11.02.2007 | Posted by Lindsay Haedt

Beading as therapy

Because I handle most of the customer calls that come to the magazine, I am in a unique position to talk to people about beading and the effects it has on their lives. Over and over again, people have told me about how beading helped them through a difficult time in their life. We've received letters from people who started beading when they were recovering from cancer, and I even had a phone call from a woman who started beading as a way to cope with the death of her child. I am always in awe that beading can have such profound effects on people's lives.

I've spent a lot of time thinking about it, and I can't decide what is so theraputic about beading. Is it the act of creativity? Or maybe it's simply having something positive to concentrate on? Or is it a combination of the two? Regardless of the reasons, it's clear to me that beading has definite benefits aside from simple entertainment. Why do you think beading has such theraputic effects?


 

Comments

  • Juli said:

    When I am beading, I think about beading.  I don;t think about the awful day at work, or my hubbie sniping at me or my kid getting into, well whatever her problem du jour is.  I may have my little TV on in the room, but I don't watch it.  I just bead.  The hour or so a night that I get to bead is like a little bit of time away.  

    November 2, 2007 2:54 PM
  • Monica Han said:

    Beading could be a solitary activity that you are totally alone and focused on creating something unique and beautiful.  All your worries and problems are blocked out.

    Or you could be beading with your friends.  You exchange ideas, provide feedback and talk.  Their friendship and companionship makes you feel good.

    Or if you're beading for a cause or charity, it makes you feel positive that you're making a difference.  

    November 2, 2007 5:54 PM
  • Lindsay Haedt said:

    Thank you for your comments, Juli and Monica. I think you both alluded to the same idea: when you're beading, you're focusing on the beads, not the other stuff that's going on around you. Sometimes, the thing we need most is to simply give our brains a rest from all the stressful stuff, and beading definitely does that.

    November 7, 2007 4:49 PM
  • Mimz said:

    Actually, for me beading is quiet time. My older kids are at school, husband is at work, baby is napping and I get to bead and reflect. I get to think about everything, anything and nothing, all at the same time! Knowing that the house will get crazy later on, it's nice to enjoy the quiet.

    November 15, 2007 12:32 PM

About Lindsay Haedt

I joined BeadStyle magazine in June 2005. At that time, I had never worked with beads before, but that changed very quickly. Now, my favorite afternoons at work are the ones I spend working on projects. It always amazes me how relaxing (and fun!) it is to make jewelry. In addition to working on articles, I also handle the administrative work and the BeadStyle forum.
Subscribers & Members

Become a Member

Register online for access to more valuable resource information.
Don't miss your connection to the reader forum, free projects, how to video, and more.

Not a Member?
Register  |  Why Join?

Subscriber & Member Log In

E-mail Address:
Password:
Remember me

Community Features

My Profile

Search Community

in

This Blog

Syndication

Copyright © 2008 Kalmbach Publishing Co.
Powered by Community Server (Commercial Edition), by Telligent Systems