Fake it until you make it

Or...reasons to be cheerful.

I’m not going to lie, sometimes it is harder to sit down and write these Friday newsletters than others. With - waves hand vaguely - everything that is going on in the world it can feel trite to say the least to write down a few things that have made me smile.

It is very easy to fall into the trap of thinking that no-one cares. That we are all too busy, too distracted by world events, too worried about the impact on those nearest and dearest to us. That no-one will notice if I don’t write anything this week.

However, the truth (at least as I see it) is that now, more than ever, we need the little things. The tiny minutiae of our daily lives. Things that, when shared bring us closer together and help us to see what we have in common. Rather than the messages constantly being pushed by social media algorithms that seek to divide us and to pit us against each other. Big companies and those with powerful agendas want us to give up, they want us to be quiet - particularly women as they get older.

But there is so much power in speaking our daily truths, no matter how small and insignificant they might appear on the surface. If it truly wasn’t that important they wouldn’t be trying to silence us in the first place!

Don’t sweat the small stuff

We are constantly receiving the subliminal message that we should focus on the big picture and not to ‘sweat the small stuff’. People belittle ‘cosy hobbies’ as frivolous or not being productive. But I would argue that this exactly the kind of content we should be writing about. We should be sharing our daily joys. The things that make us happy.

What’s making me smile this week

🌿Mosaic knitting - I’m addicted, it’s official. Rosie of Slipstitch, London mentioned that they were having a Pressed Flowers knitalong - for the shawl pattern by Amy Christoffers. I remembered that I had a free pattern squirreled away for the smaller kerchief size and, too impatient to wait I cast on. It is honestly so much fun. I’m wondering why I waited this long to try it.

🌿Kittens and sunbeams. One of the joys of having a young cat in the house is the fact that they are always ready to play for a bit. Seeing Luna chase after her woolly pom pom on a string is hilarious and always brightens my day up.

🌿ARRO Coffee shops - a friend shared with me about a small chain of coffee shops in London. There are no lengths I won’t go to for a good cup of coffee and so I couldn’t wait to check it out. Let’s just say that good coffee was had - and that definitely made me smile.

🌿Sunglasses. Have you found that you have got more sensitive to light as you have got older or is it just me? The bright sunshine this week in the UK, particularly after the clock change and we have hit British Summer Time, has had me blinking like a mole emerging from hibernation. I’m not a fan of wearing glasses (I have a love/hate relationship with my bifocals at the best of times) but I had to dig my holiday sunglasses out of the drawer to avoid ending up with a migraine.

🌿The Everyday Knitter paid community here has a book club and this month we are reading Expiration Dates by Rebecca Searle. Have you read it? I’m finding it annoying and intriguing in equal measure - it is proving to be a page turner for me but only because I have So Many Questions 😂

If you missed it:

I published a lovely audio interview with

Emily Male

of the Generosity of Spirit Substack earlier this week. It’s only 6-7 minutes long. Perfect for listening to over a cup of coffee.