Why I Owe a Large Portion of My Sanity to Bob Ross and Coloring Books

I was coloring my life away way before it was cool

No matter if it’s due to regression or depression, coloring books have always been a significant staple in my life. Indeed, although adult coloring books have become a “new trend” in pop culture, personally speaking, I never stopped using them.

Since I was a child, coloring books have helped me relieve tension and anxiety; they allow me to be creative without pressure and give me great satisfaction with each piece I complete. Best of all, they allow me to be a grown a** kid and totally block out the serious aspects of this wild world — ones I wish would disappear altogether.

Let’s Not Forget About the TV

In addition to coloring books, the TV remains my oldest and most treasured childhood friend (feel free to judge me). Ever since I was very young, I would feel comforted by the television whenever I felt lonely or isolated. Being an introvert made it easy; I usually didn’t really want to be around others anyhow.

Watching TV makes me feel connected to others; no matter what I’m watching, I always take comfort in knowing that someone somewhere is watching and enjoying the same movie/show that I am.

I decided to watch the Bob Ross documentary, Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal, & Greed, which got me thinking. Bob Ross was one of my first artistic inspirations ever. As a youngster, we didn’t always have cable, but we always had a TV and public access television. Although his show was a far cry from Sesame Street and my other faves, I was captivated by his ability to create these beautiful landscapes in such a short period of time.

Without giving any spoilers, the documentary shows the power of art and how it has literally helped to uplift people all over the globe. Moreover, he also reminded me that it’s never too late to learn a new skill or pursue a new passion. As someone who has always worked on various types of art behind the scenes, this helped to reignite my love of coloring, drawing, painting, and craft-making.

It also served as a painful reminder that life is short, and we must pursue our passions with all our might while we still can. So, rather than feeling sad, I decided it would be much better to be productive.

On a personal level, I have been dealing with a lot lately, which has had me in a bit of a funk for well over a month. So, when I was feeling down, I picked up my coloring books and some crayons, pencils, and paint to help me work through it.

Lithotripsy Recovery

I recently spoke about undergoing lithotripsy for kidney stones. A process that takes a mental and physical toll on my body each and every time I submit to the process. At this point, I am doing much better, but I still have some lingering back pain, which is also affecting my mental health.

At any rate, some of the top things keeping me in good spirits are my massive collection of coloring books, crayons, markers, colored pencils, etc. Presently, I am very into Crayola’s Art with Edge series. This series of coloring books is somewhat childlike but with an edge. I love these books because they have lots of detail, but not so many details that the pages become tedious or boring. I have spent time with these books every day since my surgery.

The Many Joys of Coloring

Coloring, in particular, has helped lift my spirits immensely. Although I do not have the energy to stand and paint for hours, I do have enough energy to lie in my bed and color for large blocks of time.

Coloring is allowing me to be creative at a time in which I am being hindered from fully pursuing anything. Moreover, it also excites me to jump back into painting and drawing once I am more up to it.

This is not the first time that coloring has pulled me out of a funk, nor is it the worst time. However, it is an excellent reminder that, no matter what I’m going through, there is always something I can do to be creative and productive.

Putting the Picture in Perspective

Watching the Bob Ross documentary was a major reminder that art is a healer. It was also a reminder that no matter what I’m going through, there is always someone out there suffering from much worse, sometimes, with a much better attitude than mine. Either way, art is a tool, a connector; a decompressor; a motivator; a way out of no way.

Coloring is considered juvenile and frivolous to some. However, during times of woe, it can serve as a vibrant ray of light at the end of yet another gloomy tunnel.

Has coloring ever helped you?

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