Coloring isn’t just for kids

I was once admitted to a hospital with a port infection. I had contracted red man syndrome from vancomycin (an antibiotic used to treat certain bacterial infections), and I was miserable.

I was laying in my hospital bed trying to keep my spirits up when a woman rolled in with an art cart. She gently introduced herself and asked if I would like to paint and color.

She didn’t say much. She just sat with me as I colored, but her presence felt so loving and like a God wink. When I finished and she left, I just felt lighter.

It turns out that coloring - no matter your age - is actually good for your health.

In a 2006 study, researchers found that mindfulness art therapy for women with cancer helped to significantly decrease the symptoms of physical and emotional distress during their treatment (PMID: 16288447). Art therapy has also been shown to be helpful to people coping with other conditions, including depression, anxiety, addictions and trauma.

So, coloring really isn’t just for children. Coloring, painting and art therapy are actually good for everyone’s health.

But how often do we forget to carve out time for simple joys like coloring?

I’m no artist, but I do like to decompress by coloring, even if it’s sometimes outside of the lines. I personally enjoy coloring pictures with Scripture on them, but there are tons of options when it comes to coloring pages and books.

I’d love to know in the comments: do you like to color or paint? If so, what do you color and paint?