reflections on my solo retreat
subject: my first annual essence7 wellness solo retreat location: beautiful lodge at local ski resort accommodations: mountain view corner suite amenities: king size bed, full kitchen, balcony, fireplace, rainfall shower, claw foot tub what i thought my retreat would consist of:
reading, reading, reading
writing, writing, writing
thinking, brainstorming, creating
planning, strategizing
engaging in solitude
rereading previous journals and morning pages
immersing myself in introspective exercises
drinking green smoothies and lots of coffee
capturing revelations as they surface
soaking in an epsom salt bath in that luxurious (huge!) clawfoot tub
what my retreat actually looked like:
all of the above
and so much more
debriefing to clear the cobwebs
exploring unexpected (and heavy) emotions
dissecting my fears
staring into space and watching some tv
indulging in my continuous experimentation with words
breathing to focus, to calm, to dive deep
observing life through my five senses
becoming enchanted with the word grit
realizing how much i really do like myself
realigning and interweaving my goals within my mission
refreshing and recharging my internal batteries
embracing my often elusive courage
realizing i will never do everything on my list
celebrating that i have such an expansive list
envisioning the details of my upcoming retreat for clients
discovering that more time + less distraction does not = instant concentration
panning for nuggets in my voluminous tomes
talking out loud (and answering)
accepting my long held dream of becoming a (real) writer
falling in love all over again with my husband (who joined me the third night)
tousled hair selfie why i went on a solo retreat:
to escape the interference of daily life while rewriting my business plan
to excavate raw materials hidden inside
to illuminate the direction in which i should proceed
to quiet the whispered fears of feeling less independent, less capable
to acknowledge the thoughts tumbling over each other inside my brain
to sit with the feelings threatening to swallow me up
to have fun!
i am still processing what happened two weeks later. still connecting the dots. still attempting to understand the subtle shifts i've experienced. still marveling at the insights gained and the journey traveled.
in one week i'm headed to a gorgeous river gorge with my husband and younger son. however, i'm more of a nature-is-pretty-through-the-window kind of girl. i will explore a few of the waterfalls and revel in the beauty of the wildflowers around me. but while my two men are out doing their impossible-for-mom-straight-up-climbs, i will be continuing my solo retreat.
and i'll continue my solo retreat at home. and in the shower. and while drinking my morning coffee.
because it doesn't really matter where i am or even what i'm doing. although i loved my time away, i don't need a fancy hotel to dream and plan.
the solo retreat is within. i can always reach in and connect to that soulful and necessary space. "being a scholar of self and soul is ongoing." (joan anderson) how do you retreat from the world and center yourself? [maxbutton id="1"]