Mending requires work, and it's easier to abandon the difficulties of the task than it is to start something new. We are all so focused on instant gratification and the misleading concept of self-care as it relates to creating "boundaries," which usually means cutting people off (giving up) instead of trying to communicate with them (mending). I think that's why so many people abandon relationships and projects that require too much of their time and attention. They end up missing out on the beauty and satisfaction that comes from transforming something and making it through to the other side, even if it's with something as simple as a newly hemmed dress. It's true that certain things cannot be fixed, but I think it's better to look for opportunities to do the mending. It requires a certain sort of selflessness, but just imagine if more people embraced that concept!
Thank you for writing this. I mend things all the time. All my clothing comes from thrift stores and I wear them out. I recently turned the collar on a shirt. That seems like a big project but it’s really easy. I love, curating my clothing.
I really enjoyed reading this. Gave me a lot to think about. I also think the word mend is so graceful and gentle which all types of mending you mentioned I believe requires grace and gentleness. Thank you!
In the 90s, I managed to write a dozen short stories. I looked all of them over again in the early days of the pandemic. Two of them were "almost" ready for prime time, so I worked on them first. The rest of them need more extensive overhauls, and my plan is to tackle them one at a time, to give them the space they need. I like the idea of Salvaging over Scrapping.
Mending requires work, and it's easier to abandon the difficulties of the task than it is to start something new. We are all so focused on instant gratification and the misleading concept of self-care as it relates to creating "boundaries," which usually means cutting people off (giving up) instead of trying to communicate with them (mending). I think that's why so many people abandon relationships and projects that require too much of their time and attention. They end up missing out on the beauty and satisfaction that comes from transforming something and making it through to the other side, even if it's with something as simple as a newly hemmed dress. It's true that certain things cannot be fixed, but I think it's better to look for opportunities to do the mending. It requires a certain sort of selflessness, but just imagine if more people embraced that concept!
I write therefore I mend! Loved this post. The tiny bits we salvage are often the ones that make it all worthwhile.
Thank you for writing this. I mend things all the time. All my clothing comes from thrift stores and I wear them out. I recently turned the collar on a shirt. That seems like a big project but it’s really easy. I love, curating my clothing.
I really enjoyed reading this. Gave me a lot to think about. I also think the word mend is so graceful and gentle which all types of mending you mentioned I believe requires grace and gentleness. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing. Mending is believing that it can get better- thank you!
In the 90s, I managed to write a dozen short stories. I looked all of them over again in the early days of the pandemic. Two of them were "almost" ready for prime time, so I worked on them first. The rest of them need more extensive overhauls, and my plan is to tackle them one at a time, to give them the space they need. I like the idea of Salvaging over Scrapping.