An extra hour of sleep, decluttering spaces in our house, and welcoming cool, crisp, and cozy days and nights, all mean one thing. It’s November! Hooray! I’m anticipating these joys, as well as three special days ahead. First, Election Day. Offering the chance to select our representatives and to have a say in the laws and policies that directly affect us, I am grateful to exercise my right to vote in every election. Then there is Veterans Day. Honoring all U.S. military personnel who keep us safe and sound, I like to send messages of thanks to those I know who have served. And rounding out November is Thanksgiving Day. Sure, it’s a holiday when I enjoy a turkey feast, and get togethers, but on this day, I also like to reflect on all the blessings I have in my life. So many! In addition, I’m also looking forward to indulging in my next self-care pick. This one takes me back to my childhood in an instant, and the only requirements are: paint, paper, and my imagination. Before I share more about that, let me tell you about October’s face time experience.
With the tagline, “the exercise you didn’t know you needed”, I was curious to find out if this would ring true. At least four times a week, I faithfully followed instructions in the book, “Face Yoga on the Go: An Easy 12-Minute Routine for Women Over 35 to Naturally Lift, Tighten, and Rejuvenate Your Face by Susan Greystone. While straight forward, it took over a week to learn the basic routines, but now I can do them by rote. That’s a plus. Because I tend to tighten my jaw when stressed, I did find that these facial exercises left my face feeling relaxed. Standing in front of a mirror, let me focus on each muscle as I worked it, which helped me connect my mind with my body. And standing instead of sitting also allowed me to adjust my posture and open up my chest for deeper breathing, always a good thing.
But did I notice newly toned and lifted facial muscles, or softened lines, or improved skin elasticity as was touted? It’s hard to say. I see my face every day and while I know that the facial exercises felt good, I didn’t notice physical changes. However, that being said, if I continue, perhaps in a few more months or maybe a year, I will. The real benefit I got from October’s self-care activity was another tool for relieving stress and releasing tension. Twelve minutes of face time did both, and it definitely gave me a lift, one I didn’t know I needed, but enjoyed.
From my journal: October 17, 2025, Newbury Park, California
“…the idea of playing, just having fun sounds good…what does that look like?”
Choosing a self-care activity that involves movement motivates me best. Movement as in exercising, or movement as in creating art. While both are physical, they transcend that realm and embody mental, emotional, and spiritual movement as well. It could mean a subtle shift, a substantial change, or even a new mind set for me. This month I wanted to select something that would connect me to an activity I enjoyed as a kid. And when I finished painting my Halloween pumpkins last month and realized that I had abandoned my paint brushes at some point, I had my answer!
Messy fun is what I consider this type of art. Thinking back to elementary school, whenever our teachers began handing our sheets of shiny paper, and placing opened containers of multi-colored paints at our group tables, I knew it was time for one of my favorite hands-on sensory experiences, finger painting!
As a former teacher I know the advantages finger painting has for children. It’s unstructured so it encourages a child to use their imagination and personal expression. It helps develop and hone fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. As far as art goes, it can offer an easy introduction to colors, blending, and texture. And while I have always associated painting via my fingers with child’s play, I wondered, are there self-care benefits of finger painting for adults, as well? After doing a little research I found that the answer is a resounding YES!
Several websites and YouTube videos offer tutorials and sing the praises of this art form for kids of all ages. Adjectives used to describe it include: instinctive, empowering, imaginative, stimulating, mood enhancing, creative, and spirit lifting! Because of the brain-hand connection, painting with your fingers engages several areas of the brain such as the motor cortex, sensory cortex, and prefrontal cortex. This creates a meditative state which can lower stress, enhance focus, and boost problem-solving abilities.
I also wondered about its therapeutic benefits. That’s when I reached out to our niece, Lily. She is a mixed media artist and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who implements and teaches art techniques in her work. Her response was, “I know from my education (and also my lived experience as an artist) that the tactile and ‘loose’ nature of finger painting can help people connect to the present moment and release emotion. I also know that (no surprise here) it can make people feel like kids again which can be healing.” I love this!
Offering physical, mental, emotional and perhaps spiritual benefits, I can’t wait to get started. As in months past, I’ll set aside about a half hour at least three times a week for this self-care activity and I’ll share my discoveries with you. Although I could use my acrylic and watercolor paints and the paper I have on hand, I did purchase a Funto Finger Painting Set for $29.99. I just couldn’t resist! The kit just looks like so much fun! So now that my supplies at my fingertips, I’m ready to engage in some adult child’s play! Yay!
A Journal Journey 