I have found that drawing tends to bring me peace. I used to draw and sketch a lot when I was younger. However, sometime in the midst of growing up, I lost that hobby. After finding my old sketchbook, I decided to start sketching again. Sometimes I will bring my sketchbook with me when I’m out and about to draw when I have some time to myself. Other times, I come back after a long day and take some time to sketch something quick. Below are a series of drawings, reflecting on a paper on Self Care that I wrote for Service Learning: Effective Communications 1.

Knots

Knots can be tied within us. They are formed by feelings of anger and sadness that we feel as we live our lives. The more we feel these emotions, the tighter the knots get. If we do not loosen them, they can get to the point where it is harder to untie them. It’s like forming a knot with a piece of rope. The more we pull on the two ends of a knot, the tighter the knot gets. At some point, it will be really hard to undo the knot that you have created. We should not let the knots within us get this tight nor allow others to cause them within ourselves. We should find a way to undo the knots. One method could be meditating and concentrating on our breathing. Through meditation, we gain the ability to become aware of ourselves and our surroundings. This could be as simple as taking a walk in the park and immersing ourselves in nature. We all have different ways to release the anger and sadness. Ultimately, this allows us to loosen these knots day by day. We can all be the reason as to why someone has a smile or a frown on their face. So my question is, are you creating knots for someone or helping to loosen them?

Growth

Myles Horton created the Highlander school in the mid 1900s. Horton’s goal behind this institute was to create a safe area where people can come together to solve common problems. Additionally, some of the people that attended this institute were Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King. Horton published a book in the late 1900s, talking about his experiences. In his book, Horton mentions,

Your job as a gardener or as an educator is to know that the potential is there and that it will unfold. Your job is to plant good seeds and nurture them until they get big enough to grow up, and not smother them while they are growing. You shouldn’t overwater them, over-fertilize them or overwork them. And when bugs get on the plants, You’ve got to get rid of them so the plants can continue to grow. (Horton 133)

When we take care of ourselves, we are capable of growing and maturing. Horton states, “People have a potential for growth; it’s inside, it’s in the seeds. This seed of potential cannot guarantee a particular outcome, but it’s what you build on” (133). We tend to do the most growing on our own, without any guidance. We are only able to help others after we help ourselves. If we are unstable, we will be too preoccupied to help someone else.

IMPLEMENTING a Routine

A method for self-care can be finding a hobby. This can be drawing, playing an instrument, or even playing a sport. Finding a hobby enables us to give our mind a break from school and stress. The purpose of these activities is for us to do something that we love. For instance, when participating in physical activities, we are taking care of our bodies by keeping it healthy. Endorphins are released in our brain which helps reduce stress hormones known as cortisol. Additionally, listening to music can help us relax. Music can help us control our breathing, following the beat of the song. Listening to slow or instrumental music can help us relax and escape reality. Fast-paced music can help us release anger or sadness. We tend to listen to songs because we like how they make us feel.

Personally, I enjoy taking a walk to Meadowlands at Dominican University of California. The walk is encompassed by nature and is breathtaking. Right outside of this building there is a huge field with several benches where people can sit. There is this one specific bench that I always sit on because it overlooks the whole field and the beautiful nursing building in the background. I tend to go in the evenings to this field because there are always dogs running around freely. I enjoy watching them run around carelessly, playing with each other. I tend to put on my headphones and listen to slow or classical music as I watch people and stare off into space. The time to myself allows me to reflect and escape from reality.