Michelle Obama Instagram – Every time I tell people how much I love to knit, they seem so surprised! But it truly has become one of my most meaningful (and fun) pastimes. For me, knitting is a release. It lets my hands lead the way as my mind trails behind. And it turns out that knitting was buried in my DNA–I am the descendant of many seamstresses. My mom shared with me that every woman on her side of the family learned how to work a needle and thread, to sew, crochet, and knit. During the peak of the pandemic, when everything felt so bleak, the act of stitching, purling, casting on and off is how I kept my anxiety at bay. Practicing it roots me in this idea that I talk about in my book, The Light We Carry called “the power of small.” It’s the idea that narrowing your focus into a small, seemingly insignificant task can remind us of our own agency. It shows us our own ability to build, create, and succeed. I truly believe that when you know you are capable of small tasks, it makes the bigger ones feel easier. In this case, every small stitch builds into a bigger purpose. What’s something that you’ve picked up as a hobby or practice that has helped you during these last few years? I’d love to hear from you in the comments. And if you have some photos, tag me in your post using #TheLightWeCarry. 🧶 Photo credit: Merone Hailemeskel