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 Mandala
I love the perfect even stithies on this pretty crochet mandala. The yellow rings in the center give it a floral feeling and the pinks give it a feminine appeal.
Meet the Maker
This winning crochet mandala was created by Clare of @frankielovescrochet on Instagram where she shares lots of beautiful crochet in terrific color schemes like this along with the occasional kitty cuteness and inspiring images of nature.
Words by Wink
On 2/5/13, Wink recognized the powerful impact of writing down the things that you’re most grateful for. As someone who makes gratitude lists of my own, it’s a practice that I definitely agree with. Wink shared:
“When you think about it, there is just SO much to be grateful for! I really needed this today, too. I’ve had a tough day yesterday and I could use a pick-me-up! Not being able to work full-time is challenging, and some days I handle those challenges better than others. Making this list has helped me get over that rut I was in and appreciate everything I have to be grateful for.”
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. Let’s talk a little bit more about gratitude in the fight against depression. A 2013 article by Dr. Schwartz says: “Research over recent years clearly shows that gratitude has been linked to decreased depression, increased optimism, fewer physical ailments and increased amounts of Dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is also referred to as the “feel good” neurotransmitter in the brain.” And a 2012 article by Alex Korb PhD shares “the results of four studies that show how gratitude can, among other things, help you exercise more, sleep better and be happier”.
But when you’re in depression, it’s hard to feel grateful. Hangdog Revival writes:
“To someone who’s depressed, gratitude is a tough sell. How do you manage to feel grateful for anything if you’d rather just swap it all for oblivion? Depressed thinking traffics in wholesale rejection of life. It spreads aspersion in big thick greasy smears across your entire history, going back to the moment when mom popped you squint-eyed out into the harsh light of a fallen cosmos.”
But then adds:
“But you do need ways to clamber out of the sinkholes you fall into, especially when your hope of doing so shrinks to subatomic proportions. Let me brass-tack it for you. The thing about gratitude is, it works. Not only can you can crank it up with specific activities, but it’s likely to have a potent, long-run effect on your mood, your energy, your health and your relationships. Start by using it to ladder out of that pit.”
Keeping a daily gratitude journal is one common recommendation. I’ve done that. I also try to post/ Tweet at the end of each day listing the things I did that day. When I do that, I take a moment to be grateful for each of those things, however small they may seem.
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.
This has given me a new perspective of your tweets about your day. I hope you had a good one today.
My day was good. I managed to cross a lot of tasks off my list so I am going to bed feeling pleased and satisfied. That’s fewer things to do tomorrow.
I am grateful to have had some practical support today to do some of those tasks leaving me with energy to get other things done including taking time to nurture and care for myself to stay well.
Wishing you and your readers a good day xx
Sometimes that practical help makes all the difference!
I also really enjoy the beginning and end of each month. The beginning always feels like a fresh start, a chance to do a few new things in a different way. And the end is a chance to look back and see what I accomplished even when it felt like I was doing nothing. Just by looking at the people I saw, books I read, posts I wrote, etc., I feel proud.