The Buddha Board

For Christmas my niece and nephew got a gift called Aquadoodle. It's as awesome as it sounds. It comes with a marker that fills up with water, and a blank canvas. When you draw on the canvas with the water marker, whatever you are drawing appears. When the water dries the picture fades and goes away leaving you with a blank canvas again. For kids its fun because drawing is fun and its cool that you get to do it over and over. Its new every time. For parents its lovely because kids can draw on anything with that water marker and never stain a thing. Its even good for the eco-conscious! No wasted paper, just one self-cleaning mat. Very low carbon footprint.

What was most entertaining about the Aquadoodle to me, however, was that I got one, too. From my sister. But when you give an Aquadoodle to an grown-up you have to dress it up in grown-up clothing. The Aquadoodle for adults is better known as the "Buddha Board" but the idea is the same. You paint on a board with water and your image remains for a few minutes and then disappears as the water dries. Its all about living in the moment. And while three year olds do it effortlessly, grown-ups sometimes need help. That's the Buddha Board's job.

So that is what today is about. Appreciating now. If you see something really beautiful, instead of saying, "Oh my gosh! I have got to come back here and see this again!" enjoy seeing it now. Don't worry about getting your camera to ensure you can look at it in the future. Look at it now. And let that be enough.

Obviously, it's easier said than done. I am not suggesting that its possible to declare "I am living in the moment from here on out. Thank you." and have it be true. That said, a lot of stress can come from worrying about the future and dwelling on the past, so letting go of it from time to time and reminding yourself to focus on now, is a good idea. If I figure out some good ways to do it I will for sure write about them. But for now, painting with water seems like a good way to start.