My partner and I have effectively quarantined for 8 1/2 months at this point. I would love nothing better than to shop for myself, spend a lazy afternoon in Barnes and Noble scanning magazines and books. I want to have breakfast at our favorite diner and have coffee from my favorite shop. As much as I love my partner, our dogs, and our house, I want to go out again. I won’t of course. I understand the reality of the pandemic right outside my door, literally.
Experts often recommend meditation. I’ve tried and I always fall asleep or my mind becomes even more scattered.
But I have found something that allows my mind to rest. Coloring. I know I have mentioned it before but I feel that I have not recommended it strongly enough. When I am concentrating on finding every tiny space to color, I let everything else go. All I think about is the picture and the color.
I admit I like paper and crayon coloring too but I prefer using coloring apps. Apparently, I am not the only one as there is an amazing array of apps to choose from. I’ve downloaded probably twenty of them. But I find myself using the same three. Happy Color gives me new pictures every day. My favorites are the ones labeled RARE. With those pictures, each swipe brings not just a color but designs and shades of the color. There are never enough but they keep me coming back. I’m addicted to pictures of rooms and table settings. I am always excited to find several in my morning haul.
Another is Colorscapes. As I touch the space I intend to color, I enjoy the puff of blue smoke that lets me know I hit the space. This is especially helpful when the pieces are very small.I know that I’m finished with a section when no more smoke appears when I touch the page. Paint By Number is similar to Colorscapes. It has similar projects but no blue smoke. I have tried others that are beautiful but keep returning to these for some reason.
I am not sure if it’s pathetic or a good thing that a puff of blue smoke or swatch of color can leave me feeling happy and peaceful. Do you have activity that works like meditation for you?
