Bees. Hummingbirds. Sketching.
Nearly every morning, wherever I happen to be in the world, I start my day the same way: Waking up early, making a cup of coffee (in my favorite mug, if I’m home), and grabbing my sketchbook.
I observe, listen, and become part of nature. Then, I sketch.
This morning, my beautiful Rose of Sharon bushes were calling to me. The bees and hummingbirds love them, and I’m so happy to welcome these flitting pollinators to my garden. The birds are chirping, the air is thick with impending rain, and the moment fills my heart with immense gratitude.
This ritual, of starting my day with 15 minutes of observing and sketching—jotting down handwritten notes among my sketches about the light; the colors; the time of year; where I am; how I’m feeling—is one of the most creative and calming things I do throughout my day.
Sitting and relaxing isn’t easy for me. I like to go, go, go, and am a regular multitasker. (In full disclosure, I threw a load of laundry in and filled my hummingbird feeders after I wrote that last sentence. Old habits die hard.)
Needless to say, I love to fill each and every moment of my day with doing. Painting, reading, writing, playing with my grandkids, walking, baking, teaching, being in community. I get energized by more and my normal speed is “full steam ahead.”
Lately I’m not taking any of those activities for granted as I continue to navigate a painful back issue.
But, let’s get back to the sketching… uninterrupted this time.
Starting my days this way, whether it’s from my backyard, a big city, or a castle in Southern France, has, at the risk of sounding dramatic, changed my life.
In fact, on days I wake up feeling anxious, I set myself a 15-minute timer and make it happen, sometimes against my own will. Because I know that, over time, this ritual has been nothing short of a miracle in reminding me to honor nature and be present in the moment.
And those are now moments I can revisit whenever I’d like. I keep my past sketchbooks in a pile where, at any time, I can pull one out and instantly go right back to wherever I was, feeling the mood of the day and the air that surrounded me. If I want a simple reminder of a trip I took, it’s there. If I want a brief escape, I can go places. And if I want a sketch to paint from, I have hundreds.
Whether you’re a practicing artist or not (I feel everyone is an artist), taking time each day to observe what’s right in front of you, wherever you are, is one of the best things you can do.
So friends, I encourage you to consider getting a sketchbook and sketching/writing what you see. Look up! No one else needs to see it; this isn’t for show. It’s for you, and the greater peace, presence, and creativity you’ll find in each day when you start doing it.