Here is the next of the beautiful, inspiring, special contributions coming in to the #MandalasForMarinke remembrance project. I am grateful for each and every amazing contribution. You are invited to join; learn more here.
Beautiful Crochet Spoke Mandala
Crafter Anneke writes:
“As a tribute I used Marinke’s pattern of the very symbolic Spoke Mandala. The colors symbolize the bright, beautiful and talented creative being she was. She brought sunshine in many lives. The blue stands for Sky/ Heaven. Her spirit will live forever.”
Meet the Maker
This sweet, symbolic crochet mandala comes to us from Anneke in The Netherlands (who also uploaded a photo of it to the online memorial/ condolences page for Wink. Anneke shared:
“I am familiar with clinical depression and anxiety because I have been working at a neuroscience department for a long time, not as a PhD but as a staff member. Depression was one of the severe disorders in which research was done during many years. I hope that one day adequate medication will be found to really heal all people who suffer from this awful disorder, which destroyed the precious life of Marinke and many others.
She adds:
“I craft for a cause. During a long time I had severe muscle disorders and I developed anxiety. (I like to emphasize that my state of anxiety meant nothing compared to the severe depression Marinke was suffering from. I only mention it because I want to explain how crafting for a cause came my way.) With the healthy part of my brain, my common sense, I kept the daily returning panic attacks under control.
Despite my situation, I wanted to continue to fill my life in a useful and meaningful way. I surfed the web and found a charity organization that cares for vulnerable, deprived or parentless children form ages 3-9 years old. Hundreds of women and men, worldwide, make colorful 8″ squares, knit or crochet, which are made into blankets by local volunteers. Children, who lost their childhood and have nothing at all, are now wrapped in a warm blanket, have a hat, a toy and a warm sweater. Crafting for a cause doesn’t only bring a little bit of warmth and sunshine into the lives of vulnerable children but it also has brought contentment into my own life.
It was one of the loving and caring members of this charity organization who brought the very sad news about Marinke to our attention. She informed us about the suicide and within the website of the organization she made a personal blog for and about Marinke. We shared our feelings about what happened to Marinke and how inspired she was by Marinke’s work. We were in shock that Marinke passed away, so young, so sweet, so talented. I am thinking of Marinke every day.”
Words by Wink
In July 2014, Wink shared some new yarn that she had purchased. I loved how she celebrated this small joy in life:
“Sometimes, when you’re aimlessly clicking and scrolling around on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook (you know what I’m talking about!), you come across something that almost stops your heart; something so special that you just can’t resist, something that really makes your heart sing. And a few weeks ago, that happened to me. Twice. Okay, three times.”
To me, this is the kind of post that represents so much of Wink’s voice. I miss it.
About Depression
One purpose of this project is to raise awareness about depression so each post will end with some facts, thoughts or quotes about depression, suicide and/or mental health.
Today I want to offer my own note on how Anneke mentions above that her experience of anxiety isn’t comparable to what Wink was experiencing with depression. While that objectively may seem true, it is my understanding of mental health issues that they simply can’t be compared to one another. One person’s suffering is not more important than another’s and what we individually experience as awful is truly awful. I’m not saying that Anneke is wrong to say that, as it was important to her to note it, and that too is part of her experience and is valuable. Instead, what I’m saying is that none of us should ever think that our own individual problems “aren’t bad enough” because they don’t seem to be as bad as what someone else experiences. Depression and anxiety are terrible, ugly, difficult, devastating things, to whatever degree you might experience them. Your own experience matters.
All contributions to Mandalas for Marinke are welcome and will help raise awareness about depression while honoring her work in the same way that this great contribution has done today. Details to join here.
Hi Kathryn, just wanted to agree with your words above. We must all value ourselves and our experiences in/of life as they are what makes us the unique beings that we are and they’re also what makes us able to support each other.
Big hugs Sarah
<3 HUGS