I’m in the middle of building a shirt, and my sewing box has been open for the last few days. It’s been a while since I had time to indulge my sewing habit, and it’s been pleasant work.

The shirt I’m working on requires a lot of pleats. Pleats for the sleeves, pleats into the cuffs, pleats across the front… Pleating used to be my most hated part of a project such as this, it always felt like life’s hardships — one step forward and two steps back — but over the last few years I have gotten adept at it. These days, I can hand-pleat faster than I can do a standard gather!

Likewise, I’m getting better at processing life’s challenges. It’s that beautiful turning point, where things stop feeling like backward motion and begin to inch forward, giving me hope that one day I’ll have it all mastered:

The knowing and being Me…

The courage to be Bold and follow my heart above all else…

The giving myself compassion and grace as well as I give it to others…

For now, I’ll take this pleating and smile at the progress made. :-)