Yesterday was a very long day, but it also gave me a big gift- the nudge I needed to get back into my sewing box!  I participated in a training for Jewish Educators who work with teens, and our Jewish teaching was just what the doctor ordered.

The first part of it talked about intentionality and purpose when working with teens, which was great, but it was a one-two punch in the second part that really hit home.  The educator shared a list of “Six Questions You Should Ask Yourself Daily” composed by Rav Nachman of Braslav:

1. Did you say the Shema?
2. Did you study Torah?
3. Did you give Tzedakah?
4. Did you spend time with a friend?
5. Did you spend time alone?
6. Did you dance?

We were asked to select which of the things we were lacking in our lives the most and join a group to talk about it.  Question six was the one that I felt I needed to focus more attention on, but I recognized that for me it was not “did you dance?” but rather “did you sew?”  I was joined in my group by a Director of Education from the Peninsula who also happened to be a quilter.  We spent a few minutes chatting about our shared love of quilting and I shared with her my current creative roadblock.  She assured me that it was all part of the ebb and flow of the creative process, and just hearing that was the support that I needed to clear my mind and just do it.

When I got home many hours later, the last thing I wanted to do was sit down and sew.  I was mentally, physically and emotionally exhausted from a really long day.  It was one of those days where the PJs come on at 4pm.  I let myself zone out for a couple of hours, then decided that enough was enough, and dragged out my sewing basket and made a hexagon flower.  So Melissa, I hope you get a chance to read this so I can say thank you for getting me back on track!

I’m going to put the list of questions up in my living room, and over my sewing desk so that I can check in with myself everyday and ask- Did you dance?