Last week I had a doctor's appointment. It was the first time I had been to this office, so when I was in the waiting room, my mind chatter was working on overdrive more than I'd like. I don't know, with all the moves that I do, I always get a little nervous before seeing my new doctors. Once I get settled and I get to know them, I'm fine. But I always get nervous for the official meet and greet.

This time I brought my small moleskin sketchbook and a pen so I could doodle while I wait. 'Cause you know how long you can sit in those waiting rooms, right?

I'm SO happy I did this because, first, the waiting room was tiny. And, second, there were many "coughers" in the room, which led to others voicing out loud after every cough that they didn't want to get sick. And, let me tell, they didn't sound HAPPY about this at all.

One guy even made a point to tell the entire room that he was moving to another chair so he didn't "catch what was going on in the waiting room."

While all this was going on, I was doodling.

Yes, I heard all of these thoughts loud and clear, but as I doodled, those thoughts just passed me by. I even said to myself, "Nope, not me! I'm not gonna catch anything!"

Usually, I'd be the same way as the others. Thinking I'm gonna catch what's being coughed which then results in my left-brain worrisome thoughts growing louder and louder that sound a little like this:

"I can't get sick. I have to take care of C."

"Oh man, everyone's sick. I'm SO gonna get sick now".

Well, this time, because of my mindless-right-brain-doodling-activity I was able to stay present, stay in the moment and stay in a happy place, without any worry of catching anything.

I also noticed that as I doodled my nervous-meeting-new-doctor -for-the-first-time-thoughts were easing up. Ahhh, yes...my 2012 word, ease, is showing up nicely here! :)

I left the office calm and happy!

I was SO happy because this time I didn't care if others saw me doodling in public (if you remember when I posted about the time I doodled on the airplane and put it away immediately when the flight attendant made a comment about it. Yeah...I've come a long way, baby!!).

So if you find yourself frazzled, around people who are complaining or worried, or just want to calm those left-brain-worrisome thoughts while waiting for something you don't really want to be waiting for...get a notebook and pen and doodle!

All I did was put my pen down on the paper for 3 seconds. Made swirly lines without lifting up and then I doodled in the circles and did some tracing to the outline.

I wrote an article on how to do this over at Girlfriendology.

I'm telling ya...doodling may look like something for kids, but the meaning behind it is HUGE when it comes to calming down worrisome thoughts. :)

It has changed my life completely!

What's one thing you like to do to calm your frazzled thoughts?

Until next time...

{life is a doodle}