Quilting and the valiant efforts to overcome sadness

Quilts of Valour qualify if they are of certain sizes and hand or machine quilted. Contact Quilts of Valour Canada for more information

Sadness.  We all sometimes experience it.

Recently I awoke to realize I had been feeling a little blue. I was having difficulty getting motivated to do even the things I love to do. “Why not do some quilting?”, she asked herself.  Sigh.  I just couldn’t get started.  I even mentioned it to my guy who of course told me maybe I should take a break and not be so hard on myself. (Hmmm does he even KNOW me?)
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After a day or two of bumbling around doing well, not much, it dawned on me!  I checked the calendar and realized it was the day before the 11th anniversary of the floods of Alberta - an event I was heavily involved in as a first responder. (Yes this is me here!​)  AH Ha!  I now understood the sadness.

​It was a major milestone in my life - and I had to work very hard to stop measuring my life by referring to events that have happened in terms of before or after “the flood”. 

Many of us have experienced disasters, trauma or losses in our lifetimes.  It is these memories and experiences that are stitched together in our souls that makes us the fabric of who we are. Estimates say that as many as 75% of all North Americans have experienced some sort of trauma in their lives and many of those who have experienced trauma are our veterans. 

One of the many veterans in the US and Canada that has taken up quilting to help him with the effects of trauma is Andrew Lee.  After 2 deployments in Iraq he suffered the effects of PTSD.  He talks on his web site  Combat Quilter of how he creates quilts and donates them to an organization called Quilts of Valour that in turn distributes them to veterans.  

​Lisa Compton, who served first as a Canadian Armed Forces Nursing Officer in Kandahar, Afghanistan, also speaks about the healing journey she took after receiving a quilt.  She then took up quilting as part of her PTSD healing journey and is now President of Quilts of Valour Canada. This is an amazing organization and you can read more about it here. 

Incidentally, one of the women who attended a recent workshop I taught is a representative for the Newmaket area,  for Quilts of Valour.   Naomi and Mike Babineau have been working with QOV since 2019. Naomi is an area representative and Mike is a presenter. (look for her on facebook)

Utah State University reports that “participating in activities during leisure or spare time has been shown to reduce stress levels. For instance, one study showed approximately 75% of participants’ cortisol levels (one of the most widely studied hormonal markers of stress) were lowered after making art.” You can read more about this here.
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Despite our ability to move on and heal from emotional events and trauma, there is much research that supports the fact that our bodies carry these memories over our lifetime.  We can subconsciously remember dates and times and those memories can cause a physical response.  Sadness is one response.

​For me, I don’t want to label this sadness as depression - because it happens every year on or near the 20th of June for me.  And as quietly as it appears, it also leaves on its own.  Just being aware that the reason for the sadness is because of the past experience - helps me to be kinder to myself - enjoy a bit of nature - maybe wrap myself in a quilt - snuggle up with a warm beverage and read a good book.

Sometimes however, the best remedy to feeling sad and wanting to isolate - is to do something for someone else. 

Maybe it is time for me to make a quilt to donate to Quilts of Valour Canada.
Yes. Yes.  I think I will.

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