In this occasional series on TanglePatterns, readers describe in their own words how Zentangle® has changed their lives. For more accounts in this series, click on the “STORIES” link in the alphabetical listing above.
Visit this post for the stories that inspired this series.
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Twelve-year-old Daniel writes that he’s “an ADHD almost-teenager who’s always loved art” and he recently discovered Zentangle. My hope is that Daniel’s story can be shared with friends and family who are dealing with children (or adults) with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). They may find that Zentangle is an answer to some prayers.
Here, with the permission of his parents, is Daniel in his own very articulate words.
“I have ADHD and anger management issues, and they’ve made life for me pretty challenging at times. Luckily I discovered this wonderful art form, and while it didn’t wave a magic wand and make all my problems disappear, it definitely helped.
I discovered Zentangle only about 1 or 2 months ago. I was visiting my grandparents, and we were looking around an art store that had recently popped up in the area. I grabbed a couple of pens (I loved pens even before I discovered Zentangle), and we were about to leave when my grandmother noticed Suzanne McNeill’s Zentangle 7 book. We looked over it and immediately decided to buy it.
A while later, when I was back at home (and already thoroughly addicted to Zentangle), I was looking around for some new tangle patterns when I discovered Linda’s site. Suddenly everything changed – I had more information about Zentangle than I could ever possibly digest, and there were so many more patterns I could use! Tangling really opened up for me after that.
While, like I said earlier, it didn’t wave a magic wand and make all my problems disappear, tangling helped calm me down and make my brain stop running around in circles. I really hope that other people can find that Zentangle helps them with whatever issues pop up in their life. Thank you, Maria and Rick, for creating such a wonderful art form!”
~ Daniel (Age 12)
I asked Daniel if he had any words of advice for others challenged by ADHD about getting started with Zentangle and he replied, “I guess my advice would be ‘Don’t worry about the appearance-just focus on the process itself.’ Although I suppose that’s the whole point of Zentangle in general, isn’t it?” Daniel certainly gets it!
Daniel was kind enough to share some of his wonderful Zentangle art with us and this first piece is a traditional Zentangle.
Next is Daniel’s lovely Zendala.
And finally, a ZIA page.
Kudos, Daniel!
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If you would like to share your own experience for this series, please email me (linda [at] tanglepatterns [dot] com). You can make your story as long as or short as you like and if you wish your personal details to remain private, I will certainly honor that.
By publishing your “testimonials”, I’m hoping it will help spread the word about Zentangle to many others who can REALLY benefit from it. As the Zentangle founders say, “Anything is possible, one stroke at a time.”™
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September 7, 2014 | 
More like this: 
How wonderful that Daniel has found the Zentangle ‘outlet’. I also found it to be extremely soothing and ‘grounding’ while looking after my Dad in his last years. It really is Yoga for the brain, and immensely satisfying. Good for you, Daniel.!
Ali
These examples of Daniel’s tangling are exquisite! He is definitely an artist AND an inspiration. How wonderful to have discovered the bliss and then share the beauty that comes from it. I hope he will create his own book to reach others some day.
Daniel you are such an inspiration! I love the work you’ve done and hope you continue. You are truly talented! Thank you for being brave and sharing your story. You have a fan in Utah!!!
Lara
Amazing work Daniel. Thanks so much for sharing! Wish I was that talented!
Way to go, Daniel! Your work is amazing. I’m so glad you found something to help you and just as glad you shared your story and your beautiful artwork. I can’t wait to see what you do in the future.
Beautiful work, Daniel. Thank you for sharing your story with us. One more proof that Zentangle is actually so much MORE than an art form, and that anybody can do it and benefit from it. Wonderful, isn’t it?
Dittos for me, Daniel. Exactly my own experience.
How beautiful, Daniel! May you continue to be inspired to create such beauty!
Thank you so much to everybody who complimented me…I’m all warm and fuzzy inside now. Thank you! ^_^
I LOVE THIS ARTICLE too because it totally makes sense!
Thanks for showing Daniel’s wonderful creations. I’m inspired to get my pens out again and tangle!
Thank for sharing your story, Daniel. I wish I thought of something like Zentangle more than 20 years ago, while I was still teaching. I have had students with ADHS and Zentangle I think would have worked for at least some of them. Art is a wonderful outlet of expression, I have had some very artistically talented students who I was able to “reach” with art, boosting more “appropriate” expression of rawer emotions (one student drew me as a teacher-monster, and that was okay – I surprised her by not getting mad but engaged in discussing her emotion and what we could do together to make things better), brainstorming, calming, a “rest” before trying to tackle an educational challenge (I was a special education teacher), and improving self-esteem with positive feed-back about something they did do well. Oh, how I wish I had thought up Zentangle back them – how it would have helped those not so artistically challenged! And they would have proof of a task well done with beautiful little pieces of art the could be proud to display. Right now, I am trying to help my 67 year-old friend, also named Daniel, regain his art skills through Zentangle. I need to share this story with him. Thank you, Daniel!
Wow!, Daniel – you are a gifted artist. Taking advantage of this way to create art and to help yourself focus and stay calm speaks volumes about who you are. I can picture you sharing Zentangle with others – maybe classmates? I can picture you exhibiting your art some day very soon. Bet you appreciate your grandparents taking you to that store and getting you started on Zentangles.
Hi Daniel I am Diego I have ADHD and I am bipolar I think that’s how u spell it and I know how you feel
Very good information. Lucky me I ran across
your website by accident (stumbleupon). I’ve bookmarked it for later!
Daniel. Your work is so beautiful. How nice of you to share your story. You are an inspiration.
What an honest and nice story of Daniel and his tiles are beautifuln, he is just 12 years!!! I wish him succes for the future!