“In these uncertain times”, take us anywhere but here…

The photograph was taken in Ireland.

As I watched these girls playing in this forest, I imagined myself and my little sister. I loooooved to play pretend. (Like way more than her). I still sometimes find myself daydreaming away like Walter Mitty. Playing pretend in my own head rather than out loud, for the outside world to hear. Because that would be weird. Since I’m an adult. And it’s no longer cute to talk to yourself.

I imagine that this forest was an amazing place to play pretend. The magic of the trees as they come alive, protecting and serving the world below, filling our lungs with oxygen and our brains with serotonin. The swirling winds ruffling the branches and soothing the warm cheeks of those hiking or running around this outdoor playground. The woodland creatures skirting about, searching for food and buried treasures. They are all working together to keep this place alive. Then, of course, a ghostly mother nature swoops down to check on her forest and she watches over the children happily. I hope they are enjoying my forest, she thinks. 

Ok, that’s all you get from the fiction-writing side of Shani. (But if you want to see an emo poem, I got you here.)

So… where is my mind now? Wishing I could go back to that moment in Ireland. Wishing the chaos that’s happening in this world would stop. So. Much. Wishing. So for now, I’ll settle for pretending. Pretending that magical creatures and apparitions exist. That they can bring a little vacation to my stressed out and worried mind.  

And how about you? What do you do to calm yourself down? 

I’m biased, but I suggest doodling. Or coloring. Pen to paper. Pencil to paper. Some kind of art. You don’t have to be an artist to make art. Let your mind take you where it wants to go. I’m sure that, like me, it’s anywhere but here…