I love Tim Gunn. What I especially love about Tim Gunn is that he is oh so comfortable in his own skin and doesn’t try to be anybody other than himself.
Gunn, the co-host and breakout star of Lifetime TV’s, Project Runway, is an endearing combination of someone who personally is pinned down and pulled together yet works in and respects the loose and push-the-envelope atmosphere of creativity and artistry that comes with the long running cable television series where fashion trends are sometimes born.
Gunn recently came on my radar screen when a good friend posted an interview he gave The New York Times about how he spends his time on Sundays.
Gunn lives in New York City, the most densely populated major city in the United States, and in the midst of New York’s infectious energy and raucous noise, he has found and actively seeks out places of beauty and quiet on Sundays, in order he says, to “heal and repair.”
His favorite place to allow his mind to unwind: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. “A trip to the Met can be very emotional. There are paintings there that just lift me off the ground,” Gunn told The New York Times. “I feel buoyant.”
On Project Runway, Gunn’s mantra is “Make it work.” Whether said as a challenge, with sympathy or with praise to a potential fashion designer, it is a sentiment full of resilience. I believe it is meant to inspire the person to keep trying and do their best no matter the situation they find themselves in.
In real life, it can be applied to all sorts of situations but today I am thinking about how it can be used as an affirmation when dealing with the loss of a loved one. Trying to figure out that first step in establishing a new routine in the midst of grief can bring a measure of stability to your life.
Experiencing a loss can make you feel totally helpless and perhaps telling yourself that you are trying your best to make it all work can be a positive action. A routine, such as calling a friend on certain days of the week, or volunteering of your time a few hours a month can give you something to look forward to and perhaps make you feel stronger. After my husband’s death, part of my regular routine involved long walks in our neighborhood. Those walks got me out of the house and helped me clear my head.
I understand Gunn’s desire to spent Sundays at The Met as part of his comforting Sunday routine. A museum offers the opportunity to let your mind and eyes wander in a calm and quiet setting. This gives your brain a chance to rest and sometimes that’s when ideas and solutions suddenly come to you. I think finding a wellness routine that you look forward to doing just because it makes you feel better is crucial to finding balance in your life.
You may already have found a routine that works for you or something may have happened that forced you to change up your routine. Either way, we all need pockets of time where we feel the freedom to gather ourselves up, let go of some of the toxic stuff and put ourselves back in order.
Most of us discover along the way that we need to set aside time to regularly turn inward so that we can recharge our batteries and go out in the world refreshed and ready to tackle it all over again, this time even better. Whether it’s a bubble bath, running, walking, reading, meditating or praying, unscheduled and freewheeling time is essential for our mental health and that kind of investment in yourself is essential to making life work.
To read the entire New York Times story about how Tim Gunn spends his Sundays, please click on the link below:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/22/nyregion/how-tim-gunn-of-project-runway-spends-his-sunday.html
Leave a Reply