Calming the Mind, One Brush Stroke At a Time
My parents still have my childhood bedroom set in their home. The bed is disassembled and in the basement. Until a few weeks ago, the dresser and the nightstands sat in a bedroom, functioning as a storage space for my mother’s excessive clothing supply.
I’ve been eyeing the bedroom set for some time now. It’s 30 years old, and it’s in excellent condition. I’ve been eyeing the furniture, not because I want it, but because I want to get rid of it. I don’t mean I want to throw it out; it has good bones. I want it to find a new home.
And so, a few months ago, while chatting with my cousin, I told her about the bedroom set. She recommended that instead of selling it as is, I update the look and then sell it. She suggested I visit a local paint store: Trendos Interiors, for furniture painting inspiration. I did just that.
And long story short, one month later, I have updated/renovated a dresser and two sets of nightstands. I sold the nightstands. The dresser may take some time, but I am confident it will find a new home.
I’ve got one more nightstand waiting in the queue. Will I get to it before I leave for Croatia next week? I will let you know.
With three projects under my belt, I found something I had not experienced in a long time; a sense of calm and a sense of focus. I’m experiencing joy, and I am having a lot of fun. I’m learning, problem-solving, and connecting with others. AND, I wake up thinking about how I can continue this new hobby when I get to Croatia.
Over the last month, this new hobby has calmed my racing mind. I overthink. I get stuck in overthinking. My mind plays many of the same thoughts, over and over again. In the last year, to slow down the overthinking, I added meditation to my daily habits; it has been beneficial in identifying the moments of overthinking. Meditation helps me recognize it, sit with it and process it. But then what?
I like to believe that I found my ‘but then what?’
I am slowly moving from overthinking. Or rather, I am in the process of catching myself in moments of overthinking. The racing mind has found its calm in sanding, painting, and waxing furniture.
I move from task to task with a sense of purpose. I still get anxious. I still have moments when I think this has to be perfect! But I quickly remind myself that I am learning and mistakes are not failures. The failure is in giving up on the task.
And so, I keep going. I keep learning, asking questions, identifying new ways of doing things. I think of new thoughts. I build on existing ideas. And then I action those ideas—one brushstroke at a time.
I am confident that this new hobby will continue.
And how it will evolve over the next couple of months is entirely up to me.
Stay tuned…
