Post Election Healing

Museum Going with a Dear Friend

Let’s take a collective ten deep breaths. Ommmm. Remember to exhale long and completely. Now try doing that every hour. Yes, that’s ten deep breaths every hour, every day.

Whether consciously or subconsciously, most of us spend every hour of our day trying to manage our stress. We all have so much going on! And yes, one can even feel stressed in a beautiful mountain town surrounded by some of the most awe-inspiring scenery in the world.

Just now, as I began to write this story, the internet at home here was all goofy. RRRRRrrrrrrr. Fortunately, I didn’t let that frustrated feeling set in and I just brushed it off (sort of) and decided to write free form without needing a speedy internet. Lots of letting go here.

I feel the need to address the stress subject with you because so many people have been distraught over the election results. Whether your candidate won or not, everyone has experienced a certain amount of stress over this. (Just think of the Trump supporter attempting to defend his president-elect on social media or at the water cooler. Or, even without saying anything, hearing all the opposition against his or her choice.) It’s hard to move on from it all, especially since the daily news flashes keep bringing bad news to the dems. Ugh.

Try Breathing into this Painting Entitled Friendship by Agnes Martin at the Guggenheim

Just think of the people directly implicated by this. I mean right now. My older brother, Frank Clemente, the driving force behind Americans for Tax Fairness, was to meet with Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren just after the election. Well, you can bet that meeting was cancelled. And now I’d imagine Frank’s work has quadrupled. So discouraging.

Telluride this Week: A View Far from DC

Many people feel disheartened, angry and sad. Aside from “staying engaged,” per Secretary Clinton’s advice, there’s more of a need than ever to disengage–at the appropriate times of course. By that I mean, do whatever it takes to clear your mind and soul from your worries. Go on a 48-hour news fast, get out in nature, spend a day in bed reading a good novel, go to a cultural event, practice some retail therapy online or out in the stores (hopefully not on Black Friday), cook up a storm, organize a dinner with friends, exercise more, meditate–you know what works for you. Just make sure you do it.

Breathe into this Upstate New York Landscape

I’ve been busy the past couple of weeks, first buckling up my stay back east with my Mom where I spent more than five out of the past seven months helping her to adjust to her new life without my father. This week I’ve been focusing on my re-entry to my life here in Colorado. There’s a lot to catch up on on many levels before ski season begins. But I’m trying to roll with all the to-dos. That includes the two visits to the Med Center with my boyfriend to have his hands treated from cat bites. (Yes, my little Leo turned ferocious about his re-integration to life at the house with our two other cats after having spent a glorious five and a half months back east with his Grandma. Whether you’re an animal or a person, fear can bring out the worst in you, and the consequences can be grave.)

Finding a Relaxing Moment with Leo at DIA

My Guy and His Bandaged Finger

Leo Showing Remorse or Maybe Travel Fatigue

Jeez. More deep breaths. Try to do this every hour. It does help. But you have to make a concerted effort. Conscious living–that’s what it’s all about. Meanwhile, my page for the Guggenheim is still loading on this crappy internet server.

Boulder Close Up: Ommmm

Telluride Boulders: Seeing Beauty All Around

Living in Telluride, Colorado, one of my go-to stress relievers is going for a walk, ski, hike or bike in the woods. Recently I rediscovered how incredibly therapeutic it can be to go to a museum exhibition and lose yourself by staring deeply into a painting. I experienced this divine sense of letting go when I went to the Agnes Martin exhibition with my dear friend, Jane, during a visit to the Guggenheim when I was back in New York. It was extraordinary and if you’re going to be in New York between now and January 11, 2017, I highly recommend you take it in.

The Gugg

Here’s what Agnes Martin said about her work:

“I want to draw a certain response…Not a specific response but that quality of response from people when they leave themselves behind, often experienced in nature, an experience of simple joy.”

Ahhhh

Finding Serenity at the Guggenheim

Retail Therapy at the Gugg

That’s what I felt when admiring her works rich in form and texture. I would have never imagined that her characteristic grid-like compositions could leave me feeling so serene. It helped that I was viewing the show with an old friend who possesses sensibilities about art and life much like mine. (Jane and I met about three and a half decades ago when we both worked at the Pucker Safrai Gallery in Boston. She later took a post at the ICA, then moved beyond the art world, however, it’s still a passion for us both.)

On the Dog Walk with the Larchmont Ladies

Breathing in Nature on the Long Island Sound

So find ton truc, Or your thing, as they say in French. Do it often and breathe through it every step of the way. We are resilient beings and as we work through the stress of the past weeks, we will come out stronger. As I wrote in my story Going Forth with Fabulousness, I chose to forge forward and be fabulous. One breath at a time.

Enjoying Dinner Out with Jane

I hope you’ll enjoy the photos in this post of relaxing times I’ve enjoyed these past couple of weeks.

A Perfectly Chilled and Stirred Martini: An Excellent Stress Reliever

If you’d like to read about another fun museum outing I shared with Jane, check out Gallery Going with the Ladies from Larchmont.

Telluride Sunrise Heralds a Storm

Starting to Look More Like Winter Today in Telluride

Meanwhile, the internet here at the house continues to lumber along, so I might have to go to the library to post this story. On the other hand, Leo crawled up into my lap as I was writing this piece and is snoozing in the crook of my arm. That’s the first he has come near me since we arrived Saturday night from our long day of travels.

Plus, it has started to snow after an exceptionally long stretch of dry, warm weather this fall in the Rockies. After a delayed start, Telluride Ski Resort will soon be opening for the season.

I guess you have to take the good with the bad.

Bonne journée!