One day I was sitting in my room and thought how cool would it be if I could draw on my wall? I live with my parents and as cool as they are, I knew they probably wouldn’t like the idea of me taking a paintbrush and expressing myself on their property. But I kept wanting to do just that. And then I had a brilliant idea, what about a chalkboard? A chalkboard was the ideal outlet I was looking for; I could install it and when I was done with it I could uninstall it, I could draw what I wanted then when I wanted to erase it and start again I could. I started looking for chalkboard material at home improvement stores but couldn’t find any. No one sold the kind of big school room chalkboard that I was looking for and I was getting discouraged.

Then my friend told me about this paint, you could paint a surface and then be able to use chalk on it, just like a chalkboard. So I went down to Home Depot and bought the paint, picked up a 4’ x 6’ sheet of wood, and went home to start my creation. I painted the board with the black chalkboard paint, let it set overnight, and then put it up the following day. I bought colored chalk and started drawing. I loved my new chalkboard, because I had created it. But something was missing. I realized it needed a boarder, so I got out a silver Sharpie marker, put in a good movie for background noise, and started drawing on a boarder. It took many hours to complete my new wall accessory, and it was time well spent.

Now, instead of expressing myself on my body, I can express myself on my wall. I can look at the wall and see myself, see my thoughts and my creativity. Just the other night I erased what was on my board, got out the chalk, and ended with a beautiful expression of myself, again. I wrote “I am whole” and drew flowers and the sun. I can’t help myself from smiling, because I’m looking at my heart, and my imagination, and it’s healthy. I am healthy. I am whole. And I have a kick ass chalkboard hanging above my bed.

Carley