I know it is okay, actually vital, to take breaks and enjoy life. But boy the guilt and the accompanying self talk can be hard to overcome. How many times have we all taken a day off work only to find ourselves thinking we should be doing something “productive”? How many times have you tried to slow down but find this difficult in our fast-paced society?
I believe this occurs because we have difficulty just being in the moment. We are thinking about something that happened earlier or fretting about something in the future. I have tried to find ways to be in the present because that is when we can appreciate the moments and the environment around us. Recently, I found a way to keep myself grounded and appreciate the small things in life. This realization kicked off with a recent walk with a friend.
The Story
We took advantage of one of those random March summer-like days and we walked across the I-74 bridge and back. As we were walking, a sheet of paper bounced along the wind toward us. We were both intent on grabbing it, like we both knew this was meant to be seen by us. There was no stress or urgency. It just bounced along in the wind toward us. As we were walking side by side, the paper lurched my way and I was able to grab it.
I have no idea where it came from but the message was not lost to me or my friend. I thought what a beautiful picture! I noticed the world, the tree, the flower and the river which is an interesting illustration because in the Quad Cities, the river flows east and west before turning north.
This meant a lot to me. First, I felt so thankful this drawing came our way. I am thankful for this sign from the Universe that beautiful things in our environment can keep a person present.
It made me curious as to what else might be going on around me that I was missing. I was having a really busy week and I was finding it hard to feel settled. I was having a hard time being present at the moment. I know that being present is where a person finds peace, calm, and joy.
So, the message I took from this artsy intervention was to look for art in places that I might not have noticed before. I was lucky to have a drawing land in my hands. I knew that was unlikely to happen again! So I committed to looking for art and design around me so I can be more present.
How this Connects with my Profession
A big reason I wanted to partake in this practice is because as a mental health provider, I often discuss being more present with my clients. But, that can be difficult, especially if one is experiencing anxiety and feeling overwhelmed. This is why mental health professionals advocate that clients practice what is called “grounding”. This is a technique that helps a person reconnect to the present moment and calm their mind if they are feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, or anxious. There are several techniques that help a person become more grounded in the moment. Basically, these techniques involve using your senses to tune into your surroundings.
For a more detailed example, if you are feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, or anxiety, we practitioners suggest paying attention to the details of your environment, like the colors, textures, and sounds around you.
It’s also worth noting that we have written previous articles at Urban Treehouse about color therapy (see link below).
As I started looking for these beautiful things in my environment, it occurred to me that, while I may not be anxious, overwhelmed, or disconnected, looking for art kept me in the moment, able to appreciate not only visual aspects of my environment, but relational ones too.
The next day after I found the drawing, I ran an errand with a friend and we decided to pop into a local speakeasy for an afternoon cocktail. As we were waiting for our drink, I found myself thinking about tasks I needed to finish when I got home. I wasn’t particularly anxious about this. My mind was simply wandering ahead. The bartender served us our drinks and I got a jolt of joy when he sat my drink down.
The drink was delicious but the design on the table was fabulous! I appreciated the whole “painting” of the brightly colored drink and straw against the darker, richer jungle theme of the table. In my experience, the speakeasies I’ve been to often have had jungle inspired designs that evoke a sense of adventure and mystery. To accomplish this, they often feature elements like gold tigers, gold jewelry-covered walls and plant-filled murals. The glass my cocktail was sitting on definitely evoked this sense of mystery.
(By the way, stop into this little gem in downtown Moline. https://www.takecovertiki.com/. )
I began to realize that looking at visuals kept me present in my environment. I finally found a way to slow down and be present.
The Railroad Tracks
I was looking out of my window the other day, lost in thought, when my eyes came to this railroad car. We can see the railroad outside of our window and the train will often stop, making it easy to gaze out and see the graffiti. I liked the color combo of the paint against the silver of the car.
On a different occasion, I saw a train car and appreciated the warm and colorful background of the train car. It was just more pretty visual stimulation to keep me in the moment so I could enjoy the sunset even more.
Other People Partaking in this Practice
My husband Jay loves looking for vintage cars and trucks when we are out for a drive or on our way to visit friends and family. He often talks of the old trucks they used in their construction business. Since he is interested, I often look out for these alongside him. I stay vigilant and grounded as we drive through rural areas looking for the older trucks. He grew up in a rural town where people farmed and worked labor jobs. He often talks of the old trucks they used in their construction business. It always feels like a flashback to the past!
Sometimes it is the rusty ones that are appealing to the eye. The patina of the fading and rusting colors create an appealing color especially with the green grass and red barn in the background.
There is something about the patina of the rusting metal with the Chevrolet 6100 emblem in contrast to the more dull pinkish of the door and fender that is interesting and pleasing to the eye. I also like the perspective of this view of the truck with the round fender against the sharp edge of the hood with the emblem.
I found a photo of this old truck in my phone and cropped it to enhance the stripes of the chrome grill which makes the perspective interesting against the patina of the rusty portion with the emblem.
The Tavern
I like to meet up with friends at a local tavern that feels like home to my best friend. She has been going to this tavern for over 30 years and after meeting frequently there, it started to feel like home to me as well. The Wonder Y Tavern is an eclectically decorated space. You can tell the long-time owners place photos, plaques, statues, and banners that they love, regardless of whether they match any one style. It is a place where it is easy to stay present with plenty of visual stimulation and pieces of memorabilia that spark conversation. I feel emotionally connected to my friends and this space when I am here.
Out of the hundreds of pieces of eclectic art at the Wonder Y, here are two of my favorites. One is an entry way sign pointing the way to the bar (see below).
There’s also a photo of men and women at a National Hotel Convention in Niagara Falls that I find interesting (see below).
Walking the Park and Observing
My friend and I take walks when the weather allows. You can only imagine how giddy I was when we ran across the painting “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte” in Davenport, IA.
Here is a photo of the original painting by Seuat which you can see in person at the Art Institute of Chicago.
But our park in Davenport decided to do their best impersonation of the original painting, which is something I find highly interesting (see below).
We stopped and enjoyed the figures and it was nice to be in the moment and take in the beautiful day with the blue sky, puffy white clouds and sunshine.
Later that same day as I was cooking dinner, I looked out my window and saw a beautiful image of the I-74 Bridge as the sun was setting. The Celebration Belle River Boat was out for a cruise as well.
Conclusion
As a mental health professional, I often talk to clients about being in the moment because if we are lingering in the past we can be depressed and looking too far into the future can cause anxiety.
Meditation is a practice I highly recommend, but for some, the discipline it takes to remember to partake in meditation can be challenging. This is where visuals in our environment can come in handy.
We often talk of ways to ground oneself in the moment by taking inventory of one’s surroundings. Now, I add that while taking this inventory, look for the art. I encourage my clients to try to regularly “look for the art”. It not only is pleasing to the eye, but it keeps one present and appreciative in the moment.
As always, thanks for reading.
Dr. Debbie