Drawing Nature Connects To The Now

It seems to be the right thing to do. Living in the "NOW" is what many believe is a major key to happiness, success, and a whole boat load of good and healthy mindset. Good and Healthy is enough reason to consider anything. We can all use more positive attribution in our life.

That is why I hate turning on the television and watching the NEWS. There just seems to be too much emphasis placed on what is going wrong in our world each day. The majority of what is called NEWS pounds that negative home.

Many think that the NEWS keeps us connected. The truth is it really does in some delusional sort of way. We know when disaster strikes, when it is going to rain and who lost the baseball game, or whatever. It is a kind of connection we might all be a little better off to do without, at least from a positive effort to create a better mindset.

There are other ways to stay connected on a more personal level. I think the NOW thing should be approached from a personal level if we really want to make a go of setting ourselves up for happiness.

Drawing nature is a very simple way to get connected to the Now. It does not require being an artist to draw. The only things one really needs is some paper, a pencil or ink pen and a place to get outdoors. Just getting outside will provide you with vitamin D. Fresh air is always healthy, so you can see we are on a roll here.

Dress comfortable, take a notebook, sketchbook and something to draw with. Markers and crayons will do in a pinch. Shoot for a pencil if you have one available. Gather up your stuff to draw with and get going.

Find a place to settle down. The front porch stoop or a back yard picnic table will work. You do not have to travel far. The idea is to get out and settle in to your surroundings wherever it may be.

• Let us not look back in anger,

nor forward in fear,

but around in awareness.

~James Thurber

• One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living.
  

We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon -

instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today.

~Dale Carnegie

• Forever is composed of nows.
  

~Emily Dickinson

Take a good close look around you. See how the light catches the color on the leaves. Look real close. See how the color in the shade is darker than the color in the sunlight. Look closer.

See how the leaf attaches to the limb. See how the limb travels to the trunk. Look closer.

At This Time

You are living in the NOW. If you want to try to draw whatever you are seeing. That would be fun. You brought a pencil and paper. Maybe you would prefer to just keep seeing. Maybe you could practice seeing and listening at the same time.

What do you hear? Listen closer. Can you hear the wind rustle the leaves? Living in the Now is a very good form of Healthy Exercise. It makes us tune in to our surroundings. The more you practice the better you will get at this good mindset.

Take it with you wherever you go, everyday. Drawing Nature WILL connect YOU to the NOW.