This Sunday is International Lego Day.
It marks 66 years since the Lego Group filed a patent for their new building system on 28 January 1958.
Although the company started back in the 1930s, this date really marks the start of the bricks we know and love today.
My husband and I both loved Lego (separately) as kids.
But then we grew up – how boring!
In 2019 we came across a Lego store and out of curiosity decided to take a look.
It was a bit of an eye-opener.
As kids we both had a big box of loose Lego bricks and you could build whatever came into your imagination.
Fast forward a few decades and, while you can still buy loose bricks and build whatever you want, there are now so many amazing Lego sets available.
All very different to the one set I was given in the 1970s – the original Lego London bus:
But what does all this have to do with meditation and mindfulness?
Well tapping into your creative side is an amazing way to practice mindfulness.
It could be writing a poem, playing a musical instrument, colouring in, painting, doing pottery or jigsaw puzzles, cooking, cake decorating… absolutely anything.
When you do something like this it requires concentration and focus.
When you’re completely focused on a task, you are very much in the moment and it can help you to think less about things that may be worrying you.
Being creative can reduce feelings of stress, anxiety and depression.
It can also boost brain function, increase your attention to detail, dexterity, and improve your problem solving skills.
Another benefit, if you share it with someone else, it can help you socialise and being connected also has a positive effect on your wellbeing.
That first visit to a Lego store was an interesting move for us.
I don’t even want to think about how many sets we have bought and built since!
But that said, we’ve refound our love of Lego together.
We also laugh a lot together while building, and marvel at how some of the pieces get used in very different ways, in different sets.
Who knew pink frogs could double as cherry blossom?
Here are a few of my favourite Lego builds to date:
So, Lego (get it? let go…😉) and be creative… and mindful!
Ann 🙏