Last Christmas I randomly decided to make my own cards. I can’t remember where I got the idea, but I wanted to make each one a different festive cat. I have never been particularly artistic, but I thought it would be fun. It was & it birthed an idea that has been so good for me.

I realised how much I enjoyed making those cards. They were just little water colour drawings of christmassy cats, but they brought me joy. They were not stunning works of art. That didn’t reduce how good it felt to make them, so I decided to keep painting and try some other things too. Since then I have been making all my cards, I have started knitting again, I’ve started random sketchbooks and this week I even started a visual diary. I love all of these creative ventures. I do have any natural talent for these things. I don’t intend to make them a side hustle. I just like doing it.

Both the knitting and the drawing/painting help have helped with my free floating anxiety. They give me something to do with my hands and something to focus my crazy head on. I really enjoy watching something cute appear on a blank page. I like how the water colours blend and how the wool feels in my hands. The sound of the knitting needles clicking brings up really special memories of my Gran (who originally taught me to knit).

Aside from birthday cards I haven’t shared any of my efforts with anyone. It’s just for me. I made a little blanket for my cat. I’m now practising some new stitches, slow going, but I’ll get there. My point is it doesn’t matter if I’m terrible at these things; they make me feel good. Thus, I have decided to continue and also to apply this theory to other areas of my life. I shall now ask myself, Do I like it? rather than worrying about being good or doing it right or what anyone else thinks. It is very freeing. I’d recommend it.

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