Watching Paint Dry

It’s summertime, and there’s A LOT of action in my neighborhood. It seems as though everyone has decided to repair, replace, and repaint their outdoor areas.

This leads me to ask…

Is it rude to watch the neighbor’s painters paint their stairs?

Really? True question.

It was a hot one, and I was walking my older dog, Louie, which looked a lot like an extremely slow meander. As I rounded the corner, I became mesmerized. 

My head slightly cocked to the side. Breathing deep and slow. Gaze soft. 

While Louie, my dog, was pondering the latest smells, I caught myself staring. 

I felt like I was floating on air. 

I wanted to stay here all day long. 

With each stroke of the brush, I was transfixed, watching the worn-out, tired, " meh " white railing transform into gleaming white. His precision and attention to detail made my perfectionist heart so happy. 

I know it’s just paint. But watching my neighbor’s painter excel at his craft both relaxed me and inspired my creative and productive spirit. 

I couldn’t help but ponder, “Is it rude to watch someone work? Like pull up a chair and remain in this mesmerized state until he called it a day?”

In case you’re wondering, I didn’t. Although, I was very tempted.

Instead, I opted to drink in this sense of calm and peace - this mindful moment. Trying my best to remember every detail so I could replay it later when things were more hectic and scattered. 

Even now, I feel relaxed and oddly energized thinking about it.

I’ve found that if I slow down, even just a little, I can find little nuggets of peace, rest, and energy throughout my day. And I usually find them in the most unexpected places. (Ahem…the painter?!?)

(As a side note, I’m also just as transfixed in a salon. While other people are scrolling on their phones, I’m over here feeling like jello watching other people have their hair blown dry and styled.)

So today, I’m going to do just that. Slow down just a smidge and intentionally be on the lookout for space to rest, notice what energizes me, and observe what brings me peace and joy.

You’re invited to experiment, too. And, if you’d like, reply and let me know what you learned about yourself. 

Mindfully Yours,