“How are you?”
“I’m fine.”
It’s an automatic response. Efficient. Socially acceptable. A word that keeps things light and moving, even when something inside you isn’t.
For a lot of us, “fine” becomes a reflex. A way to smooth things over. A way to not take up space. A way to stay likable, steady, manageable.
But sometimes “fine” isn’t neutral. Sometimes it’s a signal. A small check-engine light flashing when we’ve drifted just a little from what’s true.
This practice is about interrupting that drift.
Not with perfection.
Not with a polished confession.
Just with honesty.
UnPolished Practice: Cross It Out
Open your notebook.
At the top of a blank page, write in big letters:
I’m Fine.
Now cross it out.
Not a polite line through it. Scribble. Layer over it. Scratch it until the page wrinkles a little.
Then, without overthinking, start writing:
If I’m not fine, then I’m…
Set a timer for five minutes. Don’t edit. Don’t clean it up. Don’t try to sound evolved.
Let it contradict itself.
Let it be petty.
Let it be dramatic.
Let it surprise you.
You don’t owe anyone the polished version.
You just owe yourself the truth.
When you’re finished writing, pause. Read back what surprised you. Circle a word or phrase that feels alive.
Then add color.
Tear pieces from magazines. Layer scraps of paper over the crossed-out “fine.” Use paint, marker, pencil — whatever you have. Let the page get messy. Let it reflect the energy of what’s underneath that one tidy word.
There’s something powerful about covering over “fine” with texture and color. About making visible what you usually compress.
You’re not fixing anything.
You’re just refusing to disappear.
Unpolished Supplies List:
- Spiral Bound Sketchbook
- Spiral Bound Artist Sketch Pad
- 100 Unruled 3×5 Index Cards Blank White Heavy Rounded Corners
- 60 Colored Dual Tip Markers
- Acrylic Paint Markers
- 36 Colors Acrylic Paint Set with Brushes & Palette
UNPOLISHED: Numb the Beige
UNPOLISHED: A Bi-Weekly Creative Practice for Sober & Sober-Curious Women
Follow The Sober Curator on Facebook
What is Krysty’s Creative Practice column on The Sober Curator?
Krysty’s bi-weekly column invites readers into simple creative exercises designed to spark self-reflection, emotional awareness, and honest expression. Each piece offers a short prompt or artistic activity that helps readers reconnect with themselves in a thoughtful, low-pressure way.
Do I need to be an artist to try these creative practices?
Not at all. The column is designed for everyone, whether you consider yourself creative or not. The exercises focus on exploration and honesty rather than artistic skill.
What materials do I need for the exercises?
Most of the practices use simple materials like a notebook, pen, markers, magazines, or scrap paper. The goal is to work with whatever you have on hand and let the process be messy and intuitive.
How long do these creative practices take?
Most of the exercises take between five and fifteen minutes. They are designed to be short enough to fit into a busy day while still giving you space to pause and reflect.
Why are creative exercises helpful for emotional awareness?
Creative practices help bypass the inner critic and access thoughts and feelings that may be harder to articulate directly. Writing, drawing, and collage can make emotions visible in a way that feels more honest and less filtered.
