Rose of Sharon Jewelry

The number 1 is a lonely number – 32 is a tragedy. 32 soldiers (7 in Iraq and Afghanistan) killed themselves in June. No words can express the sorrow.

We owe these men and women more than just a “how sad”. To learn more and watch the video, Shoulder to Shoulder: I will never quite on life ,visit this Army suicide prevention site.

I’ve also put the video here for you to watch. Please take a few minutes to follow up with your Congressperson about additional mental health support for our military.

I don’t know anyone in the service nor have I ever experienced a suicide in the family. However, I do know what depression can do to a person and feel strongly that the American public has a responsibility to these soldiers.

Thanks for stopping by again. Don’t forget to check out the newest releases in the Rose of Sharon Jewelry store.

A recent Scientific Mind article pondered reasons why depression has increased in the Baby Boomer and younger generations. It seems that moving away from work activities that engage the hands and mind plus result in a tangible reward may be a cause.  And one potential “treatment” may be crafting!

In the not too distant past, we physically raised our own food, chopped our own wood and made our own clothing.  The rewards of a healthy, tasty dinner, a warm place to sleep and enjoying a soft new sweater were a direct result of our actions!

Studies have shown that this action/reward pattern stimulates the parts of the brain that relate to happiness and our feelings of well-being. Work has become disconnected from rewards.

We now earn money (that we never even hold in our hands) in a less physical manner and our brains miss out on the rewards. We run for take-out, pay the electric bill, shop online for shoes while we collectively feel more unhappy or depressed.

The rewards we are giving ourselves aren’t as fulfilling now and simply don’t last very long. That’s why scientists who study happiness believe more and more people overspend. Don’t we all know someone who has a dress or two in their closet that has never been worn? The high evaporated before they got home.

Rebuilding the action/reward connection may be as simple as starting a new hobby that requires your hands, multi-step learning and complex brain activities. What better way to do that than to craft?

So get off the computer, turn off the TV and get out the knitting needles or pick up a pair of pliers. Knitting, crocheting, polymer clay work, intricate beading and other crafts can be a great way to ward off depression.

As my Granny always said “busy hands mean happiness.”