Expressing yourself is one tool in the belt of the therapist. and just about everyone knows that self-expression is good for maintaining mental balance and healthy lives. By definition, there are millions of "ways" for a self to express itself with each "form" unique. And each true expression of self could be called Art.

Of course, there are the formal, or Fine Arts. But even the "folk" arts can be intimidating to most of us who spend too much time watching Martha. But expressing oneself is not necessarily a performance for others, so we shouldn't feel bad about wasting paper and paint … or of even wasting silence with the noise of our singing. One of my favorite quotes:

You've got to dance like nobody's watching, and love like it's never going to hurt.

-- Ann Wells

But I'm on a tangent from my initial rambling. For while the common art forms are wonderful, I'm thinking that we might be overlooking some other art forms... like my favorite, Life Art.

This art form is not (to my knowledge) taught at any university, but must be learned by the teacher on the inside. For I suppose that Uncle Joe's morning of golf, afternoon of gin rummy, followed by coffee with relatives is also a form of self expression. Sure you can look for lunch, but maybe you should just let lunch find you.

I mean, can't amusing yourself by painting pictures in the sky with clouds be elevated to an art form? Or playinq at "Guess what that bird said?" And don't forget about goal-less walks through the neighborhood. Perhaps one road to self expression is perfecting the fine art of doing nothing.

By the way, if you would like to create an expression with my portrait, click on my picture on the right... it's kind of fun.