"Quality of life"......a gift that just keeps on giving.

Oh, my, @suzanne2.....Prepare yourself! You're about to meet a bunch of crafty folks who totally understand everything you feel and goodies you get from crafting! Get ready, girl.......Blessings, elizabeth

Good evening Ginger.........I have been brain doodling on this organization stuff. I have always had good intentions but not enough energy to tackle the job. And now I am with Mr. Organization. Have you ever heard of someone who has cleaning folks coming on Wednesday so has to get up early to pick up the house and put everything away? It doesn't matter that I say......for goodness sakes Jay, Jen and the girls are coming in an hour.

And when my friend saw this little collection on the counter, she cracked up when I told her Jay was getting ready to make soup or beans or something. Everything must be ready before you begin.

Hope this is not you Ginger. Last chance....he has at least 50 binders with plastic covers on every document inside. Then why can't he find the access code to the TV??????

Isn't life just wonderful?

@suzanne2, @becsbuddy Ooo I’m liking this thread...no pun intended. It’s wonderful you enjoy knitting and love it so much! What are your favorite things to make? And I just have to ask, with all the nightly knitting, what do you do with your projects when completed? You described that antsy feeling perfectly! My mom used to tell me I had ants in my pants and set me to work with embroidery or weaving potholders at night! Probably so she could concentrate on her knitting!! It skipped a generation. LOL.

Our creative outlets are very important to our wellbeing and quality of life! I also realized they can be a coping mechanism to help wind down at the end of the day or any time we’re under duress. Working with the things we love, whether it’s yarns, fabric, threads, paints, etc., gives us a momentary escape while our minds work in the background to process and heal incrementally. Escaping for me has anything to do with quilting, watercolors, fiber arts and lately I’ve taken to making journals. So Sue, while you’re enjoying your knitting at night, I’m mindlessly folding paper which I find oddly therapeutic!! It IS the little things, after all. Wishing you peace.

Oh Chris - once again you made me giggle! I take out all the ingredients before I start, then move them aside or put them away as I use them - as a memory tool! Otherwise, I have no idea which one I have added or not. Tell him he's missing the dry mustard, lemon juice & brown sugar - adds a new dimension to chili.
My husband is the opposite of Jay - he has to dig through layers on desk or workbench to find things (I no longer let him pile on things the kitchen or dining room table.) I got him a tabletop desk organizer for his birthday - no idea what's in it, but his "stuff" is piled around it - a little ADD. I'm a "touch it and toss or file" person myself - I need things put away because clutter makes me anxious.
Sue

@artscaping I think if my mother would have had a cleaning service come in, she would have been like Jay; she was obsessive in cleaning and organization. I keep a clean house, sometimes tidy. I have a little tile that says "Creative minds are rarely tidy", that's my excuse and I am sticking to it! Seriously, the organization helps keep me in line, although I do blur that line often ;))

Making meatloaf is when you will see my attention to ideas at its best. The fridge is raided, along with the cupboards, as each creation is different.Everything is set onto the counter, and moved from one side to the other as used. I also clean up as I go, so there is less at the end.
Ginger

You know Chris, so many of us are like you. We keep on keeping on. This post reminds me that I really do rely on my quality of life activities, but sometimes tolerate beyond what is smart. I have learned through error of judgment what many of us with certain issues believe. That continued or worsening discomfort is just an extension of what to expect. For example I missed a lot of severe neurological signals because I thought it was worsening neuropathy. I had to learn the hard way, but now try to look at changes differently and bring them up to my providers sooner rather than later, letting them be the decision makers. Meanwhile, those quality of life things are wonderful to help us get through those things that we cannot change. Identifying and appreciating them is enhanced when we share them with others.
Nancy

Lori, I am in love with fabrics. I learned to sew when my legs were long enough to use the treadle sewing machine and that evolved from pleasure to functional sewing for family to Tailoring to quilting in retirement. Organization of that part of my life overlapped a little with OCD as I couldn’t make just one Cabbage Patch Doll or Pound Puppy. This winter I decided to clear out my “stash” of leftovers from past several years. That evolved into MANY patches that became original design quilts and nearly 500 “flying geese” patches for more quilts. Last week I used up all leftover patriotic fabrics for a baby quilt. Soon will be ready to start a special themed quilt for a coming great grandbaby. Always ready to make donations while building a new stash for babies coming long after I am gone. And yes, I keep giving larger ones to kids and grandkids. Other projects best left for another time. 🤗Nancy

Made you giggle? O,K, I will save those for you. I think Jay just barely tolerates visual Interference. He is an artist who won awards but was never encouraged to move on......he didn’t enjoy teaching art because it was the dumping ground for students who found it difficult to behave even in shop. So....his living space has to be free of visual interference. I will send you his efforts when I am on another device.
Happy Days......fun with kiddos?
Chris

@1nan. Your comment about not making assumptions new symptoms are due to old age or extensions of the same health problems we're dealing and bringing them to the attention of our health providers right away is one of the most important things I've learned the hard way recently. I assumed my shortness of breath after going up a flight of stairs and general fatigue were being caused by my being overweight, old, and out of shape. It took a trip to the emergency room when I thought I was having a heart attack and numerous tests to determine I had a paralyzed diaphragm that wasn't related to my age, weight, or being out of shape causing these symptoms, as well as periodic chest pain. I can be assertive and be my own advocate; but at the same time it's hard to change my perspective from not wanting to complain and bother people to making them aware what's going on and asking them to address the issue. A stereo type image I have in my mind that I hope is outdated and not correct is that many medical professionals don't take "complaints" from senior citizens seriously. What do other people think about this? Nancy PS I too love fabrics and had an amazing collection from the 55 countries around the world I visited. Sadly, I gave them away when I downsized; but I gave them to quilters who in turn made beautiful quilts which they then gave away. I know the recipients of all the beautiful items many on this thread have made and given away are really appreciate of your talent and generosity.

So here we go.......I am going to post two images.....both originals from Jay. One is in pastels and one is in acrylics. Which one was created in 1965 and which one was created in 2015.....50 years later?