Author SarahB

A study in Gratitude

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Recently, I attended a presentation sponsored by Rainbow Routes, the local non-profit organization that oversees the train system in my town. They were hosting Adam Shoalts, a historian and adventurer who has taken numerous trips across the Canadian Arctic.    His presentation, promoting his newest book, was both insightful and humorous. One thing he constantly referenced was his gratitude for small things.

We can all use a reminder to find gratitude in our lives. Adam Shoalts would joke that it was frigid, and his socks were constantly damp (Ugh!), but hey, at least the bears hadn’t eaten his food overnight. (Yay!)  Similarly, a dull, frustrating day could be highlighted by seeing a bald eagle or moose in the distance – what a privilege!

Most of us won’t be trekking in the far north, but we all have times when life is heavy. In those times, find something -however small – to cling on to. It may not make wet socks any less uncomfortable, but maybe your pack will seem a tiny bit lighter.

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Canada Day

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It is Canada Day. My deep thoughts on what it means to be a patriot are here on my personal blog. But I want to take a moment to appreciate Canada.

Is Canada perfect? No, no country is, but we have stability and freedom, which is more than you can say for many places.

As I take a moment to start my tangling with gratitude, I will think of Canada. I will think of her strengths and praise them. I will also consider her weaknesses and work to improve them.

Because that is what is meant by “True patriot love”: not mindless worship, but wanting it to be the best it can be.

In Gratitude and Appreciation,

Sarah

In Gratitude For Moms

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Mom, mother, mama..madre…it is an impossible role to define. If I say female, trans and non-binary people may wonder if they are included (YES! You absolutely are); it would also exclude single dads who fill the mother role. Using birth or genetics excludes foster, adoptive and other people who fill the role. A mother could be your best friend’s mom, aunt, or elder. Ultimately, the only real definition of a mother that matters is someone who provides love and support. Full stop. They may or may not be female, related or fit into any other traditional category. But who cares? If you consider someone a mother to you, she is; if you fulfill the role of mother to someone, you are their mother.

So, to all Mothers out there, but especially to my mom, you rock. Today, my moment of appreciation goes out to you.

To Tangle is Human

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Pop quiz: What can humans do that AI cannot? *cue Jeopardy music*. I promise this is not a trick question. OK, time is up: the answer is: be imperfect.

Zentangle art is AI proof. Minor imperfections (not mistakes!) like uneven lines, mistrokes and other “oppsies” are something only people can do. When you look at a tile, you can see those variations that add texture to the tile. They prove that when you look at Zentangle Art, you are looking at something that was created by a person. (In fact, I once asked ChatGPT to draw a Zentangle; it said that as a machine, it couldn’t do it. Instead, it offered to give me some prompts.)

This is another reason why we say there are no mistakes in Zentangle. Proof of humanity. And that is something worth appreciating.

With Gratitude,

Sarah

We are Family

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Here in Ontario, Canada it is Family Day.

I dislike overused similes, so I will forgo the (obvious) analogy of a Zentangle Tile to a family.

Family should symbolize support, encouragement and closeness. However, it has become so overused by (most often) toxic companies, that many consider this phrase a red flag. It is what family should be.

I am spending today with my biological family, but as I tangle I am grateful for my supportive family of Tanglers and CZTs. I hope all of you have a group that you can count on for support and encouragement, and that you consider family. I’d love to hear about them in the comments.

With Gratitude,
Sarah.

I used “WAF” (we are family) as my string. 

Gratitude in Tough Times

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Well, it’s been a year, hasn’t it?
Wait, what? It’s only in February? Well, snap!

The world is crazy and can feel dystopian lately. I want to keep the blog light and positive, but it is important to keep it real. And that means acknowledging that real life isn’t unicorns and rainbows. Stress and tough times are real, and we all have every right to feel whatever we do.

So how do passion, gratitude and appreciation fit into all this?
For me, it is finding an oasis of calm amidst the stress. It is a way of shifting perspective and getting out of my head-space.

