Woven Together by a Common Interest: International Relations at Its Finest

"Mommy, these are for you!"

Pixie proudly gave me a handpicked bouquet of buttercups the other evening, which made me nostalgic about picking buttercups myself as a little girl. When, exactly, do we lose our childish delight in picking a fistful of cheery little yellow flowers? I thought about how, across hundreds and thousands of years, all around the world, little girls have picked flowers for their mothers or other loved ones--illustrating that as much as things have changed in the world, some things will always stay the same, and unite us with the countless generations before us.

Handpicked flowers, messy hair, and a dirty shirt = beautiful childhood. #goldenhourphotography

Since @crosheille challenged us last week to share what we love about #needleworkmonday, I've been mulling over just why I look forward to Mondays with such happy anticipation. Why is it so uplifting to get on Steemit and read about other people's needlework projects and crafts?

I believe it's because Steemit makes it possible for #needleworkmonday to be an international community where we all unconsciously represent our various countries as ambassadors of pure goodwill; it doesn't matter what colors we are, what religions we are, what politics we follow--none of that matters! Going back to the buttercups, we are similarly united across the globe and across generations by a common interest in making beautiful things, using our hands to craft something tangible, of ourselves, and sharing it with others to bring them pleasure.

Media and politics can be an ugly, divisive spectre that seeks to divide us, and dehumanize us to each other (because hey, conflict sells). I was raised to view everyone equally and quite simply, I like people in general. As long as someone is nice to me, I'll be nice to them; I don't really quibble over details. But! Not everyone is raised that way, and if they are constantly hearing negativity and hatefulness from "authoritative" sources, how can they help but believe it?
"The Russians are trying to destroy our country"
"Africa is just a mess"
"Muslims want to kill all us infidels"
"The Israelis murder children"
...and so on (who knows what on earth is said elsewhere about Americans, but I'm sure it's equally bad.) These are the kind of generalizations that become truth to people when they hear them repeated over and over.

My own photo

And that's where communities like #needleworkmonday shine some light and beauty into that darkness, and bring home to you the humanity, the everyday hopes and dreams and routines and laughter and frustration and tears and humor, of human beings that some would have you view as the enemy. Sure, there are bad people in the world, but it's imperative to judge them individually, not lump them in with the vast majority of folks who want to peaceably live their lives, just like you and I do.

People like @wondermaey and @light1 bring everyday Nigeria to life. Look at the beautiful clothing they design and the even more beautiful women modeling them. People like @tali72 show you that no, everyone in Israel isn't fighting everyone else. Have you checked out her lovely knitting? She even knitted a backpack with a cat on it :) How about the mother-daughter team @yanabrui (from Ukraine) knitting gorgeous sunflowers in Russia?

She doesn't look like she's been interfering in American elections. "Borrowed" from @yanabrui's blog

@horazwiwik in Indonesia, @lil-mich in Norway, @naomipangolin in Malaysia, @anise in Canada, @neumannsalva (my best guess is Germany) ;))), @apanamamama (ok, I'm stretching because she's American, but hey she's showing us life in Panama!), @cryptocariad in Wales, and others I haven't named because I don't know exactly where you are--All of these people have an impact on me because they share their cultures and give me a glimpse into their everyday lives that helps reinforce, for me, the idea that "most people are good". Not to neglect the American needleworkers!! I like to think we have the same impact for those who live elsewhere :)

Highlighting our commonalities and giving us something to connect over--that's what I love most about #needleworkmonday and Steemit!

My own photo