Zen and the Art of Painting

Ever have one of those zen moments in your life?

I find that I rarely have them as in general it is rarely quiet in my house. Monkey talks far too much for anyone to qualify for creating silence. In fact, I think it was just Thursday that he talked from the moment we got home from school until he went to sleep - and even then he was up and down until 9pm. I don't often mind a lack of silence. I enjoy having the tv on and noise when I sleep. So to say that I need silence even would be a bit of a misnomer. On the other hand, some times, silence is just what you need.

And what might this have to do with painting a clever reader would wonder?

It has to do with how I spent a Saturday - a ten hour Saturday mind you.

Painting. Four coats of paint in a roughing 12 by 12 room. Now to be fair, I volunteered for this activity because in reality, I love to paint. In fact, if I had my druthers, every time I had a bad day, I'd buy a gallon of paint and come home and paint a room and then feel far more relaxed and together.

The best thing about the painting though was the silence. I originally intended to listen to my iPod throughout the experience and sing, but it was deader than the proverbial doornail. So no music. Funnily enough, I didn't mind. It was quiet. The family whose room I was painting, was around in the house and making just enough noise for it not to feel eerie, but the room was silent. I figured I'd go crazy, but in honesty, I don't even know what I thought about all day. It was just peaceful and quiet and my mind didn't dwell on anything. I jumped a bit from thought to thought, but nothing long term. It was all about the motion and repetition and getting things right. I hummed a bit and muttered a bit, but it was so ... Zen. If I think about it - it's how people who are really into running must feel during marathoning. You are just listening to your body and its rhythm and nothing more or less. And without the music, of course, I lost track of time completely. It was just about finishing the project and seeing the complete project. It was deeply satisfying and so peaceful that I don't even think I can describe it.

Of course my body now hates me, but it was worth it. For the Zen of it.