Why do I love painting., because I think I might make money at it someday? No absolutely NOT.
It is because it is the ONLY thing in my life that brings me such wonderful flow. True flow in the psychological sense as described by the positive psychologist Michaly Csikszentmihaly. http://psychology.about.com/od/PositivePsychology/a/flow.htm
It brings me to a place where I am living in the moment. It is a place for me where eight hours feels like five minutes. I have never experienced this feeling in anything I do. Lacrosse brings me to that place for a very short period of time, but nothing else I have done in life has been able to bring me to this mental state.
I can only draw stick men of sorts, so I never gave painting or any Art a real try until two years ago when my neighbour and friend Cristine invited me to her place for an Art lesson.
Since then I have been hooked, moving away from my fears of feeling I can’t … to I can. It is about the process for me, the freedom to just let go. I have taken four one day lessons with four different Artists (each having their own unique style) and that is what is so freeing.
There is no one right way to do Art. Painting is so liberating for me. I look forward to it as an escape, a relaxing activity that just brings me joy and most importantly flow.
We all need a little flow in our lives especially those of us who are in the helping professions. Flow brings us to the place where we can go to recharge.
I am not going to go to that place with my Art that can be the perfectionist in me. I am just going to let go and be me with the Art. I am doing this for me and if my kids happen to like a piece of art I do, I hope someday they will keep it with them as a memory of me. The fun, who cares piece of me that just allows it to be.
Maybe they will keep the piece that they had input into, the one where they inspired me to do something different than I originally planned. It is now the piece I call “ Celebrating Family”.
or maybe the piece I call Dancing in the Rain, which I loved to do as a child.
or maybe they won’t want any, but will have great memories of their mom having fun.
For me these Art days are about having fun, learning from others , celebrating and connecting. Not unlike ETMOOC.
For a little video of our last Art Day go to :
http://smilebox.com/playBlog/4d7a55304d5455774f44453d0d0a&blogview=true
Art has brought great joy to my life. It is a gift that I am very grateful for.
These digital stories allow me to create memories and that really is what it is all about for me. Thanks again ETMOOC.
Counsellor Talk : Creative Collaborative Connections 
Hi Susan,
Your art is great and I loved reading that you only started painting two years ago. I plan to share that with my 13 year old daughter who just started lax two weeks ago and is at the stage where she wonders if she’ll ever get good. You can be a source of double-inspiration.
It also looks like Smilebox worked well. I am piloting a classroom set of iPads this year and am always looking for more free apps to try out. This looks like a new one to put on the list.
Mary Lee
Thanks so much for your comments Mary. I so love lacrosse. Tell your daughter to stick with it . It is a GREAT sport she can play into her 60’s. By then she will be very good!!!!
Smiilebox is fantastic for school and home. I use it a lot! Worth the small yearly fee . Make sure you look for the educator version. I bought mine before I knew about that. Enjoy!