Tag tangles

Gratitude in Tough Times

SarahB Leave a comment

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

SarahB Leave a comment

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

My Zentangle Journey

SarahB Leave a comment

I discovered Zentange randomly. I had started paper-crafting, and often visited a website with weekly themed challenges. One such challenge was “doodling, ” and the moderator made a passing comment about how the challenge was perfect for “Zentanglers”. (The proper term is tanglers, BTW.) I could tell by the name it would be something I’d enjoy. 

So, I Googled “Zentangle” and found the site. I immediately ordered the starter kit. I was hooked.  I wanted to be CZT, but the cost was prohibitive for me first as a student, then working minimum wage jobs for several years.

When COVID happened, and in-person seminars were suspended, the team at Zentangle HQ had to find a way to adapt.  They started offering online CZT seminars, and that made saving much easier. I had also found a proper job, which helped.  So finally, after over fifteen years of tangling, I was able to afford the training to be a Certified Zentangle Teacher!

What makes it even more exciting is that here in Northern Ontario I am the first. CZT  The need for affordable and accessible mental health solutions is real, and we can all use more positivity.

I can’t wait to get started sharing this amazing art form that teaches us self-love and that “everything is possible, one stroke at a time.”