Here is an example: A few weeks ago, I had my cat, Mooshka, put to sleep. She was in the late stages of kidney disease and was clearly very ill. After letting her go, I was heartbroken. There is nothing positive about saying goodbye to a beloved pet. When tangling, I thought about the time I had with her. I was thankful for the privilege of being her mom for the past seven years, I appreciated the compassion and honesty of my veterinarian and her staff. And, I was grateful that Mooshka was no longer suffering. None of this made me less sad. But it helped me find a touch of solace. I also created a new tangle in her memory, which I dedicated to everyone who has lost their pets.

Mooshka, my rescue cat

The point is that negative emotions are real and valid. I know I say this often, but it is important. Meditation and wellness practices like Zentangle do not erase the bad things that happen in life. It makes them more bearable by giving you a few moments of calm.

My new tangle, Mooshka.

Huggins: Tangle of the Year

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Zentangle HQ just released its Tangle of the Year: Huggins.

Huggins is a high-focus tangle, meaning it is a bit more challenging. It took me a while to get the gist of drawing it. Inevitably I would draw a line going the wrong way or some other mistake opposite, After practice I go the hang of it, and now it is a favourite. I still sometimes make a slight error slip, but when I do I either ignore it or hide it.


The Tangle of the Year is meant to represent intents for the coming year. I have been thinking about what this means. Perhaps it indicates a warn hug to those who need (and want) one, since a single Huggins element is called (semi-officially) a hug. Perhaps it is a reminder to embrace new practices or hobbies (or re-embrace neglected ones).

Whatever it means to you, I hope you will take time to do things that bring you joy.

With Gratitude and appreciation

Sarah

A Year of No Mistakes

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Let’s make this the year of “No Mistakes”

In Zentangle, we say there are “no mistakes,” only opportunities. Here is an example of something I did, and how I turned “oops” to “awesome:”

I was drawing Toodles, a leaf-like tangle with a pointed top and rounded bottom. It was the first time I was drawing it, and I drew the top rounded, instead of pointed. I set the tile aside and went back to it later, and still didn’t like how it looked. However, I also didn’t want to waste the tile. Then I had an idea. I’d just done a Project Pack exercise when two Bijou tiles, black and white, were cut in half and taped together. The tiles were then tangled to mirror each other. So I used the opportunity to do that on a larger scale. I coloured in the half of the tile (with Toodles) black, and repeated the project pack exercise. It looked great. (Unfortunately, I no longer have that tile. It fell on the floor and was “soiled” by my senior cat.)

We love to talk about fresh starts and new beginnings with the turn of the year. My invitation to you is to make this the year of no mistakes. Make it one of positivity. Show yourself the kindness, gratitude and love you show your friends and loved ones. Turn mis-strokes into opportunities, and make it the year of No Mistakes.

With gratitude

Sarah

Tangle Holliday Stress Away

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It’s Christmas (or Channukah, Yule, Solstice .etc etc…)

I work full-time in a busy local bakery and have also worked as a retail associate in busy mega-marts, so I know all about holiday stress. For many people, work-related stress is compounded by financial and family pressures.

That is why it is even more important to remember not to neglect our emotional needs this time of year. I know when we are busy shopping for friends, kids, family etc. it can feel like there is no time for us.

The founders of Zentangle understand how busy everyone is. That is why they make their surfaces small, and their art form one that can be completed in as little as 15 minutes. They want everyone, no matter how crazy their lives, to enjoy and benefit from their Method.

Even during the height of the holiday season, you need to look after your mental well-being. Take 15 minutes for appreciation to do something to de-stress and create something beautiful.

With Appreciation and Love,

Sarah

Gratitude and Appreciation

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These are where your Zentangle Practice begins and where it ends. 

To begin,  take a few deep breaths..  Next, feel the quality of the paper tile. It is the highest available. take a moment to appreciate the luxury of this item for yourself. I will also express gratitude for one good thing in my life. 

Even as a CZT, I sometimes skip this step.  When I do, I stop tangling and ground myself with gratitude.  It makes a difference.  I am consistently happier with my tiles when I have the time to feel gratitude.

At the end of your tangling session, hold your tile at arm’s length and rotate it.  As you do, appreciate the unique piece of art you created.  No other piece is or will be identical.  You created something beautiful. 

And that is worth appreciating.