Flow

A few months ago I read about the concept of "flow" which is defined by being completely involved in an activity for its own sake.  As I was reading through the article linked above it occurred to me that I have found myself in this mental state many times.  For starters, I paint.  Whenever I paint time stands still.  I have literally sat at my kitchen chair for hours painting without even taking a sip of water.  I suffer from anxiety and I have found that when I paint, my anxiety is completely gone.  It's almost as though all my thoughts and efforts are working together for just one thing and that is- to create a beautiful canvas.

Above is a painting that I painted for a friend of mine for her daughter's bedroom.   

http://philosophycommons.typepad.com/the_grumpy_grappler/psychology-of-jiu-jitsu/

 Other times when I feel completely lost or immersed in something is when I teach.  Flow is something I don't think about often yet it plays an important role in my life along with others.  People have stated that they feel "flow" during sports, dancing, playing music, writing, drawing, and painting.  I believe that by experiencing "flow" one finds an overwhelming feeling of contentedness and happiness.  I'm curious, have you ever experienced flow?  If so, what were you doing?