"A man who works with his hands is a laborer; a man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman; but a man who works with his hands and his brain and his heart is an artist"                 - Louis Nizer.

I have been thinking about hands and how we use them quite a bit lately since 2018 started.      It could be because I am now a mother of two and use my hands more than ever. Or because my word for this year is create and I am a maker at heart and love to use my hands to make things as often as I can.

Really Ive been thinking about technology and how the use of our phones for tapping and scrolling means that were not using our hands for other things... Don't get me wrong I love to use Instagram as I place to document the things I make with my hands on a daily basis. But how much have smart phones and technology in general replaced what we might have used our own two hands to make? 

For some of us smart phones have replaced journaling, note taking, or keeping a calendar or planner (which I realize can be more efficient and reduce paper waste but still something we used to do for our selves). 

My hands have always  been connected to my livelihood, I have always used them to make a living. I had a career in catering and hospitality so I made food and decorated and served day in and day out. Now I work as free lance writer and photographer. And spend my days doing all the tasks of a mother; changing, feeding, playing, cleaning, I use my hands constantly.

These warmer seasons and days of spring and summer have my wanting to do so many things with my hands. Planting, building, baking, picking, painting, just whatever I can get my hands on really. So all of this rambling to say I have been thinking about activities we can do to be more intentional and mindful about the use of our hands, to "reclaim our hands".

Reclaiming our hands:

• Bake or cook something. This has to be the easiest and yummiest way of  being more mindful with your hands. Try making your own bread from scratch. Kneading dough is so therapeutic. Or make banana bread or brownies. Or Chocolate chip cookies. ( Any recipe can made into a healthier version if you are gluten free, dairy free, sugar free, or vegan etc. And then you can invite a friend over to share.
• Get Messy. Finger paint. Play dough. Clay. Heat Embossing. Think like a kid. I have a 3 year old so this is one of my favorite things to do with him. We love to make our own play dough. and finger paint together. But if you don't have kids maybe get clay or try taking a pottery or painting class. Or get a color me calm book for adults.
• Get Dirty. Like literally with dirt. Start a garden. Or buy a potted cactus or succulent. Or volunteer at a community supported farm. The act of caring, planting, and watering a living thing is so stress relieving. Bonus points if it gets you outside and indoor plants help clean the air inside your home!
• Write something. Not a text message or post on social media or a note on your phone. Send a card to someone. Get a gratitude journal. Youtube bullet journaling. Just put pen to paper. 
• Make Something. Scrapbook. Learn to knit or can. Try macrame weaving or natural plant dyeing. Try to make your own soaps or a candles. 

The more I use my hands the more content and happy I feel, the more I forget my phone, and the more I desire to serve and love those around me by using my hands to the best of my ability. 

What do you love to make with your hands? Do you take on seasonal projects or activities with the changing seasons? Please share below! Also after you've taken time the time to make something please take a picture and see so we can all be inspired by each other! #reclaimourhands