A Little Morning Ritual That Brings Me Quiet Joy

A Quiet Ritual That Helped Me Feel Like Myself Again

I’m an architect — but truthfully, I’ve never been good at drawing by hand. After 25 years in the industry, most of my lines lived in AutoCAD and Revit, not on paper.

I used to think sketching was for artists — for people with talent. Until life slowed me down, and I picked up a pen again. I started sketching tiny things around me: an old rooftop, a corner of my garden, a quiet cup of morning coffee.

And surprisingly… it made me feel more at peace.

Recently, I discovered a lovely little course on Domestika: “Urban Illustration with Inking Techniques” by Heather Souliere. No fancy tools. No pressure. Just a pen, a page, and a new way to look at the world.

She teaches how to notice the ordinary — and turn it into sketches that feel deeply personal. You don’t have to draw “right”. You just have to draw what feels real.

Each morning, I sit with my pen and sketchbook. It’s become a quiet ritual — to breathe slower, to observe more, to reconnect with myself.

Not to become an artist. Just… to return to who I am.

If you’re looking for a gentle habit to calm your mind — or simply want to sketch for joy — this might be a beautiful place to begin.

👉 I’ll add the course link here later. Stay tuned!

You don’t need to be an architect. You don’t need to be good at drawing. You just need the desire to slow down a little. The pen will take care of the rest.

By Hanh Khue