How Quilting Heals my Anxiety and Depression

A Podcast Interview with Rona Herman

I’m not really one to be shy about my quilting business. In fact, I’m pretty much as ‘open book’ as you get. However, I’ve only talked briefly about the anxiety and mental health issues I’ve had to fight in my daily life to get to where I am today. That was, until the producer from Home.Made. podcast came across an article I wrote about ‘Why I’m a Quilter‘ and wanted to know more.

After a few back and forth sessions sharing my story, then recording the interview itself and waiting for their editors to work their magic… the episode finally launched this week.

This is the most raw and real I’ve ever been. In this interview I shared things about my childhood, social fears and debilitating anxiety that I’ve experienced in my life. Some things I’ve only ever shared with a very select few.

So why do the interview?

It’s funny. I wasn’t nervous at all during the entire lead up process and the interview. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel any anxiety or fear or apprehension in the slightest. In fact, it was the opposite. I had this overwhelming feeling of calm that this is what I was supposed to be doing. There was a reason this producer was led to my article and we somehow were supposed to meet.

When I first entered the world of making quilting a business, the only thing I wanted to do was help people that were like me. People that didn’t believe they could ‘do it’. People that were so shy they were afraid to even take a quilting class.

While I was still teaching quilting classes at our local JoAnn Fabric a young woman came in because her friend had basically dragged her there. I could tell right away she was so nervous it hurt. That was a feeling I knew all too well.

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So, I welcomed her into the class and made sure to do everything I could to make her feel part of our group. To include her in our conversations. To encourage her every step of the way in her project. And you know what? I can still see her face when she held up that finished quilt block… her very first. The look of pure pride and accomplishment. She made that. She CAN make a quilt. That was her first step.

Through my own struggles with fear and anxiety and being a part of so many others on their journeys I’ve noticed one very important thing to all of it.

Healing begins with one step.

It doesn’t matter what that step is. How small or how big. The only thing that matters is that you take it. Then, pause and feel that moment of accomplishment. You can do this. Then… take your next step.

When I began the blog and started on this whirlwind journey, I’ve been so blessed to witness other people like me taking their steps as I take mine. My only goal is try to be a stepping stone for others as they work their way down their paths. Selfishly, that is how I make my steps as well.

You see, this really is a grand community. One giant cohesive world made up of all it’s individual parts, moving and growing… and stitching ourselves together… one step at a time.

I hope you enjoy my story. And I hope you’ll join me on this crazy journey. 😊

Click below to listen to the HOME.Made. podcast episode “One Thread At A Time.”

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