This is one of those things I do. It's one of those things I've always done: I doodle. No one ever believes me (except for those few who've found that their brains work the same way), but doodling helps me focus. It helps me listen to a speaker or participate in a meeting that I might otherwise zone out on. Instead, I doodle and I get the information I need. It's like I have to occupy a particular part of my brain or it takes off to LaLa Land and beyond before I can stop it. Some people call it ADD; I don't know what it is, but sometimes I get some fun pictures out of it.
I did this one in a meeting today and I like her. She looks carefree and cute. Clearly, I could use some pointers on drawing arms, and also on transferring pen drawings to the computer. But she looks so happy and sweet and free in that cartoon-y sort of way that I had to share her with you. May your day be something like hers.
13 comments:
I understand the doodling phenomenon, not because I do the same thing exactly, but because I know people who doodle in order to focus, and I have a similar thing.
I can't close my eyes if I want to focus. The moment I close my eyes, I'm off in another world full of fairies and unicorns and tigers and all sorts of things (sometimes not the above, but always another world). So when I pray, I don't close my eyes. When I want to go to sleep, I don't close my eyes really. I have to let them droop when they're ready.
My husband thinks I'm weird. He thinks one of the reasons I can't sleep often is because I don't close my eyes (seems obvious, doesn't it?). But it's usually the opposite.
Some of my students simply have to be moving to focus. My brother reads a book, carries on a conversation, writes notes, and listens to a lecture simultaneously. I didn't inherit an iota of multi-tasking genes. Tough life.
i'm a big time doodle-r too. you should see my church bulletins sometime.
but yeah ... i like her: carefree, free-spirited, and i love her wing-y hair. so appropriate.
;o)
I think she looks like she could host a whole line of greeting cards, and I WOULD BUY THEM ALL!!!
Betsy
Yeah, I'd be friends with that chick. :)
I get the doodling thing, too. I usually have to be doing something with my hands. When I can't sleep because I've got too much on my mind, I lay in bed and play Sudoku puzzles because it helps me process, in another side of my brain, the things that are bothering me. Once I've laid them to rest, my body finally gets tired enough for me to put the Sudoku away and fall asleep. Thank goodness for Sudoku puzzles!
Heather--that's kinda cool. I often have to tell myself stories to sleep...I sleep once it's over. Dave thinks that's weird, too.
Joelle--that makes me smile, to think of you realizing that the kids just need to move. I guess my doodling qualifies as multi-tasking...I'd never thought about that before.
Kirsten--oh! Church bulletins are the WORST. Mine look like I didn't pay attention at all. When I was a kid, I had a camp counselor rip my notebook out of my hands because I was doodling and she thought I should be listening. That was the first time I realized that I NEEDED to doodle.
Betsy--greeting cards, huh? Now there's an idea...once I get the "transferring from pen to computer" thing down a bit. hmm....
Christianne--sudoku, huh? I've never done a sudoku. I love logic puzzles, though, so it seems like they'd appeal. Isn't it cool how our brains get cross-wired like that, so doing logic helps us relax? People are cool.
Gabi--That sounds horrible. I know a couple people that it's happened to, though. How awful. I'm glad you came back, though.
hey Sarah
my mom used to call me doodle-bug when i was little (not for doodling though), so i will let you have my nick name. I am not sure you would want all of blogland to call you doodle-bug, but hey it's the thought that counts. I was sharing.
Oh, I like her.
Actually, your doodling might be a form of fidgeting. And did you know that brain researchers say we should move when we want to concentrate better? They note that even fidgeters fare better than those who sit still.
How cool is that? (To quote myself and Scot. :)
I doodle, but not very well. Yours is much better then any I ever write, and I certainly do not have the moxy to scan and post mine.
Tammy--ok, I'll be the doodlebug ;)
LL--now that's cool...if only a few people from my childhood read here. I love how the human brain works. I did a paper on it in high school and I've been amazed ever since.
Carl--Moxy, huh? So that's what I have ;) And you'll notice that I don't scan ALL the doodles...
They've done psychological studies on doodling and it works just as you discribed - it helps us focus attention. I like the girl also - was she the presenter?
Hi soujourner. She wasn't the presenter, actually...she came entirely out of my head ;) And I have got to find me some of those studies...they sound fascinating.
Sarah!
I'm so glad you'll be joining us for the SoulPerSuit Contemplative Christmas. :)
I know you haven't done a SoulPerSuit group before so if you have a hard time wrapping your head around the concept please drop me a note and I'll offer you any enlightenment I can.
soul per erin at yahoo dot com
Judging by your doodle girl here and the way you describe your thinking process, you're going to enjoy it.
I like her kicky hair, BTW.
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