Behold. My watercolor painting.
It may look silly, but it served a purpose.
During the hour I spent trying out different techniques I’d see on online tutorials, not a single thought of expectation crossed my mind.
There were a lot of, “Oh, I see, the brush needs more water”… and “Oops, that’s too much water.” And “Oooh, that’s a pretty color!”
Zero thoughts of, “Why isn’t this better?”… “Why is that line crooked?”… “I’m terrible, I should just give up.”
Doing things I’m not good at eases my mind into a gentle, meditative state. It’s like being inside a cozy cabin in the woods that offers a break from all expectations.
This is why I have brush lettering pens, calligraphy pens, and now watercolors. They are my cozy cabin where I can retreat and rest.
What’s your version of a cozy cabin?
I’d love to know!
Thanks for reading,
Malu
29 Comments
My cozy cabin is. Cup of tea and somethin good to read. Blocks my mind totally from the world 🙂
July 23, 2018 at 8:08 amI think tea can be magical. It can definitely help put a pause to life! That + a book = WIN. 😀
July 29, 2018 at 4:57 pmI love to just sit on my balcony, surrounded by flowers. I listen to different sounds and sort my thoughts. And I want to learn to make origami! It is a very calming activity 🙂
July 23, 2018 at 9:31 amOrigami would be a fantastic, “cozy cabin”! Good luck with learning this, Rhinosek! FLOWER!
July 29, 2018 at 4:56 pmMy cozy cabin would be exactly that – in a forest, where it’s quiet and there are no people. Since the forest is about 5-6 hours away. The next best thing is sitting on our bench swing on our deck after it gets dark, and quietly playing my guitar.
July 23, 2018 at 2:29 pmOoooh you have a bench swing? I’ve always wanted a bench swing. It’s lovely to picture that setting. Playing guitar outside, after dark. 😀
July 29, 2018 at 4:55 pmStretching exercises while listening to a funny podcast! ☺️
July 23, 2018 at 6:20 pmThat’s a great combination! 🦍
July 29, 2018 at 4:53 pmSuch a cute painting! <3 Reading, crocheting and doing Nonograms/Picross by hand are the things I most often do to relax and empty my mind. The same also happens while I'm doing yoga, but I usually don't do that at home.
July 24, 2018 at 11:21 amI had to google Nonograms and picross! I had no idea this existed. hehehe! And it does seem like a ver zen sort of thing 😀 Crocheting, too. Thanks for reading, June Marie!
July 29, 2018 at 4:51 pm“Cosy cabin” … I never really thought about that. Honestly I wasn’t even aware of it on a conscious level. I think there are 2 things, sitting in a cafe .. drinking a nice cappuccino (it will get cold in the process) and reading a not to “strenuous” book (generally SciFi or Fantasy) … it is a bit more “passive”. The 2nd one (more active) is incidentally playing my guitar … practicing, singing songs (for myself). I know what I’m not good at with this (a lot), but it never bothers me … I just can get “lost” in it a bit, between playing/practicing. That is in contrast to a lot of other things .. creative or not .. where often my own expectations are way ahead of me or my skills. :z
July 24, 2018 at 7:46 pmAh, yes, it’s true that there are different kinds of books ideal for different kinds of situations. I love mixing up my reading list with several easy to read fantasy and sci fi books, and then tackle a difficult one. If I just stay with difficult titles, I find myself avoiding reading because I don’t want to feel like I’m doing work in trying to understand. hahaa! 😀 And it’s awesome you have guitar, as well, as another “cabin”.
July 29, 2018 at 4:49 pmI was hoping you would create a place like this, Malu. 😀
July 28, 2018 at 4:52 amThank you so much, Victor! I’m happy you like this new space 😀
July 29, 2018 at 4:43 pmMy cozy cabin ..definitely a mix of music, reading and video games..with a touch of the ocean and the outdoors..
On another note .I actually turned my wife onto you and she’s not a gamer..she was amazed at how much emotion you show in your singing, even being covers..she wants original Malukah now !
July 28, 2018 at 8:57 amScott! Thank you so much for sharing the music with your wife! 😀 Please tell her thank you from me. <3
I think that adding a touch of the ocean to practically anything, it immediately improves it. Such lovely, lazy-like sounds with the waves 😀
July 29, 2018 at 4:41 pmWhen I was in Oklahoma it would of course take a few days to get to the ocean. Now I’m five minutes from it..with a lighthouse to boot.
July 29, 2018 at 9:24 pmAnd with a lighthouseeeee? How awesome.
July 30, 2018 at 4:27 amYes ma’am !! Next time we go I’ll get a picture for you. It’s cooling off here though so the ocean side is a bit chilly. Lol.
July 30, 2018 at 8:28 amPlease doooo!
July 30, 2018 at 4:38 pmHey Malu, That is great. My Cozy Cabin is a good Book or building Halloween Costumes.
July 28, 2018 at 10:10 amI also tried calligraphy but I never where really good at this, so I did something else 🙂
Also I love to play around with photoshop and illustrator (at least I don’t leave a mess afterwards with those 😀 ) It is great to see you do what you want and have fun with it. 🙂 keep it up. And remember be like a turtle. 😀
Haha! Yes! A great advantage of digital hobbies is NO MESS! hahaha! And those two apps, photoshop and illustrator, can be a lot of fun to experiment with. 😀 Ooooh Halloween costume creation sounds like a great time! 😀
July 29, 2018 at 4:40 pmI can send you some Pics when it’s done Malu 🙂
July 30, 2018 at 9:41 amat the moment I am creating a werwolf head with fur and all what a werewolf needs. It is my first try to make a fur suite head mask. hope it wents out well.
I’d love to see a picture when you’re done! Good luck, Little Pumpkin!
July 30, 2018 at 4:37 pmHey Malu! Just discovered your blog right now and I liked this article very much. Funily, my cozy cabin is playing music – I learned some basics on the piano and the viola and am trying out the guitar now. It’s maybe the same as with your painting: I have zero talent with music and that’s why it doesn’t matter at all whether it sounds okay, it’s just distracting 😀
August 2, 2018 at 5:45 pmIt’s so great that you have Music as your Cozy Cabin! Music really is a great companion. 🙂 I think it’s also super fun that you are trying out different instruments! I feel each one works a slightly different brain muscle. hehe! Thank you so much for reading, Lea!
August 6, 2018 at 3:16 amScott
August 6, 2018 at 12:46 pmI so agree. I love my cosy cabin too – computer/art/music room. Delish! I love how painting and art journalling stops me from over-thinking and when I’m done I realise I haven’t worried about anything for an hour or so. Such a good feeling 🙂
April 2, 2019 at 4:43 amSounds like a fabulous cosy cabin! 😀
April 27, 2019 at 9:47 pm