Last week, I signed up for my sixth Spinzilla (on Team Spin Off, of course!). The next day, I signed up for a 3-day conference during Spinzilla week—taking place on the other side of the country. While some spinners are gathering in groups or binge-watching TV, I’ll be sitting in seminars and flying (economy class). In terms of lousy timing for competition, this might even beat the year I moved house during Spinzilla.
And you know what? That’s fine with me! Here are my 5 reasons why you should sign up for Spinzilla even if you don’t have time.
1. It’s supposed to be fun.
Even though Spinzilla includes a competitive element, the true purpose of Spinzilla is to give yourself permission to spend time spinning. Don’t give in to the temptation to make your fun week into a chore! Use Spinzilla as an opportunity to spin for fun.
2. You almost certainly won’t let your team down.
The Rogue Spinner category is perfect for people who really feel too anxious about joining a team and want to spin on their own (or who are so competitive they want to forge their own way). However, so many teams just want spinners, regardless of what yardage you may spin. Having been a Spinzilla team captain, I can tell you that there are lots of things worse than a spinner who doesn’t produce a lot of yardage. (A spinner who is mean to others or a spinner who doesn’t report her yardage is way less fun as a teammate than someone who spins 5 yards.)
3. You can spread the word about spinning (and amaze your friends).
These days, spinning might be something you do at home or in a like-minded group, which is why so many people assume that no one spins any more. Take your spinning out and show everyone that the skill is still alive and well. If you’re really busy, so much the better! You can show even more people how amazing spinning is.
Talking with their friends and minding their sales, three women in the village of Chinchero, Peru have spindles on hand all day long. Photo by Anne Merrow
4. You can channel the unsung spinning superheroes.
When people made yarn for basic needs, they didn’t necessarily stay home by the fire. In villages in the Andes, spinners still make yarn everywhere they go: waiting in line, talking in a group, and walking in a group. Andean spindle spinners are “slower by the hour, faster by the week,” which is perfect for a weeklong event.
5. You need a break.
When everything around you is hectic, a few minutes of spinning is exactly what you need most. Your brain may tell you that 10 more minutes of staring at a computer screen will be enough to finish your to do list, but let’s get real: a mindful, intentional break will improve your concentration and reduce your stress more than any blinking cursor. The sensory variety of seeing and feeling fiber and diverting your eyes from the blue screen are good for your well-being.
So just do it. Sign up for Spinzilla. Challenge yourself to find a group, and remind yourself of this: You deserve to be there just as much as anyone.
—Anne Merrow
Featured Image: Have spindle, will travel—even during Spinzilla. Photo by Sarah Rothberg