COPD and New Hobbies
When mom was frustrated with feeling cooped up, she used hobbies to keep happy with her COPD. Some were expensive and involved time and planning.
Others were started on a whim and involved very little money or effort. When she was bored or had the doldrums, her kitchen table or chair could become a place to relax and tinker with something that tickled her fancy.
Potential new hobbies are everywhere
Mama loved starting houseplants. She once put toothpicks in a sweet potato, taking over the entire kitchen wall.
We teased her that it was like Jumanji. We all know that living things are a great way to stay in touch with nature regardless of the weather.
Get a starter plant from a friend and let it take root in the window. Find an exotic one at a discount store.
It’s fun to get the fading plants and try to keep them alive.
Fabric gifts can be treasures too. Whether it's cross stitch, lap robe, a scarf, or stuffed animals, these gifts can be a delightful way to keep your hands busy.
Making potholders is also a fun project that never goes out of style.
If you’re not the crafty type, it's best to start with something small and manageable.
I remember mom wanted to get her crochet needles out.
She went shopping and found a pattern book for an open-front sweater. It was cute as could be, and the yarn was super soft.
After a week or so of working on the front panel, she grew bored with the whole thing. The rest stayed in a box on her closet floor.
I talked her into letting me donate it to a senior center.
Mama did best when it was something she could work on and take a break from. Having a unique table gave her that freedom.
Over the years, she did a lot of ceramics. My kids grew up cleaning the greenware and painting.
Eventually, mom saved and got her kiln. It was something we all enjoyed, especially during the holidays.
Looking for new projects
Some of her items were purchased at garage sales. She would clean it up or change the color; it was almost as good as new.
Search the online marketplaces and find a craft project that someone has discarded. That’s how mom got over a dozen unpainted blocks of wood.
She stenciled cute sayings on there and gifted them to friends and family.
Wooden and plastic craft art projects are easy to find. Her box of paints and brushes came out anytime she wanted to get busy.
Birdhouses were her thing, and we all had one. Refrigerator magnets were also fun.
Can you think of a cool one that you can make?
It can be a treasured gift if you partake in hobbies to keep you happy with COPD. My granddaughter still has the rice sock that mom made years ago.
It can be microwaved or put in the fridge for hot or cold therapy. One thing I know is that it was made with love by my mom when she was determined to keep herself busy and feeling good while struggling with COPD.
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