Craft ‘til You’re Daft

You’ve heard the saying “Shop ‘til you drop”?

That certainly doesn’t seem appropriate in tough economic times. But shopping can be a rewarding experience in many ways aside from the obvious merchandise one brings home.

Shopping can provide an opportunity to socialize with friends, a bit of exercise, a way to de-stress and put worries aside for a while, an opportunity to view the latest styles and fashion colors even if one doesn’t buy.

So when we’re being advised to just stay away from the malls to avoid temptation, what else can provide a good fix for some of these needs? According to clinical psychologist Mary Gresham, quoted in the July issue of “O – The Oprah Magazine”, “When people shop, they almost go into a trance, a pleasurable state in which they lose their sense of time and are oblivious to other things”.

Guess what else has the same effect for many people – crafting! So, instead of “Shop ‘til you drop”, I say “Craft ‘til you’re daft” or perhaps even better, “Craft ‘til you’ve laughed”.

Have you crafted and laughed today? Both are good therapy in tough times ;-)