Breaking Free, because sometimes we just need to
The day was bright and clean and exquisite when I woke up today with the first beautiful snow of the year. It clung to the branches, coating everything in white beauty. I left the radio off. I did not want to hear what Trump did lately. Not today. He wasn’t going to spoil my morning. I pulled on my high rubber boots, looped a knitted scarf around my neck, slid a pair of sunglasses over my glasses and went out for a walk in the forest.
As I walked the trails around our Red Mountain, I had to duck and detour as the evergreens were so heavily laden with snow that they hung down and blocked the trail. They looked over burdened, pushed down. But they leaned on each other, supported each other in their heaviness. They reminded me of how so many of my friends feel now.
I had to shake my husband awake four times last night, as he was having nightmares and needed to be released from them. It’s the news. NPR raises our blood pressure and sinks our disposition. Todd is staring again at the end of the day. He lies in bed and looks at the ceiling and I bug him to hug me, engage. What is it? What is wrong? Trump. Every day it is something new and bad that Trump has done. There’s not a day that goes by that some new sadness doesn’t takes hold of our happiness, caused by him. Five weeks in Asia was good for Todd and I to disengage and live without politics. Since we are home, it is back to the same anger and sadness.
My daughter spends the first half of her day signing petitions, making phone calls, reading the news. She is supposed to be writing her thesis paper at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Her work and her life is dedicated to helping marginalized people and their land- victims of flooding, droughts, climate change disaster. She takes what Trump and his administration is doing, personal. That’s why she is moved to fight, resist.
I am proud of my little girl but she struggles to find joy, hope, even time to do her important graduate work. I told her that I, personally, had to back off. With my looming deadline for my new book rapidly approaching, I have to disconnect and get my own work done. For it is important work, as I craft a way to help parents take their power and responsibility back and help educate their children. Our family’s way is through experiential education but after Betsy De Vos does her damage, parents are going to need to hear voices crying in the wilderness for alternative help. I can help. I can help more that way than making phone calls and being miserable. I cannot be a good writer and be depressed. So I have to limit my connection. I told Sierra to think about it too. It feels like we are deserting our sisters and brothers who are charging on but it is difficult to learn moderation and balance and honor the fact that we need and deserve to take care of ourselves too, to be happy. We are no good to anyone if we sink so deep that we hit inertia.
The wind blew like a howling wild animal when I left the forest and entered the open field on my walk. I contemplated not walking that particular loop out by the open field, but then thought, why not. Why not feel the fury, the passion, the discomfort. The top layer of snow blew with such force that it reminded me of walking down the beach at Cape Hatteras 27 years ago, when Todd and I went on the 70 mile backpack to conceive our little girl. The sand particles blew by our feet in sheets like the snow did in the field this morning. The wind sculpted the snow into miniature hills and valleys, like contour lines on a topographic map, looking remarkable like the sandstone formations in the Desert Southwest, where the wind does its creating too.
I felt alive out there in the wind, snow blowing around the land and the sky like it was going crazy. It feels better to feel this than the pain of stillness, emptiness, hopelessness. I felt invigorated to return to my desk and continue work on my chapter, “Learning from History.”
I’ll give Sierra a pep talk when I return home. I’ll put on some Irish music for my husband instead of “Morning Edition.” And when I went back through the trail, I took my time and shook out the evergreens, releasing the snows hold on them as it fell to the ground and they, sprang up straight and free.
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Cindy Ross 
I feel your pain… But you did what is very important! You have to sometimes disengage. Take that break away from what makes you angry and leads you in despair! You then can get your focus and balance. By focusing on finishing your book, will do more than you can even know. It will give hope and guidance to others to help them find their way.
I too am wrought with despair. But I step away and disconnect from the continuous tweets and news. I find those activities that make me feel good, and from which I can derive pleasure. I volunteer and keep my focus on helping one person and to find my passion to keep myself focused on the future.
Remember you must take care of yourself so you can take care of others!
What is right and good will prevail. It always does. Always will.
such gorgeous words Earl- thank you for them- i feel more for my poor husband and dear daughter- it is harder for them to shake it – hard times. please make 2018 the year that we meet! that would be a ray of sunshine
Wonderful to find this post on my first return in a while. Don’t stop, Cindy!
thanks Jack- been working on a book- that’s why I’ve not written so much
Wonderful, Cindy. It was good to see you Sunday and to meet Todd. Chin up and soldier on. You truly make the world a better place.
hey Amy my dear, so good to see you too- thank you for the words of encouragement- right back at you too.
So relevant to my life on my levels. From the daughter to the work to not sleeping. I have been in a state of rage since the election. What thoroughly amazes me are the younger people who support this administration. (my children are not in that category…just sayin..) I passed this along to both of them. We have a long siege ahead of us. I’m holding on to Nov 2018. Perhaps false hope, but still a hope. Thank you for articulating what I have been feeling.
dearest Linda- a kindred spirit- thank you for the kind supportive words. It does help to know each other is out there – what amazes me are the good people I know who voted for him who have not yet admitted that it was a mistake. Read “small great things” Jodi Picoult- amazing book about segregation and white supremacy- part of the reason I was awake so long these last days.
Cindy, I used to love reading your blogs….Give Trump a chance.
sorry- he blew it a long time ago in my opinion- we all don’t think alike, isn’t that ok? Read the ones that just agree with you feelings then. Blogs are personal. If I can’t be myself in my own personal blog, where can I be?
and with 328 blog posts, I have written two that had anything to do with Trump and that was sharing my sadness- and that is too much to make you feel like you “used” to like to read my work, but not anymore? I don’t think it is my job here to please you guys and write only what you want to hear.
Cindy, thanks for your powerful post. We’re actively involved in pressing for positive change, and what we find helpful in keeping us from despair is coming from love, being the change that we’re working toward.
you go girl- a light shining in a dark world- love and miss you
Cindy, Thanks for making me smile in complete connection and understanding – your description of feeling alive in the power and fury of mother nature took me to many memories of being brought back to life by the power of nature during emotional times in my life…I too feel the fears for our American future, but have had to limit my exposure to the media for my own peace of mind. I’ll keep on protesting and fighting injustices, but, like you, need to focus on the positive aspects of life and make a difference in people’s lives that I can personally affect…my positive vibes are being sent to Todd and Sierra.
thank you for your words of sharing- good to know you are out there- will be checking back soon to you- have a delivery date for a pub finally!!! May 1- maybe you have a few minutes to help these parents and kids in the future, as they will need alternative, supplemental help!
Beautiful. Thank you for your words, they are always an inspiration! Looking forward to your book, I am VERY excited to read it! I’ve been checking in periodically hoping to hear a pub date, so glad it’s in the final stages!
thank you fro you kind words- all I have right now is spring 2018- stay tuned