Art of Wellbeing

by Cheng-Ling Chen — February 4, 2008

It was a cold and rainy week. All my social plans had, for one reason or another, been canceled last minute. During my walk on Friday, a car zoomed over a big puddle and gave me a muddy shower. Then on Saturday, when I went out for an early run with my running buddy, we got caught in a major downpour. It was raining so hard, we had to stop. We could barely see with all the water in our eyes. By Saturday afternoon, I was in a funk. It was still rainy out, and I was grumpy with nowhere to go.

As I slouched on the couch fuming, my eyes caught the old canvas bag that held my art supplies. On a whim, I decided to make cards for friends I hadn't been in touch with for a while. I lit the fireplace, put on jazz, and spread out scraps of paper, trinkets, ribbons, stamps, and ink. Using silver cardstock and handmade Japanese paper, I added details: a stamped message in the corner, a tied ribbon along the side, an inspiring quote. Making each card carefully, I chose colors and designs that its intended recipient would enjoy.

After a couple hours, I had a handful of cards. I wrote personalized messages in each. Imagining my friends' surprise to receive my unexpected cards in the mail, I was no longer grumpy. My rainy day project left me feeling content.

"Let each man exercise the art he knows."
- Aristophanes