Healthy Hobbies and Comforting Crafts Offer Many Benefits for Cancer Patients & Survivors (Part 2 of ?)!

PLEASE Join us at our May TLC Survivorship Session on Tuesday, May 20th at 5P!

The topic of our May TLC Survivorship Session will be a Survivor Hobby & Craft Show &Tell! You are welcome to come to listen and learn about some interesting hobbies from some interesting cancer patients/survivors… or better yet.,participate in the “Show & Tell” portion of the night (contact Tim if you would like to “Show & Tell”)!!!

CLICK BELOW to learn how Healthy Hobbies and Comforting Crafts can benefit cancer patients/survivors!

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As I mentioned last month in an article titled “Healthy Hobbies & Comforting Crafts Offer Many Benefits for Cancer Patients and Survivors,” I had sent a brief survey to a group of area cancer patients/survivors that consisted of two questions:

Q1. As a cancer survivor, what healthy hobby or comforting craft do you enjoy or participate in? and

Q2. How has it helped you throughout your cancer experience?

Kate, one of about 30 respondents, offered this insightful response:

Q1. I love to craft. Crafting is my happy place. I actually have a craft room in my basement where I can do all things crafty. My kids come down there to craft with me and it is my place to let my imagination go and let go of the stressors in my life. We are a very active outdoor family. We enjoy hiking, skiing (summer and winter), biking, etc. I still have my rower but have not been on it in over a month because we are renovating that portion of our basement for an office. I hope once the office is complete to get back onto the rower again!

Q2. I think one of the biggest struggles or hurdles with cancer is your mind or psyche. During treatments it is taxing however after treatments, when the physical struggles (nausea, hair loss, fatigue, etc) have subsided, it’s the mind that can become your biggest enemy. I find that when I am able to spend a portion of my day doing something that I enjoy, crafting/creating, I feel rejuvenated. I love to have friends over to craft. It is the best therapy for me!

CLICK HERE to read all responses on our blog

I was a little surprised when several respondents claimed that they have no hobbies.

Simply stated, a hobby is an activity that is done in one’s leisure time for pleasure. It is a pastime or recreational activity primarily driven by enjoyment and relaxation and typically enjoyed during one’s spare time (separate from work or other obligations). I do hope everyone has something like that in their life! In fact, I am hoping that many of you consider simply reading this Local Cancer Community Update as well as some of our activities to be a sort of “Healthy Hobby”! I surely consider many aspects of my work to be a kind of “Healthy Hobby” (even though it is a part of my job)! 😊

I did not include my own responses to the survey... and for good reason! I actually created an inventor of all of the hobbies I can remember enjoying throughout my life (which came to nearly 100) and I certainly didn’t want to add the last issue of this LCCU was long enough the way it was!

I wouldn’t describe any of my hobbies as particularly extravagant or exotic, not even those that I am rather passionate about (some might say “obsessed with”). They are all, in fact, quite ordinary. But they are things that I enjoy! Some I do on a regular basis (or as often as I can). Others I may do only intermittently. Some I have not done for many years, and yet they still interest me. Others I have no plans to ever do again (but I have learned to “never say never”). And there are still hobbies I hope to explore someday as well as those that, as of this moment, I have yet to discover.

I hope you will consider joining us for our TLC Survivor Hobby & Craft Show & Tell on Tuesday, May 20th - whether you are interested in hearing about some some healthy hobbies and comforting crafts, the chance to meet some interesting cancer patients/survivors, or both!

And… I’ll ask again (for anyone who may be interested in responding):

Q1. As a cancer survivor, what healthy hobby or comforting craft do you enjoy or participate in? and

Q2. How has it helped you throughout your cancer experience?