Art as My Escape: Finding Peace Through Creativity

I've been having a lot of days off recently, and at first, that meant rest. Rest through lying in bed. Rest through endlessly scrolling on my phone. And rest through eating whatever I want whenever I wanted. But after a certain amount of time, I started feeling sick. What was I actually doing? How was spending my days this way healthy for me?

So, I tried to find other ways to "rest" and actually do something productive. I've always been drawn to artistic pursuits— I loved baking, painting, and most recently, air-dry clay projects. I'd find myself genuinely looking forward to getting up and heading to my art desk to work on my latest project. It was a stark contrast to the boredom I'd been feeling in the days before.

While browsing on Pinterest, I stumbled upon jewelry bowls, mugs, and my favorite— jellycat picture holders! As I shaped and molded the clay, I realized the deeper reason I loved this form of art. It offered me a sense of control and sculpting that I don't always find in my real life. During these moments, I can forget about the problems and annoyances of the world and focus on something that truly brings me peace. It's a stress-reliever that makes me happy not only with the end result, but throughout the entire process.

Finding an outlet like this is, I believe, essential in navigating the ups and downs of life. The world will always present stressors and grievances that evoke emotions we might struggle to process. Having a creative outlet can help release those emotions, process them, and eventually let go of them.

So, I encourage you all to find your outlet. Whether it's scrapbooking, crocheting, journaling, or something else, find something special that brings you joy and peace. Turn to it whenever you need a moment of calm, and do it without the pressure of perfection. Maybe one day, your outlet will grow into something more— something you can pass down or even use to inspire others, just like this blog!