Peace begins here...

by Christina


Welcome to Day 1 of the 2016 Peace-along. I'm humbled by the magnitude of the peace movement that is literally spreading world-wide throughout the knitting community. We have exceeded 16,000 downloads of Project Peace on Ravelry. I suspect the numbers will continue to grow as the message reaches more and more knitters.

What can you expect from this peace-along?

I truly believe that peace begins with each and everyone of us. We can't expect to live in a peaceful world if we ourselves are not living a peaceful life. So, my focus is to provide you with simple acts of peace over the next 21 days. I'll certainly provide you with information on how you can conduct peaceful acts for others but I really want this to be a gift you give yourself. Throughout the next 21 days, there will be a few guest posts from some people I've met along the way that I've found inspirational.

Peace tips will be posted daily on this blog by 8 am central US time. I'll send out an email on December 1 (today), and every 7 days thereafter. On the other days you won't receive an email from me, you'll just need to stop by and read the tip for the day.

Many of you are knitting Project Peace to coincide with the peace-along. I ask that you really take the time to savor this process. Each day, knit a little bit (4 rounds are recommended) so that you can ponder the peace tip, take time to breathe, or create some space for random thoughts to pop into your head. While the finished product is certainly a treat, let's focus on being present with each stitch, each repeat, and each round.

Mark your calendars for December 21st, a day that we've decided to call "World-wide knit-in for peace." We chose this day, solstice, to represent the balance between light and dark in the two hemispheres. This will be the culmination of the peace-along... knitters around the world knitting with the intention of peace. Host your own gathering, talk to your local yarn store about holding a knit-in; whatever you do, make it special.

Peace Tip. Day 1.

I think it's important that you know the path that led me here today...the reason that Project Peace came to be.

Twelve years ago I went to a Leadership Institute, probably one of the best conferences I've ever attended. One of the speakers said "everyone wants world peace but how many of us are living peaceful lives?" That simple yet loaded statement was a life-changer. She was talking to me...my life was anything but peaceful with 3 young children, an intense full-time job with tenure on the horizon, and a husband that worked nights. I knew I wanted world peace but I suppose I thought someone else, like Gandhi or the Dalai Lama or Saint Teresa would solve this problem allowing me to live a peaceful life.

Later that afternoon while meandering in and out of stores, I found a silver bracelet with the following words embedded deep into the metal:

Peace...this we choose each day.
— Anonymous

And there it was. To live peacefully was my choice; my circumstances might not change but how I reacted to them could. Now, certainly there are many life circumstances where this becomes extremely challenging and I'm not dismissing those situations. For me, it became about choosing to have peace in my life. My choice...sometimes I choose wisely, other days I don't.

Project Peace is about choosing to have peace. I questioned "is it possible to spread peace around the world?" Can others choose peace as well? So, with no help from Ghandi, the Dalai Lama or St. Theresa... here we are with over 16,000 people collectively thinking about peace. This has certainly taught me the power of how each and everyone of us has the ability to make a difference in this world.

So, here's your "tip". You can ponder these questions while you sit in a chair quietly, you can knit, or you can write down your answers. Your choice...

  • Define peace...what is it? what does it look like? what does it smell like? what does it feel like?
  • How can you choose peace?
  • Name one thing that you would like to make happen during the next 21 days.
A path to peace...

A path to peace...

I'm so excited to be on this path for peace with all of you. May each stitch bring you peace and joy.

Christina


This is really happening...

by Christina


The pattern for Project Peace is now available on Ravelry.  I never imagined that my plan to spread peace around the world to knitters everywhere would actually work! With over 12,000 downloads in 17 days, I'm inspired to no-end to make this bigger and bigger but I need everyone's help.

Please keep telling everyone you know to download the pattern on Ravelry, show it some love ("fav" on Ravelry), share on social media, talk to your LYS about hosting a KAL, join the Healthy Knitter group on Ravelry and post on the active discussion boards.

The peace-along begins on 12/1. Peaceful tips will be posted here daily by 8 am central US time beginning 12/1. The culmination of the peace-along is on solstice, in the northern hemisphere, the darkest day of the year with the promise of light balanced by the southern hemisphere's brightest day of the year. We'll celebrate with what we are now calling "World-wide Knit-in for Peace" day. Knitters around the world will knit intentionally on this day for PEACE. See, that's world peace right there and they said it couldn't be done. Just a bunch of knitters creating peace everywhere. We've created a map on Ravelry for everyone to pin their location. Please document your participation in Project Peace. Gather your friends on 12/21 for a special day of knitting. Ask you LYS to host a gathering...get creative.

Peace be with you!

Peace be with you!

Thank you for being part of this extraordinary gathering of knitters (and other fiber artists) as we work together for the common good of all. 

May each step and stitch bring you peace and joy,

Christina


Peace is spreading...

by Christina


I never dreamed that Project Peace would spread as it has. Project Peace has now been downloaded on Ravelry by over 10,000 people. That's right, 10,000 individuals from around the world. I am delighted, amazed, humbled and wee bit overwhelmed with how this simple message of peace has spread around the world in just over a week's time. My original goal was to reach 1000 people. Just think what could happen if each one of those 10K individuals spread the message of peace to at least one person and then that person told another person and so on...we'd be unstoppable. Based on my experience this week I'm filled with hope and promise that there is still some good in the world. 

Anyone for a slice of peace?

Anyone for a slice of peace?

As a recap, in case you aren't familiar with Project Peace it's what I call a "peace-along." I've written a pattern that uses a simple stitch pattern resulting in a cozy, comfy cowl. This pattern is free on Ravelry (currently it's just the cover page of the pattern; full pattern is available on 11/28). Additionally, there will be daily tips to infuse more peace into your life posted on this blog from December 1st through the 21st including a few guest posts. All the information can be found on the Ravelry pattern page or my previous post on this blog.

If you are on Ravelry there are two active threads in the Healthy Knitter group, one about Project Peace and the other titled "World-wide Knit-in for Peace." That's right, as a result of Project Peace we've now declared December 21 as a day to knit for peace. Under the thread titled "World-wide Kint-in for Peace" you'll find a link to a map (read posts #133 and 135) that marks the location of all the people that are knitting for peace on 12/21. Please add yourself to the map!

Please consider being a messenger of peace...spread the word to everyone you know. Tell someone about the project whether they are a knitter or not...have them read the peaceful tips in December. The tips are entirely focused on cultivating peace in your life; they are not focused on religion, race, gender, or politics...just good ol' fashion peace.

We need peace in this world now more than ever and it's up to us to make this happen. 

May each stitch and step bring you peace...

Christina