Today’s beautiful floral crochet mandala for the Mandalas for Marinke project comes from Monique Lubberink from Easy Now Mindfulness, which is a one-woman-business in New Zealand, through which she gives mindfulness training, mindfulness parenting skills, workshops, etc. She formerly worked in The Netherlands as a psychologist for adults with ADHD and / or autism spectrum disorders.
Monique shares:
“I read on The Crochet Crowd Facebook page about how depression had taken another precious life, I didn’t know Marinke but I went to her blog and loved her immediately.
She was Dutch, just like me! She had autism, which runs in my family. I could understand her struggles. And it made me even more sad.
Making the mandala, using her design, was just a natural next step. I learned from her blog how to best finish off and to start new colors. So, with every other project I make, I will be remembering Marinke.
There is still a lot of ignorance out there about mental illness, and if this project helps to take that away, that would be great. Crochet is a great activity that settles your mind and is relaxing. I just read an article about how crochet and the repetitive movements help the brain make more serotonin, which helps to decrease feelings of depression.
I have always loved crochet. I sell the odd objects on Facebook, and I like connecting to other people the best! There is a big loving global crochet community, and this is a fantastic thing.
My message to Wink’s family is that I feel so sad for her loss. If her legacy helps other men and women in their struggles, I hope that this can comfort them.”
Easy Now Mindfulness can be found on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Monique can also be found as Yoga Sandals NZ on Facebook.
I’ve written previously about meditation for depression using crochet as the means to mindfulness. Here are some of those articles:
- 5 tips for crochet as meditation
- How crochet can help with mindfulness practice
- 10 tips for more mindful crochet
- Simple mindfulness crochet exercise
- How to crochet for mindfulness and be mindful in crochet
- Pocket Prayer Shawls Provide Portable Comfort
I’ve included crochet mindfulness exercises in my book Crochet Saved My Life. There are more of them in my upcoming book, Hook to Heal, including the use of Wink’s basic 12-round crochet mandala pattern as a tool for meditation. I love the way it involves crocheting in the round, adding a count to each repetition from round to round, increasing gradually. It’s so soothing and one of the most meditative crochet projects I’ve ever done.
Thank you very much for sharing my remembrance mandala for Marinke on your lovely website.
<3
Monique