It started as a joke—I saw a beading kit at the bookstore and thought, “Why not?” I haven’t made a bracelet since I was in grade school, sitting on the floor and spelling out names with plastic letters.
An hour in, I was sorting colors like a madwoman and squinting at clasps with the concentration of a heart surgeon. And I loved every second. There’s something about letting your hands play while your brain takes a back seat that feels like therapy.
Play doesn’t have to be expensive or Instagram-worthy. Sometimes, it’s just string, sparkles, and a little reminder that joy can be simple if you let it.