In a surprise event, our Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colorado announced an amazing art exhibit comprising Rodin sculptures, Monet, Renoir, and various other paintings, drawings and sculptures from a private collection. I discovered this in a small news blurb, left my office, and walked down the street to the single-room art gallery in the Fulginitti pavilion.
I spent some time picking my jaw off the floor. Then I took my sketchbook out and begin trying to capture some of what I saw.

What’s terrible is how infrequently I stop to smell the flowers. What’s mediocre is how poorly I draw. What’s fantastic is putting aside all concerns and focusing on one painting for half an hour.
Claude Monet
A few years ago, I very much enjoyed art exhibits AND I wanted to stretch myself, BUT I was afraid of being criticized, THEREFORE I silenced my inner critic and started sketching.

What’s important is NOT the finished piece (thank goodness), but the experience of spending quiet time really LOOKING and SEEING and BEING PRESENT. It is incredibly peaceful and rewarding.
CMIO’s take: Slow down, you move too fast. You’ve got to let the morning last, now …
Let me know if you’ve experienced something like this.