We all know that feeling when life throws you a curveball. Mine came with the word "cancer," and it hit hard. But sometimes the most powerful responses come from the simplest places - like the dollar store coloring book aisle, where $1 purchases and cheap markers became my shield.
I'll never forget that Tuesday in the chemotherapy ward. My hands were shaking, not from the treatment, but from anxiety that felt like electricity under my skin. Drawing on my illustration background and love for comics, I opened a simple coloring book from Five Below. That moment changed everything.
## Simple Tools, Powerful Impact
My arsenal was far from fancy:
- Markers from Five Below
- Colored pencils found in discount bins
- Coloring books that never cost more than a dollar
- A determination to keep my mind busy
But that's the thing about healing - it doesn't always require expensive tools. Sometimes it just needs an open heart and a pack of markers that work.
## Finding Freedom Between the Lines
During treatment, something unexpected happened. While my body was fighting its battle, my mind needed somewhere to go. Those budget-friendly coloring books became my ticket to escape. Each page offered a new adventure, a different place to explore when the hospital walls felt too close.
As an illustrator who grew up loving comic books, I understood the power of art. But this was different. This wasn't about creating masterpieces - it was about creating moments of peace. Page by page, color by color, I found my way through the darkness.
## From Store-Bought to Self-Made
The more I colored, the more my mind wandered into its own creative spaces. Eventually, those pre-made patterns weren't enough. My brain needed to go where it wanted, not where someone else's lines led. That's when I started creating my own designs.
I never planned for this to become what it has. But God's plans have a way of surprising us. What started as a simple coping mechanism during treatment has evolved into something more meaningful - a way to help others find their own colorful path through difficult times.
## Your Turn to Color
Here's what I learned along the way:
1. Start simple - a dollar store coloring book is perfectly fine
2. Let your mind wander freely
3. Don't worry about staying in the lines
4. Trust the process - it's about peace, not perfection
## The Reality of Rainbow Days and Gray Moments
Not every day was bright colors and perfect patterns. Some days, the markers felt too heavy, and the lines too complicated. But that's okay - healing isn't linear, and neither is coloring. Sometimes it's messy, sometimes it's beautiful, and sometimes it's both at once.
Today, as a survivor, I see how each page colored was a step forward. Each pattern completed was a small victory. And every dollar store coloring book was a chapter in a story I never expected to tell.
Remember, your healing journey is your own. Maybe it starts with a 99¢ coloring book, maybe it starts somewhere else. But wherever it begins, know that sometimes it’s not our problems that’s the problem, it’s the way we handle our problems that’s the problem . 🎨
