Knitting in the Morning

I have a morning "knitting ritual".
I wake up every morning, done praying, then before other people wake up, I start knitting for about 30 minutes before any other chores.

I just read an article "The Health Benefits of Knitting" by Jane E. Brody at New York Times Blog:

The repetitive action of needlework can induce a relaxed state like that associated with meditation and yoga. Once you get beyond the initial learning curve, knitting and crocheting can lower heart rate and blood pressure and reduce harmful blood levels of the stress hormone cortisol. But unlike meditation, craft activities result in tangible and often useful products that can enhance self-esteem.

Knitting in the morning is kinda a ritual for me for over a year now. Well I believe knitting has many benefits to our physical and psychological health as long as you do not get into a serious addiction level! :p

To me knitting is calming. Shoots my mood and give me some energy booster to start the day. Everybody in my family members know that I do not really knit for myself. I mostly pick up my needle, start a project, struggling to finish it to then give it away to people. If I say I'll knit a new shawl for myself; it always ends up I use it only several times then ended up my mother use it for herself. She will look at my shawl collections to wear for an occasion. Later on I know that her favorite is my white merino Lilac Leaf Shawl (designed by Nancy Bush).

To me knitting is not about the end result. It is not about "going to have a new garment to be" kinda feeling that I pursuit. It is the process of stitching itself that I enjoy the most. Knitting keeps me sane when life is tough, and the feeling of making other people happy through my knitting makes me happy. That is my knitting goal at the first place.