When I was little I loved coloring books and the peaceful occupation of trying to stay within the lines and playing with different colors. Recently I read a book on "staying sane in an insane world," and about coloring as a right brain and stress relieving activity for adults. Art therapy has of course been a thing for a few years, way beyond the Rorschach test. Now I understand the big deal about coloring books for adults and why you can find them in every bookstore. I bought one for myself.

We live in a stressful world. The secret to alleviating stress, which, in simplistic terms, is left brain overload - spending too much time in your head - is to balance all that brainy activity with creative or right brain occupations in order to get out of your head and into the moment. Mindfulness is the buzz word.

What was an exercise in developing fine motor skills as a child has become an anti-stress mindfulness practice that keeps the focus in the moment, right with the activity you're doing, instead of worrying about what could be, planning ahead, and living in future or the past. Oh what a great excuse to pull out those color pencils and work on some serious stress management. Mustard, green, and purple, or maroon, pink, and red. Flowers, fish, patterns and shapes, maybe ribbons. Truly relaxing.