February Update + Why Hobbies Are Important

Happy February!

Hi, everyone! Long time no see, and happy February - we made it through the coldest month of the year. I hope the first month of 2026 went smoothly for y’all. It is a very cold, very rainy day here in Birmingham, and since I got off work early I thought I’d update y’all on everything I’ve been up to! Quick side note - I do think that these monthly posts are going to be best for what works for my schedule, especially since I’ll be writing a whole lot more very soon…..*wink wink.*

A Quick Mental Health Check-In

Before I begin, I wanted to talk a bit about my current mental health since it’s such an important topic for me and many others. I’ve been taking my medication for about two months now, and it’s been working wonders for me - even during this time of year where my seasonal depression likes to rear its ugly head. It’s definitely not a cure all, however, and I want to make that clear because therapy has been extremely beneficial. Most people just want the medication and move on, thinking that their not so healthy thought patterns and behaviors will just disappear once you start. For me, that couldn’t be further from the truth. I don’t think I would’ve been ready to start medication if I hadn’t spent a year and some change putting in the work understanding why I think the way I think. For me, therapy was the foundation to better mental health - the medication was just the icing on the cake. I cannot stress the importance of your mental wellbeing and finding someone to talk to. My anxiety disorder didn’t just disappear overnight and I don’t want to give off that impression either, but in general I just feel a lot calmer about things. I find myself being way more talkative and wanting to start conversations than I used to be, which is a weird feeling because I try to avoid those at all cost - it’s a combination of being an introvert and a dash of social anxiety. All in all, being on medication has truly has improved my quality of life.

Applying For Grad School!

And now, for some really exciting news! I officially started my application at Valdosta State University’s Master of Library Science program for the Fall 2026 semester. The biggest reason I chose to apply to Valdosta State and not the good ol’ U of A was because it is significantly cheaper, even for out of state students - it was really no contest. It’s also a completely 100% online asynchronous program which means no set class times - it’s all at your own pace, which is good for people who are getting their degrees while working. Also, their mascot juuuust happens to be the Blazers, which if you went to UAB you’d know that they’re the Blazers too - and you know me and how big I am on signs from the universe! It’s actually so crazy to start this process because I never thought I would want to go back to school, but now that I know I want to pursue this career of librarianship I’m actually looking forward to it. As of this writing I’m about 75% done with my application - they wanted a bajillion documents from me which of course took some time to get together. These admissions people do not play around! All I have left to do is submit some paperwork and pay the application fee and I’m good to go. The deadline isn’t until March 15th, but if you know me you know I like to get things done way ahead of time for fear of being late (thanks anxiety)! Fingers crossed I hear back from them not long after and they’ll accept me into the program. Please be sending me good vibes my way as I finish applying and awaiting a response! I will be doing some heavy manifesting as we approach March 15th.

Today’s Topic: Why Hobbies Are Necessary

Now, I feel like this is pretty self explanatory. Hobbies are the whole reason we’re able to develop skills and knowledge so that we become better, happier versions of ourselves. Doomscrolling, as much as we all enjoy it even if it makes those negative feelings and emotions arise, is not and should not be considered a pastime. I truly think our parents were onto something when they liked to blame everything on our phones while growing up. Of course, they exaggerated a teeny tiny bit (actually, a lot) but I definitely think the idea of being on your phone too much can make mental health issues worse. And what’s sad is that it didn’t used to be that way! Not everything was great back in the days before phones and social media but looking back on it I was able to find new and exciting things to do while bored. I think we need to be bored more often.

Something I’ve learned about myself recently is that I’m a lot calmer and less anxious when I’m doing something with my hands. I find myself getting restless while sitting still and need to find a way to get out all of that anxious energy that builds up. That’s one of the reasons why I picked up embroidery - the repetitive motions of pulling the thread through fabric is soothing to me. I have a whole wall dedicated to the patterns I’ve done, and I can clearly see the improvements I’ve made since I started. I could spend hours embroidering while listening to a podcast or audiobook, which is my favorite hobby to do. I also really enjoy coloring in coloring books or using a coloring app on my iPad. Anything I can do with my hands while sitting at home works. I just need something that keeps me occupied from picking at the skin around my thumbs or biting my nails, which is a side effect of many years of an untreated anxiety disorder. I don’t know a lot of people personally who have that same habit but I know it’s common amongst people with anxiety. It’s hard to kick a nearly decade long habit in the butt, but I’m getting there.

