I have a love of the educator and philosopher Charlotte Mason who said, "Our aim in education is to give a full life. We owe it to them to initiate an immense number of interests. Life should be all living, and not merely a tedious passing of time; not all doing or all feeling or all thinking - the strain would be too great - but, all living; that is to say, we should be in touch wherever we go, whatever we hear, whatever we see, with some manner of vital interest."
The more engrossed in technologies the less 'body' we become. Sure we think - and are therefore the 'head', sometimes we even feel - and are therefore the 'heart'. But do we notice, do we use, or do we occupy our time well? Examining where we go, what we hear, see and notice with living curiosity?
I started to crochet last year - I'm bad - it is sort of ridiculous how bad I actually am. I do not set out to complete a specific project, I will not begin with squares as to avoid hurting my pride when indeed it does not become a square. I instead set out to do a project. But I was going to let this project become what it was made to be. Barbie's skirt was gray, but sensible. My daughter thought it would do the trick.
Continuing these aspirations I set out with a bit of curiosity for my boys. I told them I would make them something for Christmas. They were thrilled every time I took the yarn out (which was the same color gray as the previous skirt) they cheered and asked what it was going to be. With a twinkle in my eye "I don't know yet" was always my answer. One guessed scarf - I thought maybe it would turn into a scarf. Another guessed a sweater - I was pretty sure it was not going to be a sweater. But I kept going and as I looped and knotted (is that the lingo here). I saw what this would be. I had never crocheted something so exciting. I finished it in secret and was able to give my sons this gift.
With vital interest they each exclaimed as it was unwrapped: "A Snake" / "A Worm"... hmmm, you decide.
What has captured your vital interest recently?