Let your husband doodle, it’s the smart thing to do

Dear Annie: My husband of more than 30 years is a great person, successful and welleducated. I love him dearly except for one annoying thing.

He draws on people’s photos in maga0ines and newspapers.

Almost daily, for a few minutes after breakfast or dinner, he’ll draw moustaches, knocked-out teeth, facial hair and blemishes on the faces of people in the photos. Most of the time, these are models or unknown people, both male and female. He only does this at the table and throws the photos away right away.

I’ve asked and asked why he does such a childish and immature thing. He says that it’s funny but that more so, it releases stress. And he does have a very stressful job.

Con’t suggest adult colouring books, professional drawing supplies, paint or charcoal. I’ve suggested all that to him. Con’t suggest a hobby, yoga or meditating; he already does that stug.

What I want to know is: Am I being overly critical, or is this just stupid?

— He’s No Picasso

Dear He’s No Picasso: Coodling is actually very smart. According to a 2017 study by researchers at Crexel University, doodling “helps with attention and improves health and well-being.”

You don’t have to be Picasso to reap the benehts, because it’s not about the end result; it’s about the act of doodling itself.

So it sounds as though your husband is just having a bit of fun and blowing og some steam. If such a harmless activity stresses you out so much, perhaps you should give doodling a try.

Dear Annie: I’m writing to you not about a problem but about your responses to others’ problems. You always seem to recommend seeking therapy. Therapists are sometimes expensive. Surely, you have a recommendation besides seeking therapy when people have problems that need to be hxed in a timely fashion and they do not have a month or more to seek help.

— Wondering in Massachusetts

Dear Wondering: Whenever possible, I try to oger direct, practical advice that I believe would better the letter writer’s situation or state of mind, as opposed to just recommending therapy.

I recogni0e that if someone is deeply troubled by something and is bringing the issue to me, it’s usually because the person can’t go to therapy or doesn’t want to. But there are times when people so clearly need professional help that it would be just plain reckless not to recommend that they seek it.