I don't really like to paint.
Actually...that's not completely true.
A friend recently asked me to help with a (very) small painting project. I was glad to try and help, in part because of all the prep-work he had already done.
I had been putting off painting our bathroom for some time. His request nudged me to just get it done already.
I don't really like the prep-work often involved in painting. It’s all the time it takes to remove all the things you need to (Can you believe that towel-bar doesn't use a standard screwdriver? C’mon! Where are my allen-wrenches anyway? I always put it in the same spot! ...except for the last time, apparently). And, invariably it seems, there is always something you discover in doing so that needs to addressed before...you can actually start the painting. “Dang it, I’m spending more time doing this than actually painting…”, I mutter to myself.
Painting itself isn't too bad and is kind of rewarding for the pleasure of it when finished. Almost everyone likes the crisp cleanness of a fresh coat of paint (isn't that what gives you that brief pause, before quickly putting all the pictures back up?).
We like to renew things. Or, at least, we like things when they are renewed (perhaps it's just sometimes, that we like to be the ones doing it). But, I'm going with the first notion here; there is something about making things new. We get a double-satisfaction from it, if we're willing to notice. It not only looks better (most of the time), but we seem to get something from the effort itself. The combo seems to fit something innate within us, to work at making things better.
Using things is good (especially as opposed to not using them). Wear-and-tear because of that use happens and is noticeable. We like a bit of that look, too. And when things get worn-down too much, it is good to restore them...to return them to a good and usable state and to include beauty as part of the process. It all speaks to something within us, something that seems good.
So, it sounds like I do like to paint....