I have a bit of a confession to make - I really want to start crocheting but I have some hesitancy around it. To be completely vulnerable here, I actually did try to pick up crochet last year by buying one of those kits from the internet that you use to make a really cute crocheted animal (I can’t remember the exact name of the brand but I see them everywhere) and it came with online tutorials you could follow with step by step instructions. Not even 10 minutes in I get frustrated because I can’t get my hands to hold the yarn and the hook correctly and just completely broke down crying. Looking back on it I was in a really rough place mentally. I had feelings of extreme worthlessness and thought I couldn’t do anything right. I also had absolutely zero patience with myself and would put myself down repeatedly if I wasn’t immediately good at something new. I have a clear memory of throwing the yarn and hook across the room and throwing the entire kit away out of frustration and thinking I was a waste of space for not being able to do something so simple. I had a lot of shame and self doubt at that time, and I had some really dark thoughts. That event was the catalyst for me to seek professional help because I was tired of hating myself and I knew I wanted to feel better.

I share that story with you because I want you to know that if/when you decide to start a new hobby you have to remember that you’re a novice and there’s no reasonable way your skill will be at expert level starting out. This is especially true if your hobby is centered around making something. I know that’s kind of an obvious statement to make but it’s the truth. Just like with everything, it takes consistency and it takes practice to improve. I saw an Instagram reel one time that said, “Hobbies don’t demand perfection. They demand time and dedication.” This was also soon after my breakdown over crochet, so it felt like the universe was saying that directly to my soul. It really resonated with me as a recovering perfectionist, and I hope it does for you too. Have patience with yourself and give yourself the room to breathe and grow, just like you do with friends and family. I will forever be preaching that humans are way, way too hard on ourselves for no reason.

Something I also picked up last year was joining a community band, and I’m so thankful I made that decision! I was absolutely heartbroken to not be in band after graduating college because it was and is a huge part of my life and who I am as a person. When Mason told me about the community band I immediately jumped at the chance to make music once more, and it was something my heart and soul craved. This year I’m able to play bass clarinet, which is literally the same as a normal clarinet but bigger and a whole lot more fun to play in my opinion! I had the opportunity to play bass and contrabass clarinet for a semester in college 4 years ago and I’ve been unable to shut up about it since. I now look forward to weekly rehearsals because not only do I get to release my inner musician and play some really wonderful pieces but I get to see old friends and acquaintances from college. I’ve also met some really wonderful people from all stages of life and it does me a lot of good. Besides reading it’s probably one of my favorite hobbies.

I say all of this not because I’m telling you to go out and buy an instrument and start learning it, but I want you to think about the things you’ve always said you wanted to try and actually take steps to learn. This is my call to action for you and for myself to try crocheting again now that I’m in a better headspace. There are many, many bad things going on in the world right now, especially in our country. While we do what we can we also need to realize that a lot of it is out of our circle of control and it’s essential to take time for ourselves by acquiring new skills and knowledge. Sometimes I believe that is what we were put on this earth to do - make art however we see fit. So, whatever it is that you want to try, try it! We have free will. We don’t have to wait to make things happen, we just do the dang thing. The pride I have for myself is something I never thought I could experience, but the sense of accomplishment and boosted confidence I have is something I truly can’t put into words. I can’t wait to see what all we can do and create.

Thank You!

Having this blog is really a wonderful, therapeutic outlet for me and also, kind of a hobby too! I used to keep many diaries growing up and I always found that it felt good to get these thoughts out of my head and onto paper. I consider this blog my diary too, except it’s not private which can be scary at times considering everything I’ve written about. I just wanted to say thank you again for reading my posts. To me, it really doesn’t matter how many people read it because this is just for fun, but I find that being vulnerable on here is also freeing for me, and I love that I have this smaller corner on the internet that’s just for me and you to share. I’m so glad that I decided to start a blog on a random weekday while bored. Maybe I too need to be bored more often!

I hope the second month of 2026 brings good health and good luck to each and every one of you. Keep being yourself, keep learning, and keep asking questions. I’m really thankful for y’all. See you in March where hopefully the weather gets warmer!

XOXO,

Grace <3

Here’s me playing bass clarinet for the first time in years. :)