai Che, but I seem to need a group to keep regular with it. I do a little yoga anytime I feel the need to be kind to my body. I also like things like volleyball and dancing. But I live in a rural setting that doesn't have an adult gym for that sort of thing. Luckily, I live in a 2-story house with my workroom and bedroom upstairs. I go up and down those stairs many times every day usually carrying clothes, books or knitting. Hopefully that counts for something. 😅
I need to tell you that I found knitting while walking was not for me. I can do it with effort, but it makes me feel like I am missing being outside. I love nature...like seriously LOVE nature and so it was asking a bit much for me to ignore it here in MAY! as I was trying to knit while walking. Heck, as much as I enjoy audio books while knitting, I don't even listen to music or audio books outside when I mow. But then I am lucky enough to live where I see eagles and owls and hawks most every day and squirrels, deer, grey foxes and such quite regularly. I love that you added a quote from Kahlil Gibran. He is a favorite of mine and well worth making the time for when one is in a dither. Did you know that Mother Theresa was a huge Agatha Christie fan? True! Also love your sweet Ansh Cowl! Would make a fine gift to have on hand when needed! I have some very pretty single skeins of yarn that would be perfect for this pattern!
Sandy, thank you so much for all your kind and encouraging words. 🤗 It honestly sucks to finally discover that a lot is not in our control and like you RIGHTLY said it is mostly our own doing. 😅 Yoga, Tai-Che, tending the garden all sounds like great activities that would leave body and mind refreshed. Volleyball sounds amazing too. I hear you about walk and knit- if we are able to clearly tell something is not for us, we need to take the signals. There are some moments knitting can feel irrelevant - may be there is nature or there is good music or great company that we fully want to immerse into. And that's quite a number of animals and birds you get to see! 🤩
I've never heard that bit about Mother Teresa! 😱 I hope to read every. one of Agatha Christie's novels and IMO she was the pioneer what we today call as "cozy mysteries". 😁
I am so glad you are pondering Ansh possibilities! :) Thank you.
Kavitha, thanks for understanding about my knitting and walking issue. We have been having a rather nice spring. Today, I'm watching lots of lovey-dovey birds in all of the pretty green trees!
I just downloaded The Ansh cowl pattern. I have a skein of a shiny dark gold yarn in a silk-blend that I think might show-off the pattern. Looking forward to knitting it! Now that you mentioned her, I may listen to an Agatha Christie, once I get started! 😉
PS Thanks for the links to the instruction videos for the Russian Bind-Off and Whip Stitch that come with your Ansh pattern! 😃
Thank YOU for the support. Silk blend sounds lovely for Ansh. I had used an Alpaca blend and it turned out drapey. Lol! that is a great combo for knit+read. I am trying to include links (sometimes my own, sometimes others') in my patterns. Hope you enjoy the knit. 🧡
Current knitting project, summer tee made with DK weight linen/cotton blend - many inches of in the round stockinette stitch until I get up to the entertaining lace yoke. Current Audio book - War and Peace! Tolstoy is perceptive, and very very funny and his characters are people I would like to meet, and the lifestyle of those Russian nobles is spectacular, and it is very obvious why the serfs were so susceptible to Lennin’s communist/fascist propaganda, and rather amazingly current in relationship to ongoing world conflicts, both political and economic. Thank you for this great site.
Linen+Cotton blends are amazing and wear beautifully. I am sure your tee is going to turn out lovely! I haven't read War and Peace myself but I can imagine it must be such a wonderful read. Especially there is value in reading history up close and understanding perspectives instead of just in 'broad brushstokes'.
On your poll: I like knitting one-skein shawls because I have a lot of fingerings weight yarn in just one skein, but... I've found that one-skein shawls often seem a bit small to me, so I've been warming up to ones that take two
Ohhh.. there can be all kinds of dilemmas around shawls. :) You are right, one skein shawls can feel small. I have been turning my attention to long and shallow shapes that can be wrapped a couple times around. Thankfully, there are so many shaping options to explore.
This is such an inspiring post! It resonates with me so much! I, too, recently stopped running after about 5 yrs and my body is much happier, but the guilt has been heavy. I love your way of reframing. I love walking and biking and will try and see it as “good enough” in my mind since they are so much better for my creaky knees! Thanks as also for your wonderful musings!
Thank you Alexa for weighing in! It sucks to be not able to do something we aspire and I agree with you on the guilt part. It took a long while to process these things. But right now, like you say, I am much happier with my body and my knees are definitely thanking me.
This is very true of me. I had to stop running because of an injury and surgery. I was very upset for quite a while, judging myself and missing the runner’s high. But I had become obsessive, and was using exercise as a weird punishing activity. I still miss it, but know that overall it wasn’t good for me. Thank you for sharing this and reaffirming my thoughts and feelings.
Thank you too for your sharing your experience Jeanie. I slid down the path of self judgement and over-exercising too, after deciding to quit running. It took a while to connect the dots, actually listen to my body and work towards energizing it and keeping it healthy.
