Creativity

I have a funny little story to tell you about a craft room and I.
It was January 2013 and I had been admitted (voluntarily) to an 8 week in-patient program for PTSD. Being hospitalized is not cheap so I vowed to make use of every second. I was quite excited when I got my schedule and saw all the classes I woudl take. I wasn’t nearly so thrilled to see “Crafts” on there several times as well. We won’t even go in to my reaction to “Horticulture” and “Mindfulness”.
Let’s just say I did not think hundreds of dollars a day were going to be well spent in a craft room.
There were 2 men that had arrived with me. One gentleman from the army and  high ranking police officer. “Crafts” didn’t thrill them either and we all whined and complained the whole way there. Even once inside the room we were still very skeptical but we had time to “waste” and had to be there so we might as well make something right?
I got in to painting a small elephant figurine and the guys went over to the leather making area. We were all sure to choose things that could be done in one session to prevent the need to return.
Well… I am not wrong often (just ask my husband!) 😉 but I was sure wrong about crafts. My mind steadied and became so calm. The time just floated by in a stress free way that time never passed for me before. I also turned out to be quite the detail painter and puffed up like a peacock as others looked at my work.
Needless to say, the boys and I overstayed our welcome that day and went to almost every available craft session for the remaining 8 weeks.
When things got really rough and my mind was spinning at a million miles a second, crafts was a very welcome break. I soon became almost dependant on that time to calm myself throughout each week. It was an oasis.
Just in case my husband is reading this I will say it again. “I was wrong”. See sweetie? I CAN say it! 😉

Since that time I have become a bit of an addict. To crafts I mean. 🙂
I have a nice large table in my office that is perpetually covered in craft supplies. Paints, pencils, coloured markers, pencil crayons, wooden shapes… I said addicted right?!
I even have a weekly craft day with my wonderful friend Mary. We don’t always do the same things but taking that time to sit, chat and be creative is good for us both.

Perhaps this will sound silly or like it can not possibly help but doing something so simple as colouring in a colouring book, drawing a sketch that looks like a house but was supposed to be a self portrait, crochet, bead work, needle crafts of any sort, painting, truly anything at all that you find enjoyable. Try to make time for it at least once a week. Far more would be better but if you are anything like me? It might all seem like a big waste of time at first.
Pay attention to how you feel beforehand and check in with yourself again afterwards. See if there is a marked difference. I am almost positive their will be. Enjoy!

 One of my favourite meditative drawings.