Whiff
Your crafting is beautiful! When you said you were looking forward to 1 December so you can change your doorbell ring to the Christmas one, I was reminded of something I read online, I think in one of my online cross stitch groups. It mentioned a lady whose practice is that every year, when 1 December arrives, she drops whatever she's currently stitching and for the entire month of December all she stitches is Christmas-themed projects.
While that isn't something I do myself, holiday projects are some of my favourites. I am currently working on a beautiful Nativity scene. It's a Dimensions Gold Petites, so it's just a small one, but that's good in a way Dimensions Gold Collection is a series with beautiful designs, but they are all full coverage (you stitch every single square in the design; not a single one left blank) and they tend to be intricate so are a lot of work.
Smiles
In fairness, I think for many people who choose to go NC, they aren't really fussed about the perspective of those with whom they don't want a relationship. This is something I've heard from many people who have gone NC. Granted, I am aware that my perspective may be biased because many of these narratives do come from forums for people who are struggling with family relationships and it is entirely possible that those who are going NC for different reasons might choose not to post. We are estranged from my sister and BIL due to his (well-documented) abuse of her; the estrangement was not our choice. Based on my knowledge of people in similar situations, I suspect that her primary consideration was protecting herself from further abuse. (They live in another country where she doesn't have much support, and they have three children together. Without going into detail there is a sufficient travel distance that it simply would not be feasible for her to take the children and leave for our country and then for them to have visitation, plus there are other considerations I won't discuss for the sake of brevity.) We are also LC with my FIL and, sadly, I don't think he really cares much about this. Often, when people post on forums about struggling with going NC because of possible fallout, the advice they're given is not to give the other person headspace. If you choose not to have a relationship and you feel that that's necessary for your own mental health, then continuing to obsess over the other person is really just allowing them to live rent-free in your own head. Best to find other, more productive, activities.
