I dedicated this past week to be creative. I dug out pencils, watercolors, acrylics, brushes, erasers, paper, and three old chairs. For weeks, I planned in my head and on paper how I wanted to decorate the chairs. I bought the chairs months ago, and on Sunday morning, when I laid a bed sheet on the living room floor for paint splatter, I knew I was ready. It was time.
I moved my ready-to-paint chairs onto the sheet, rolled my art supply cart next to my workplace, looked at what I had gathered, and decided I had everything I needed. Finally, I sat down in front of the first chair with my sketch. I then realized I forgot the glass of water and paper towels needed to clean brushes. After retrieving those, plus a cup of coffee, I sat down, turned on a Hallmark movie, and excitedly began.
This year is the sixth year to donate to the Annual Art Chairs of Bisbee Silent Auction. The proceeds fund nonprofits in the remote southern Arizona mining community. Each chair had a theme: happy, flowers, gates, bees, hats, and this year, cats. It is in conjunction with a home tour and Thanksgiving dinner with friends.
What do YOU enjoy that is worth your money, planning, and time? Maybe it’s volunteering for a personal cause, woodworking, baking, renovating old cars, etc. Whatever you choose, mental wellness thrives on activities that spark creativity and allow past, present, and future
worry to dissipate, if only momentarily.
It is magical to create, preserve, or improve. Science Fair and 4-H projects are an example: they involve a plan, actually finishing it, and accepting rewards or disappointment. The process benefits Mental health. We tend to be expert self-critics, but even so, accomplishments, no matter how small, are the foundation for positive self-esteem.
I am retired, and it is easy to do nothing. Sitting in front of the TV or living by bings and rings on my phone might help pass each day, but neither enhances mental wellness. I make a conscious effort to activate my creativity because I know it provides a full spectrum of thought and emotion. In the chair project, several times, I wanted to scrub the cat off my chair, and start over. Instead, I kept evaluating and changing and finally stopped with a green-eyed cat pleading, “Leave me alone.”
Decide what sparks your creativity, and like the Nike commercial, “Just do it.” You and mental wellness will be the primary benefactor of your efforts.
Closing with a quote by Dale Carnegie: “Today is life—the only life you are sure of. Make the most of today. Get interested in something. Shake yourself awake. Develop a hobby. Let the winds of enthusiasm sweep through you. Live today with gusto.”
Until the next time: Live while you live.
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I love your enthusiasm, Jennifer. Your article is great. New or renewed projects stretch us and make us grow in happiness.
Arlene, I so agree. I often wonder why I don’t have a project in progress all the time. In my perfect world, I would have a large room planned by the Container Store where drawers and wall organizers hold all my supplies, and a large table, TV, and comfy office chair (on wheels) sits ready at all times to encourage my creative whims. There you have it. I hope you have a creative room of your dreams:))
You are an inspiration, dear one!!!
Oh, Faye Ellen – you are a jewel in my life. Thank you for your kind words. You, dear friend, are the primary inspiration for a new large picture book (mainly in my mind) called something like, “Sitting Places: Women’s resting reflections on life.” It will be written in rhyme and our Mother’s arms will be our first sitting place. I have been in AZ nearly all year, but I hope to share a warm hug with you soon.
You already know this, but for your readers: My volunteering and creativity involve playing an electronic saxophone in a swing band at Greeley nursing homes once a week, creating gifts and quilts for family and friends with a wonderful computerized sewing machine and a new Circuit cutting machine with a steep learning curve. So I have gone back to what made me happy in my younger days, my saxophone, sewing and cutting out paper dolls!
PS: these are your best chairs yet!
Geri, I love your comment, “I have gone back to what made me happy in my younger days…” I think that is a great idea for all of us to ponder. I also loved sewing, and after Patty died, I asked Jim if I could have her sewing machine. She and I bought the same machine forty years ago from Patricia O’Neil. I had given mine to my daughter, so I had no sewing machine. It is such a comfort to have her machine, and when I sit in front of it I get nothing but peace. Sewing for me too puts me in a zone and gives me the satisfaction of a job well done. It also brings up the perfection required by Mother. Funny how one item or one activity carries so much history:)
I’m glad you have a machine again. I’m finding things just don’t go together right without a certain level of perfection. Darn! Something I didn’t notice when I was in younger and in a hurry to get things finished.
Beautiful chairs and a great article!!
Thank you, Marva Lee. They bring out my best neurotic traits:)) I do enjoy doing them, and I enjoy the silent auction in Bisbee where people bid on the many dozen donations to help fund non-profits in the area. It is so fun to see the overflowing of creative talent.
Love the chair! You certainly have a creative mind with the beautiful designs you paint on your chairs. I agree it is therapeutic as I have always done some type of art (needle point, sewing, knitting, painting, baking, etc.) and love volunteer work.
Doris, I know you know how therapeutic creative endeavors can be. You do such beautiful work. Volunteer work does not do the same for me, but I admire everyone else who gives their time and talent for worthy causes. I’m proud of you.
Thank you and right back at you!
Beautiful chairs and great advice …. Thanks!