Put the brush in the water.  Swirl it around a bit.  Add the water to the paint. Gather it on the bristles.  Put the brush on the paper and make one small dot.  Rinse the brush.  Pick another color.  Do it again.  And again.

I focus on the color, the small actions, the textures – water, paint, brush, paper.  I notice my breath as I dip the brush again.  It feels deeper with each small dot.  I notice the quiet of the room.  The sounds of the brush against the cup as I rinse it of the paint.  

And I practice non-judgement.  The dots are not too big or two small.  They are round enough as they are.  There is no right or wrong with the colors I pick or how the colors look together.  They are just fine as they are.  They are enough as they are.  They are good.  This is temporary and a practice.  

I bring myself to this space as a loving practice of mindfulness.  I am allowed to be just here, enough with my paint and my brush.  I think of someone I love and whom I might send this little card.  I think of how this person is a blessing in my life and the lives around her.  I send her love with the colors.  I think of the ginkgo tree in her yard.  I add some yellow like the ginkgo leaves in the fall.  I think of her favorite color purple and add another dot.  I send her compassion and gratitude for being on this journey with me.  

The dots meditation is what I would call a Joy Seed practice – a small moment of intentional joy in my day. I’ve done it with my paint and paper.  I’ve done it with leftover coffee on a napkin.  I have dreams of making stamps with potatoes and making big dots on a long stretch of paper spread out on a table.  I’ve done it with my son – practicing the non-judgement of color and art that he struggles to give himself.  We make plans to send our cards to his grandparents.  Our dots are a gift of time we give to each other, small moments of generosity, grace, and whimsy, sharing messages of joy and gratitude in our lives.