Mushroom and his notebook

Do you ever pause to simply observe the world around you? This is something Mushroom enjoys doing from time to time. While he’s generally quite agitated, he has a secret calming hobby: painting outdoors. Despite being a chatty fungus, Mushroom likes to grab his backpack, put in a watercolor notebook, paints, and pencils, and set off on a quiet stroll. He walks for 10 to 40 minutes until something captivates his curiosity—an unusual light, tiny insects, a flower, or a beautiful landscape. It has to be something that calls his attention to stop and look to it. 

Once he finds a spot, Mushroom settles down and spend time to observing and sketching. This moment is crucial; it’s when Mushroom truly sees his surroundings. He often thinks, ‘That flower… I didn’t know it was so complex!’, ‘I never noticed this type of tree here’ or ‘Look at the colors of the sky reflecting in this lake… amazing how the water mirrors the sky.’ Taking these pauses allows Mushroom to continually discover new things.

For this hobby, Mushroom starts with pencil sketches and then moves on to quick paintings. Perfection isn’t the goal; it’s about capturing the moment. The notebook is filled with memories of places and holds immense value for Mushroom. Although he shares the benefits of this exercise with his friends, he struggles to articulate the profound connection he feels when absorbed in the simple act of watching life unfold. He often says, ‘We are so small in this world with infinite places to explore. There’s always something new, something to learn… It’s when I connect with what’s inside me and what the world offers that I find peace of mind.’ He wonders where others find their peace or if they even seek it.

Afterward, Mushroom is full of new energy and heads home to gather friends for a cup of tea!