Orange Crayons; Simple Pleasures
Posted by Tina Kubala at 11/11/2008 11:21 PM 
Categories: work
Tags: childhood craft supply television
Categories: work
Tags: childhood craft supply television
Sesame Street may be single handedly responcable for my life long love affair with Crayola. Much thanks to the Mental Floss blog for posting the most beautiful clip from 1980s Sesame Street not including Kermit the Frog.
One of the (few) perks of my call center job is down time. We are responsible for keeping up with changes to documents on our client's intranet, and therefore policies and procedures, but otherwise keeping quiet between calls is the only mandate.
My typical survival kit includes two books (I might finish one), many colorful pens, both notebook and scratch paper. I also carry a 24-pack of Crayola crayons and 12-pack of Crayola colored pencils. Our site's activity committee keeps a steady supply of free coloring printouts available. Between those and snacks a few days a week, sometimes it feels like kindergarten, but I am not complaining.
Coloring therapy reduces stress. The whole process relaxes. It is creativity without pressure. I select a picture and set out my tools. I consider the best use of my limited color pallet in relation to the image at hand. When I am sure of a course of action, I begin to fill in the small areas. I finish with each color before going onto the next. Careful attention to the direction and pressure changes the effect. To hurry is to risk the whole project.
There may be a lesson in there somewhere. If childlike play teaches us anything, the process is more important then the learning.
Life seem pointless? Stressful? Do the things you want seem more important then the things you have?
It certainly happens to me. I want a job that fills more than my pocket. I dream of a tankless water heater for endless showers, then remember I'm years away from home ownership.
An investment of less than five dollars supplies my simple pleasure prescription. A new box of crayons every year and pictures to color. Fill a page and repeat until perspective returns.
Count me in as a crayon lover. I like colored pencils, too.
Reply to this
Don't even get me started on my love of Sharpies and a smooth writing ink pen. Whatever you do, don't let me go to Office Max especially at back to school time. I'll buy the most random items.
Reply to this
They make you keep quiet between calls? What fun is that? LOL Please tell me they at least let you speak to your coworkers. I'd go bonkers if I couldn't.
Reply to this
We can talk to our neighbors. For the first year I worked there, they didn't allow outside activities like reading or coloring. Back then, if it was slow it was LOUD. People would stand up and talk to friends three rows over. They never said, but I think that it why the policy changed.
Reply to this