An hour of relaxation can be hard to schedule for today's busy adult, but many do so at the Tahlequah Public Library.

On the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, locals meet up for "Inside the Lines: Adult Coloring Group."

The favorite children's activity now has adults trying their best to stay within the lines, but in the end, it's the calming benefits of coloring that bring residents to the table.

Elizabeth Wood, who attended Wednesday, labeled the time as a getaway from the large family she has back home.

"I love them, but everyone needs time to themselves now and then," she said. "It's also nice to catch up with my friend and just get an hour of quiet time."

Wood's friend, May Rigsby, joined the group, and said it reminded her of her teaching days.

"I taught school for many years," she said. "I used to color with the kids, and now I've realized that I miss it."

The group offers adults coloring utensils, a canvas and relaxing background music. Tom Mooney, a volunteer at the library, picked music for Wednesday meant to calm people during one of their most stressful times: childbirth.

"I was looking for something slow and relaxing," Mooney said, smiling. "So, childbirth music."

Mooney said he can feel childish while working on a coloring book, and it's not a bad way to spend an hour.

Wanda Corn, also on hand to relax, said the quiet setting, in addition to the soothing music, blocks out the rest of the world. That's a common sentiment in the group, as Pam Elkins feels the same.

"It takes away a lot things that are going on in my life," Elkins said. "This is the only place it's just me and I don't have to deal with the problems I have in the outside world. It just helps me, because I do have a lot of health problems and it gets me out of my house and lets me interact with other people. We all end up finding someone and start chatting. It's just fun to do."

The group is called Inside the Lines, but that type of restriction doesn't fly with the adults at the group on Wednesday. Elkins said she often tends to color over the lines.

"There's no one really there to tell you, 'no, don't do that color,' or 'do this,'" she said. "Once we step out the doors, we have to go back to world like everybody else who has problems. When we're in here, this is my freedom. I get to relax, color and I don't have to worry about anything."

Get involved

The next Inside the Lines is April 25, 6 p.m. For more Tahlequah Public Library events, visit the library's Facebook page.

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Grown-ups find relaxation with coloring - Tahlequah Daily Press