I'm at a stage in my life I did not anticipate ever entering. I'm doing things I never expected myself to do. In a month, I'm going to be participating in an event I never saw myself doing. What brought on this unexpected activity that has consumed every waking hour for the past 6 weeks? I've entered what we affectionately refer to in our house as the "old lady fat stage."
My daughter was talking to me about someone being really creative, and she said something that I heard as "She's in her old lady fat stage." I told her that didn't sound very nice. After being really puzzled, she repeated what she said. Old lady CRAFT stage. That made more sense, but "old lady fat stage" stuck, so now we just joke that I'm in my Old Lady Fat Stage.
In our house, Old Lady Fat Stage means that I have been crafting from the time I wake up until the time I go to bed. I bought a Cricut and spend hours making things, I paint, I design, and I let the creative juices flow. It's been very therapeutic, and I am finding something to give me some joy and purpose for the first time in a long time. This is definitely something that is outside of my comfort zone, and the cognitive load is sometimes exhausting, but it feels good to actually be DOING something. This is something I can do while elevating my feet, while seated, while still meeting the needs of my physical limitations.
In a month, my BFF and I are going to do the Arbor Day Craft Show together. I have never done anything like this before. I know the stimulation will be both mentally and physically exhausting, that my legs are going to be swollen, discolored, and painful by the end of the day, and my head will very likely be throbbing. BUT, I know it will be so good to actually spend a few hours out of my house, to see people, to socialize. Maybe I will see former students, former colleagues. Maybe I will meet people who are in town for the festivities that further enrich my life. If nothing else, it means hanging out with my BFF for 8 hours, and that is never a bad thing!
Being away from the teaching community for 2 years now has been the hardest thing I've had to face on this Long Covid journey. I don't think there will ever be anything that will fulfill me the way teaching did. However, it does feel good to be excited about things again, to learn new things, to do things that bring me joy, that allow me to be creative, and to put my energy into something that makes me happy. Our living space has been taken over by crafting, from storage totes full of materials to craft carts filled with vinyl and tools, crafting equipment, and finished items waiting to be displayed next month. The clutter my new hobby creates clashes with my intense need for my house to be neat and tidy at all times, but I saw a quote once that said something about true growth being uncomfortable. So, I'll go with that theory while I dive even deeper into my "Old Lady Fat Stage"!
