"Go for your passion" was the mantra of career counselors of the 90s to people considering a career change. My passions have always been knitting and crocheting, so when I decided to reinvent myself I realized I could teach, thereby being able to spend my days doing my favorite things, sharing my knowledge, and actually getting paid to do it. Finding the venue proved to be easy, and I knew I would enjoy teaching people my craft.
Along the way, something else totally unexpected happened. Day after day, I would teach these random groups of women who would come for an hour and a half every week ostensibly to learn how to knit and crochet, or to improve upon their skills. The majority of them came by themselves and met their classmates for the first time there. Week after week, they would bond and get to know each other. Discussions about their families, illnesses, work, world issues and the latest jokes would take place while needles clicked away. They would express their most personal feelings and situations, secure in knowing that these women were not part of their everyday lives. They usually didn't even know each other's last names, but came to learn a great deal more about their lives and feelings than most of their closest friends and families. Nobody had any preconceived notions, so they were more objective in their observations. They were supportive, listened to each other, and had no agendas. It was group therapy with a bonus. They learned to knit and crochet. The knitting became both a passion and a reason to get together with these other women.
After 11 years of teaching 120 women per week, I am constantly amazed at how each class takes on its own personality and rhythm. There is usually a core group of about five or six in each class who continue on. The others rotate in and out and become integrated into the group. There are women of every age, nationality, and background who only want the best for their families and the world. The satisfaction they get from creating something they can actually wear and learning the skills involved is a source of tremendous satisfaction.