When I'm not writing or tweaking my computer, I do embroidery.

When Lynn Abbey said, “When I’m not writing or tweaking my computer, I do embroidery. When I’m not plunging into the past, tweaking, or embroidering, I’m reading books about history, computers, or embroidery,” she paints a vivid portrait of the balance between creation and reflection, between craft and knowledge. Her words speak to the eternal dance between action and contemplation, between the work of the hands and the work of the mind. In this world of constant busyness, Abbey’s quote reminds us that life’s deepest wisdom often comes when we engage in seemingly small, personal pursuits, ones that may appear disconnected but are, in truth, deeply interconnected.

At first glance, embroidery, history, and computers may seem worlds apart. One is tactile, artistic, and rooted in ancient tradition, while the other is digital, a product of modern technology. Yet, in Abbey’s life, they are linked by a deeper, universal truth: the need to engage with the world both internally and externally. Embroidery requires focus, patience, and care — much like writing or coding, where every stitch of thought or line of code builds upon itself. History, on the other hand, is not merely about the past; it is a bridge to the present, a reminder that our actions today are threads woven into the tapestry of humanity. Abbey’s life, filled with these seemingly disparate practices, is a testament to the power of interdisciplinary thinking, of finding meaning and growth in the blending of different forms of creation and study.

This lesson mirrors the ancient teachings of the philosophers and artists who blended the intellectual and the manual. The Greek philosopher Aristotle taught that the pursuit of knowledge and the practice of art were both essential to a full life. In his view, thinking and doing were not separate pursuits, but complementary forces that allowed a person to understand the world and contribute to it. Likewise, in the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci was both a thinker and a doer, a master of not just art and science, but of the idea that the creative mind must be active in many forms. Abbey’s own life reflects this philosophy — she does not see her time spent embroidery, or tweaking her computer, or reading history, as unrelated. They are all ways of engaging with the world, of learning, creating, and evolving.

In modern history, Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, embodied a similar blending of art and technology. Jobs famously spoke of his love for calligraphy and how it influenced the design of Apple's interfaces. He believed that the marriage of art and science was essential for innovation. Like Abbey’s quote, Jobs’s life was one where creativity and technology came together in new and transformative ways. In his case, the beauty of design was not just an aesthetic choice, but a functional one, allowing the world to interact with technology in an intuitive and human way. It was his ability to weave together different disciplines — the intuitive design of art with the precision of technology — that led to Apple’s remarkable success.

Abbey’s words, however, point us to the quieter wisdom of balance. While the world often glorifies the loudest pursuits — the largest innovations, the most dramatic successes — Abbey reminds us that true growth often happens in the spaces between. In the time she spends embroidery, she is meditating on the process, slowing her mind, weaving together focus and patience, which makes room for new ideas to emerge. When she reads, she is not merely consuming knowledge; she is weaving it into the fabric of her own understanding, allowing it to inform and inspire her work. It is this quiet integration of different forms of creative and intellectual effort that allows her, like da Vinci and Jobs, to engage with the world in profound, connected ways.

The lesson of Abbey’s quote is one of balance and integration. It teaches us that true mastery comes not from excelling in one pursuit at the expense of others, but from understanding how varied skills, interests, and experiences enrich each other. Creativity in all its forms — whether through writing, creating art, solving problems with technology, or studying history — is interconnected. The more we engage with the world through multiple lenses, the more complete our understanding becomes, and the more fully we can contribute to the world.

Practical actions for embracing balance and creativity in your own life:

1. Diversify your pursuits: Don’t limit yourself to one field or skill. Engage in activities that require both creativity and reflection.

2. Slow down and reflect: Like Abbey’s embroidery, take time to slow down, to work with your hands, or to engage in a practice that requires focus and patience.

3. Read widely: Explore different subjects, just as Abbey blends history, technology, and craft. Let your knowledge flow freely between disciplines.

4. Integrate your learning: Find connections between your creative and intellectual pursuits. Let your hobbies inform your work, and vice versa.

For, as Lynn Abbey reminds us, the world is not merely a collection of separate tasks, but a tapestry of connections, where every thread we weave — whether through creative expression, intellectual pursuit, or hands-on effort — forms part of a greater whole. By embracing the beauty of integration, we, too, can learn to weave a life of meaning, balance, and lasting fulfillment.