10 Ways to Lighten the Darkness
Hello, my friend. How are you? Are you hanging in there.
I had a rough week. I’m fine. I’m safe. I’m healthy. My family is healthy. My business is doing fine. Matthias’ business is doing fine.
And yet…
And yet sometimes the heaviness of everything layered with the day to day layered with personal emotions and struggles can take its toll.
Maybe you feel it, too?
I made this mask with my In the Garden Fabric from Spoonflower*
I know it’s ok for me to feel whatever I feel. It’s GOOD to feel what I feel, to not sweep it under the rug, but to acknowledge it and sit with it. But when feelings become incapacitating it’s helpful to have some techniques to fall back on. I thought I’d share some of mine with you today:
Write in my journal. I do this almost every day. I know some people advocate journaling through this time as a means of documenting life during the pandemic. Not me. I pour my thoughts and feelings into my journal. Some days I only write a paragraph or two. Other days I write page after page. It’s been a near life-long habit and it always helps no matter what’s going on in my life. I’ll admit that some days I don’t feel up to digging deep into painful or uncomfortable or embarrassing feelings, but that’s ok, too. My journal is always there for me.
Get outside. This one is BIG for me. Days that I can’t get outside because of the weather can be hard. But even sitting by a window can help. Yesterday was rainy and I painted in my studio with the windows open listening to the sound of the rain and the birds and a frog chorus. Walking the dogs. Gardening. Even just walking around the garden and observing or sitting outside and being present almost always makes me feel better.
self-seeded violas are popping up in my paths and the cracks in my patio, too
Unplug. When I put away my phone and turn off my computer and take a break from the news I always feel better. Always. I need to make this a regular habit.
Slow down. I think all of the above suggestions help me to slow down as does being mindful of how I navigate through my days. Make a point of slowing down. Breathe. Pay attention to what’s going on around me (and inside me). Listen. Think. I feel so much better when I’m going slowly and not rushing.
Yoga/meditation. I’m still working on making this a daily habit. Sometimes I’m so good at showing up and then suddenly weeks have gone by since the last time I did. And so I start over and try again. (I have found Yoga With Adriene to be so helpful. Her weekly newsletters are beautifully written and inspiring, too).
COLOR. Color makes me happy. Having color in my home and my garden picks me up. And working with color can shift my mood. If I’m not feeling up to working on a serious painting simply filling a page in my sketchbook with color swatches can help jolt me out of a negative mood. Usually I do this with paint, but I’ve also developed a fun practice using water soluble crayons to create scribbly patterns. The pages below are from my really large sketchbook (11”x14” — it’s another of the Canson XL Mix Media books). It’s kind of amazing how good it feels to scribble with crayons like this. (Although they’re water soluble I prefer not to use water with them. The brand I’m using is Caran D’Ache Neocolor II).
Scent. Tea. Flowers. Herbs. Essential oils. Candles. Incense. Each helps shift my mood. When I’m outside I notice so many good smells at this time of year. Each new bloom. The smell of soil itself. The first raindrops. In the kitchen the scent of frying onions and garlic or chopped herbs or freshly brewed coffee all make me feel good. And perhaps observing them is just another way of being present, of savoring the moment. On a bad day a little bit of lavender or vetiver or mint essential oil can be so soothing. (On a good day I enjoy them, too).
Read/watch/listen to something uplifting. This year I’ve re-read more of my favorite books than perhaps ever before. It’s comforting to revisit stories I know and love. I just finished re-reading all of Susan Branch’s illustrated memoirs. Among other things (and interspersed with new-to-me books) I’ve re-read the first three Anne of Green Gables books, my beloved Shell Seekers, my collection of various SARK books and now I’m re-reading The Secret Garden. Our library is now doing curbside pick-up, but I’m still glad to have my own books, too. Not long ago we re-watched Amelie and I’m trying to compile a list of my favorite feel good movies to turn to when I need a pick-me-up, too. Have any suggestions?
Reach out with love and kindness. One of the things that’s so hard for me right now is seeing how divided we are as a country (and a planet). We are all in this together. A health crisis affects EVERYONE. Violence does not right wrongs. We seem more divided than ever. I know I can’t do much to change that, but I can spread love in my own small way. Reach out to friends and family. Write this blog. Spread kindness in my community. Support other artists and local small businesses.
Write Gratitude and Joy Lists. I keep a small notebook on my bedside table and I try to write in it before I go to sleep. It’s a good reminder to always look for the light and to never forget gratitude for all I have.
What are some ways you bring light to the darkness?
*Spoonflower is also selling mask kits. Any of my designs can be purchased as a mask kit. Just click on “Home Decor” on the design page where it says “Also available as” and scroll to the bottom of the page.