Loved reading you and relate to a lot of what you say here, Kavitha. I always hated running, and never really saw the point (unless I need to run away from danger or run to catch the bus or the train, and nowadays, even these only make me run if it's not a sweat.. :P). I never liked sweating because it makes my skin itch since I was a kid, so I run away from it. :D But there's always a thought in the back of my mind that running would make me a better person, or that it would mean I'm the kind of person that can actually run and be consistent. This thought is losing strength though.
I'm really consistent in taking walks with my dog and crocheting every day. And that's good enough! With time, I've come to understand and accept that we already have enough things to do that we don't like, and it's better to incorporate only what we and our bodies and minds can sustain without pain, and not put ourselves under unnecessary pressure. Small things done a lot of times, small moments of enjoyment that give a stretch to my legs, my hands and my brain, suit me better as a "self-care" routine, than doing something that will give me pain and discomfort and set me up for failure. Like running!
(I don't knit - saving that for retirement, 'cause I'm afraid I'll become obsessed and I already struggle to crochet all I want - but would knit the red version of the Nasha shawl. It's beautiful and the smaller size means I'd be able to wear it more easily and more often.)
I am so glad it resonated with you. You are so right about the feeling that goes : "running would make me a better person." Some of these feelings are so unreasonable yet we let them take over our lives and they are not easy to let go!! (: It seems like you are in a lovely journey of understanding your needs and caring in the best ways possible and I love that and wish more of us do that too. Lol!! I understand being wary about another hobby. :)) Thank you so much for your kind words about Nasha.
I took up running with the BBC coach to 5k app and was amazed to find I could actually run 5k. I never bothered with times or distances, but would just go out and run and enjoy the experience. I didn't run fast but it felt good. I looked around me and said good morning to people as I passed them. I absolutely love the decoupage! At the moment I'm nourishing myself with my new allotment which is ultimate joy. I'm a passionate gardener. I've also developed an exotic plant passion. Every morning I get up and look at my seedlings and feel that the earth has got back in its orbit. I've been without a garden for three years.
Ahhh, that’s so right Lily! I used to love running with Nike coach. It was fun to discover that you could do so much. I am eager to see what you’re doing with the allotment. It is so exciting! I agree, watching plants in the morning is such a joy.💚 I have always loved gardening and used to grow a variety of things whenever there is an option. Right now, I have turned my attention away from wanting to grow veggies to just caring for house plants. I am not able to dedicate more time than that. But hopefully sometime in future, I might return to more gardening. 🤞
Hi Kavitha, Thank you for sharing your running experiences. It can be so hard to let go of things that aren’t good if it feels like failure to stop. I kept trying to run even though my body told me no. I ended up with a torn meniscus and months of PT. It’s been a struggle for me.
I’m finally getting back to being able to walk reliably without pain. Our bodies have so much wisdom if only we can learn to listen.
Oh my, that sounds awful. Glad you are getting back to normal. You hit the nail on the head - it is up to us to learn to listen to our bodies. I had gained more body weight and was slightly insomniac even with so much 'active running'. It took a long time for me to connect it to the running and the stress I was inviting for myself over running.
I hear you on this. Very interesting write-up! I don't like running, though I have considered in my mind, whether I should start. My sister runs without fail. My husband has finished two half marathons and gearing up for a full. I tried running on the treadmill, didn't like it and then gave up. I am a walker and that has stopped for the past two months due to extreme heat in my neck of the woods. I love listening to music and podcasts while I walk. At home I walk and read most of the time.
Thank you Vidya! It's hard not to compare when people around us are doing things that we wish to be doing ourselves. It's really hard. At these times I try to remind myself about how unique we all are and what works for others necessarily wouldn't work for me. If my physical goals are achievable by other exercises, then that's what I will do. If you have access to a treadmill, why not walk on it when it is hot outside. You could find something fun to add to it as well. Once you've figured your routine, don't let slip ups build. I try to tell myself I can't miss two consecutive days of walking.
After commenting on your post, I reflected a bit and have begun my walk since yesterday. I had stopped my walk around the nearby lake cos the road conditions were really bad. I don’t like walking on the treadmill in the gym in my apt complex as I find it claustrophobic in there. :)
Glad to hear you are able start again Vidya! :)
I had to quit doing what I was doing because of my back issues. My neighbors helps me with yard work. The inside I do when I can. I just had another back surgery since a month ago. I wasn’t completely healed so they went in to see why hopefully this will fix the problem so I can go back and start living life again.
My brother was a runner most of his life until his knees gave out. He had both replaced. He didn’t go back to running but started to ride a bicycle, less strain on the knees. You will figure it out of what’s best for you as you have a strong willpower. You need to keep your body strong and if running doesn’t do it then think of something else you like to do. As my brother always say. It Is What It Is.
Robin, you always have such kind things to say to me. I am so sorry to hear about your back issues. I hope there is some kind of pain management available to you and sending you every wish and prayer for complete healing. Thank you for sharing about your brother. It is great to hear about how people overcome things that life throws at them.
Thank you.. They are doing different pain management to see which one works best.
You have been so kind to me with your help doing one of your patterns.