mind and muse

It was a July day in 2016 when I was sitting with my grandmother in her old Door County, Wisconsin home. We were drawing, listening to Frankie Valli, at the dining room table. We used soft pastels, colored pencil, and crayons. That’s the day I officially reigned art into my life as a constant. All while simply drawing her backyard; a giant field of flowers. If it weren’t for that activity with her, I wonder if I would be where I am now.

I quickly grew a strong passion for things like drawing and painting of course, but also crocheting, scrapbooking, etc. I learned that basic art opens up so many other doors to the creative world. But on a different note, I’ve noticed very quickly growing up that life has seemed to get a lot harder since simply drawing with my grandmother. Major bumps in the road such as anxiety and stress start to creep in, as expected.

The kind of anxiety I and most probably most people navigate is described as a “crazy train” according to my therapist. One anxious spark will stop by, from there, we hop on this train to see the route it’s going. And by the time we’re getting off the train, we are so far from where we started. And it all started out with that first thought that’s JUST realistic enough to where we can believe it could happen. It’s the bodies way of protecting us from something that’s not even real. It’s the illusion of being in control of the uncertainty; the future.

Even though that is just a blueprint of what anxiety looks like, the other part of it that I want to talk about is how hobbies can get me through spells of discomfort. However, this looks different for everyone. People say that Earth without art is just “eh”, that’s true for humans as well. I believe everyone should have at least just one thing that makes them them. Having those little things in life will help you romanticize everything just a little more, day by day. 

Here’s how you do that…at least as far as i’ve learned.

Whatever you choose to invest your time into, whether that’s something physically active, or something that trains your brain, that thing will relax your nerves. You will feel tranquility. For example, aside from art, I find outdoor walks to be extremely unshackle. Practicing whatever your thing may be, will trigger the brains reward system. Releasing neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin which are mood boosters. This proves that a simple activity will reduce stress levels significantly.

As an artist I aspire to express, articulate, and reveal what anxiety, stress, and overthinking does to a young adult trying to figure out the real world. Along the other side of the journey, which consists of happiness, creativity, and self expression through art. My beloved pastime.

If you’re living with anxiety, you know how loud the world can feel. A hobby won’t solve everything, but it can give your mind somewhere softer to land, at least it did for me. Start small, stay curious, and remember that even a few minutes spent doing something you love is a step toward feeling more like yourself again.