I bought one of these in the pandemic, used it a bit then let it gather dust. After seeing a friend using theirs on Insta, I got mine back out earlier this year and got obsessed. It's the soberest high I can possibly feel. It's so good for those moments where you feel all frantic and would otherwise reach for snacks/stimulants, replacing one intense feeling with another really relaxing one. I think I'm close to graduating from the starter mat to the big-boy spikes. Even my sceptical friends have ended up loving it.
the only thing that gets me in that fabled flow state, and I only make them for close friends: the joy of surprising them with one makes covering my flat in thread and needles for weeks worth it.
a while ago my therapist got me to keep a list of mindful activities. Peeling hard-boiled eggs and oranges both ended up featuring. Mastering the technique is so satisfying: orange peel off in a single web; tapping the top and bottom of your egg, giving it a roll, then seeing how much comes off in one go. I am too scared to try the technique I saw on youtube where you tap off the top and bottom and BLOW the egg out. One day.
