Happy Wednesday!!!

This post is dedicated to all our Stitching Sisters (and Brothers ;) )!

I started this blog more than a year ago and the genuine kindness, caring and giving nature of our stitching sisters and brothers has been almost a daily fixture in my life as I read the many posts floating about the blogosphere. I've seen the gamut from our stitching community - people sharing in the celebrations of huge life moments to the little wins and the many happy dances we do when we finally finish THAT project - and I've seen the genuine concern and support that is offered when someone needs a little pick-me-up right down to those utterly tragic moments in life when you just need someone to tell you 'everything will be ok'. 

Not to be negative, but I think in today's world it's very easy to keep people at arms length and never truly get to experience humanity. There have been days where I've looked back and thought... what have I done for someone else? I guess the point here is, I think it is all too easy to be concerned solely with one's self. Now I'm not about to call out those that are concerned with themselves, because I think we'd be kidding ourselves to say 'I ALWAYS think of others!'. Heck, I know there are days where I really haven't done much of anything for others or I only think about how that person's actions are negatively affecting me.

For example, I was in the car this morning driving to work as per usual when this car cut me off and nearly drove me into the ditch. In that moment I was upset and a few curses escaped my lips as I regained control of the situation. I didn't once stop to think about if that guy had simply not seen me or something... I immediately thought about how reckless the person in that car is and how they were definitely out to get me. See! Allllll negative thoughts. And it managed to ruin my whole drive to work as I fumed for the entire 30mins in the car. NOT a good start to the morning I might add. The moment I started to feel better about the whole thing is when I started to think about the other driver and the different scenarios that could have lead to the near accident. It's about believing in the good in people rather than jumping to conclusions and thinking only about the negative. 

This positive way of thinking is what makes our stitching sisters and brothers so special! We have something truly amazing... a community, that despite not having that day-to-day physical presence - as in I can't walk up to you hand shake your hand or give you a hug - that still manages to be one of the most accepting, caring and supportive groups of people I have ever known. When I say that I am both astounded and inspired almost on a daily bases is an understatement. For me, stitching would not be the same if it weren't for you all.

On this note, I have recently been on the receiving end of a RAK from Annette at California Stitcher. A couple of posts ago I mentioned I had run out of floss for one of my WIPs which was close to a finish. I had lamented that I would likely have to wait sometime before purchasing the necessary floss due to shipping costs associated with online orders, which are my only source of all that stitching goodness ;) Well, that post wasn't up for long before Annette emailed me and offered to send me a spare skein she had in her stash!!! I excitedly sent her my mail info and yesterday I arrived home to this:

Despite only needing one skein of floss, Annette has RAK'd me an entire package! In it was a beautiful homemade card (amazing I might add!), the single skein of floss delicately wrapped, and a whole kit for doing up an amazing orni from one of my favourite designers LHN!!! The boyfriend even was astounded!!! The first words he said when I explained why I had received the package was "those stitching friends of yours are some of the best in the world aren't they?!" I'm serious, he said this!!!! He then proceeded to say, "They are just so giving! You rarely get that even from everyday friends these days. Oh and didn't you get something from one of your stitching friends when you were on EI?" (EI is basically is referring to when I lost my job a few months back.)

I realized then that I had been very tardy! I never posted about the kindness and support I received from Tammy from I Want to do One More Stitch when I was truly down in the dumps. I had been on EI (employment insurance) for a couple of months and had ZERO luck with finding a job... not to mention even getting an interview. It was horrible, I was having sleepless nights and I was worried. Out of the blue I received a card in the mail with L*K's Spring Snippet (which had been on my wishlist!).

Her words of support and encouragement came at the right moment for me. They inspired me to get back to blogging and stitching, both of which had fallen to the wayside for months. I even missed my 1 year blogoversary!!! I was then able to talk about my hardships and got advice and support from many of you stitchers. Your comments brightened my day and within a month of my return to stitching and blogging I had secured a job (WHICH I LOVE). 

These selfless acts are what I'm talking about!!! I am so privileged to be apart of such a unique, caring and loving group of people and I wouldn't trade it for the world!!!

Thank you for everything!

XO

Melissa

PS: Thinking I'm going to have to do something for my stitching sisters and brothers SOON! Watch this space over the next couple of days while I put something together ;)