How to knit a sweater. This post is not about knitting. (Except in all the ways that it is).

Each Wednesday, I post a snapshot of the projects I’m working on, and where my brain is at.

What do you write on a knitting/sewing/style blog the morning after a US election?

What do you write on a knitting/sewing/style blog the morning after this US election?

Part of me says “say nothing, put this post off till tomorrow. No one will notice you missed this Wednesday.”

But I highly doubt I’ll figure out what to say by waiting till tomorrow.

And today is Wednesday. And each Wednesday, for longer than this election cycle has been going on, I have posted “a snapshot of the projects I’m working on, and where my brain is at.”

I’ve posted on weeks when it was easy, and I had a lot to say. On weeks I had nothing to say. On weeks when I forget that I always have something to say. On weeks I was traveling. And on weeks when I pulled a post together on my phone, in a cafe, hoping the person I was meeting would be just a little bit late. I’ve been here every Wednesday for over two years.

So here we are today.

…

If there is one thing I know to be true, it’s that you can’t knit a sweater without knitting a sweater.

How to knit a sweater
Step 1: decide. prep. gather.
Step 2: start.
Step 3: continue.
Step 4: get interrupted.
Step 5: pick it back up.
Step 6: finish.

There is tremendous value in showing up.

Even when you’re not sure what to say. Even when you feel like you’ve been hit by a truck.

Show up. Be present. Invoke grace. Engage.
(It’s the only way to knit a sweater.)

…

A vital part of showing up is taking care of yourself.

Leaning into connection, support, trust, community.

No matter where that support comes from – friends, family, neighbors, your school, place of faith, community center, facebook, twitter, a 24/7 lifeline – you are never alone.

Call a lifeline if you need to.