When my son was very small, he used to love to draw and tell stories on paper. Every Christmas his Auntie would give him a ream of paper and pencils or crayons or something. He looked forward to it every year!
When I looked at the scribbled on pieces of paper lying all over the house, I didn't see the beauty. I thought he was just scribbling and throwing the paper aside.
One day I asked him about it. For him, each of those papers was a story. He would start with a character he drew, and then as he made the story up in his head, he would "act out" the story on the page.
Each one of those scribbles was a story. It was his imagination at work. It was a creative expression.
Creative expression is a great way to practice self-care! Someone else must have recognized this too, as there is a huge market for adult coloring books! The benefit of creative expression is disconnecting from the stressors of life, being in the moment, and creating something beautiful. Our breathing slows down and we start to relax. It allows our bodies to rejuvenate.
Creative expressions can be all kinds of things. It can be painting, coloring, writing stories or poetry, drawing, playing music, baking or cooking, playing with hair or doing makeup, building model airplanes, sewing.... the list is limitless! Whatever sparks your creativity!
Blessings,
Kara
