#WeAreEnough It’s time for You to Join the Movement

No one should feel alone, broken and ashamed, like I did. I remember how I felt like there was something really wrong with me. I was afraid to do anything that would put me at the centre of attention and open me up to judgement. I expected negative judgement from anyone who saw or heard me. I wouldn’t speak in case I said the wrong thing. In fact, I often couldn’t speak as the fear swept through my body and left me frozen. Deep down, I just felt like I wasn’t good enough. For anything. Or anyone.

My unrealistic expectations for myself to ‘be perfect’, were the source of so much unhappiness. I truly believed that it wasn’t ok to make mistakes. I’d choose to avoid all situations in which I imagined I might do something wrong in front of someone; from presenting, to dating, to simply sharing an opinion or making a choice.

Of course I couldn’t share how I felt; why would I point out my ‘flaws’ to people? They’ll definitely judge me then. No, my keep safe strategy was to stay hidden, even if avoiding all the good things in life is a classic recipe for depression.

It’s impossible to avoid everything scary and when I had to be seen, I’d be panicking so much that I’d often freeze or make myself sick with fear. I was deeply ashamed of who I was. I felt entirely alone.

In reality, we all have moments when we feel like we’re not good enough. We criticise and beat ourselves up, and we believe that if we’re not perfect then we’re not deserving. We just don’t talk about it. Discussing these feelings is still taboo and we’re afraid to let our vulnerabilities be seen.

It doesn't have to be this way.

We are ALL capable, strong, intelligent, resilient and beautiful in so many ways. We’re all imperfect too. Isn’t it time we embraced those imperfections and learnt to love who we are regardless of our perceived ‘flaws’ (you know, those very things that make us human)? With a little self-acceptance, we can even learn to love those parts of us too!

We Are Enough; The Creative Yarn Bomb of Love is a truly collaborative, community project bringing together hundreds of people from all around the UK, to encourage more self-expression and spread kindness, love and acceptance through creativity and sharing experiences, so that we can all know that we really are good enough, just as we are. Stacie Clark explains it best:

This is a 12-month long project that Quiet Connections is proud to be a partner on. It starts in May 2018 and concludes during mental health awareness week in May 2019, with yarn bombs simultaneously popping up in towns and cities all around the UK, with Truro being our main focus at Quiet Connections.

Yarn bombing is a form of street art involving covering public places with decorative knitted or crocheted material; but this one’s different. The first of its kind, we’re incorporating creative expressions from non-knitters and crocheters too - from knitting, crocheting, writing and poetry to drawing, painting and photography. If you can create it, we can include it!

How will it work for you?

We're bringing like-minded people together in a space where it's ok to talk and it's ok to be quiet too through six Quiet Community Connections groups that will be created across Cornwall. Using a mix of creative activities, tea and space, this is your time for gently connecting with people who have similar stories. Think of it as a community of understanding where you can make friends and take time out for self-care. It's all about gently connecting:

• Connecting with yourself through creating; embracing who you are and knowing you are good enough; increasing self-acceptance and self-kindness to live authentically and confidently as an imperfect person, with the courage to express what’s important to you.
• Connecting with others through sharing compassion, empathy and understanding; knowing you are not alone, and that feelings of difficulty, doubt, pain and anxiety are just as universally human as feelings of joy, happiness, love and contentment. This vulnerability is the heart of a strong, inclusive community where we truly feel belonging.

What is created at the groups can contributes to your local yarn bomb, raising mental health awareness and reminding everyone in your community that they are enough, just as they are. For anyone living outside of Cornwall, there are also options to set up community groups and yarn bombs beyond Cornwall, and to participate from your own home.

We believe that greater empathy, understanding and connecting equals more loving people, which leads to a more loving society, resulting in a more loving world. That's pretty important, right? Well, we might take some time to change the whole world... but it won't take much time to change the world for one person.

Imagine how you might feel if you're struggling with feeling like you're not good enough and trying to hide yourself from the world. You're afraid to share your true feelings with anyone, thinking you're entirely alone and no one could possibly understand. Then you see it. All the bright colours of the yarn bomb; the kind words and vulnerabilities shared. You take a moment to read some of the stories, and realise that story could be yours. Someone else feels the same way after all.

The next day, you're in work and you overhear people talking about the display that's appeared in the town centre. You're surprised when one of them says "I thought it was just me". "Me too" you share...