The other day I posted something on my personal Facebook page about “coloring” while I’m on vacation. There were some that related it to a lady of leisure eating bonbons and watching soap operas. For the record, I hate soap operas.
So let’s set the record straight on adult coloring (and, no, not like body paint) and why you may be ordering from Amazon at midnight or running to Barnes and Noble for your next coloring book and super cool coloring pencils. By the way, my coloring collection has been sitting in my office for about a month. Why? Because as an adult, I’m thinking that I might color something wrong. How completely stupid is that?!?! Geez, WTH happens to our mentality as we get older. Why do we judge ourselves so much? And therein, my Zen friends, is the answer…
As a woman of 47, the last time I colored was 3 years ago with my 8 year old niece. Even then, I found it therapeutic, but couldn’t really pinpoint why. Recently, my research has revealed that it helps with stress. It allows judgments of self to vaporize. We disconnect. Imagine. Shut the world out. And it transports us from overused electronic screens to the purity of a black and white sheet of paper where it’s us, the paper and our choice of colors. I choose paper. I choose colors.
So, don’t judge it. Try it. You may find your creative side, some newfound Zen or a sense of self. As a reference, this article explains a few of the benefits.
Zenitude for today:
Color on, my Zen friends. Color on.