So I kidnapped 8 women. Just for one night. I wanted to try something.
See, in my clients, friends, and blog readers, I noticed some common themes:
- We’ve all got some shit to deal with (old hurts, past heartbreaks, traumas, grief, exhaustion, anxieties, etc.).
- None of us seem to have the time to start dealing with it.
- Even if we do have time, it’s hard to know where to start.
- Whether we’re conscious of it or not, we carry that shit around with us and it starts to stink up our relationships, our health, and our happiness. The stench gets progressively worse the longer it’s ignored.
Before I noticed these themes in anyone else, I noticed them in myself, about two years ago. I had so much going through my mind that my thoughts were downright noisy. I had a hard time focusing, a hard time staying positive, a hard time being nice, a hard time sleeping, and a reallyreallyreallyreally hard time figuring out why other people do what they do.
I started reading. Studying. Meditating. Writing. Immersing myself in human psychology, behavior, and even spirituality. Burning sage and talking to psychics (I’m just kidding about one of those). I was ready to do whatever it took to heal myself and change my outlook – because I could not continue what I was doing.
Once I began healing, my vision cleared up and I noticed the same confusion in people all around me. Friends, clients, acquaintances, even strangers. People who are tired or bitter or heartbroken or sad or frustrated or frantic or jealous or hiding or numb.
Clients would say things like, “I don’t know how to be by myself anymore.”
“There is just one person that I can’t seem to forgive.”
“I don’t know how to sort out my thoughts, and even if I did, there is no time.”
“My life is on autopilot.”
“I am fucking exhausted but I can’t sleep.”
“I don’t remember the last time I cried.”
And all of a sudden, thanks to my own experience, I had so much more than a sympathetic hug for them. I had advice. Tools. Empathy. Because I’d been there, in those exact places, myself. I saw myself in everyone around me and wanted to pass on what I’d learned in my [angels singing] Quest for Knowledge. That’s how this retreat came to be.
Imagine what it’s like to beat the hell out of a drum, with a room full of people who are laughing and smiling and moving so much, there is absolutely no space for criticism.
Imagine what it’s like to finally have time to go THERE. You know, to the mental places that you always push to the back of your mind for “later.”
Imagine what it’s like to be surrounded by women but feel totally safe to say what you think, or what’s been annoying you, or what makes you sad, or what your fears are.
Imagine what it’s like to have time for a nap. To have someone else cook for you, serve you, and then even clear your dishes! (Wut???)
That’s what we did. There was lots of laughing. Lots of tears (which, I’ve learned are a very good thing). Lots of eating. Resting. Discussing. Goosebumps. Oh, and lots of vodka. We talked about the voice inside our head that’s always telling us we’re not good enough. We talked about other people and why they’re so flippin’ annoying and what to do about it. We talked about stress and what it does to the body and the psyche. We came away rested, with clearer thinking, and armed with tools to approach the world with a calmer mindset. (Check out the photos on the Facebook page here.)
There were participants ranging from their 20s to their 60s. Amazing how women can help one another just by sharing their own experiences.
You guys. You are all moving a million miles an hour. I see it. You’re running here and there, working hard to take care of your kids, spouses, coworkers, and friends. You barely have time to catch your breath, much less think about YOU. Believe me, there is nothing like finally having the chance to sit down with yourself and chew over things that cause angst in your day to day life. Time for yourself shouldn’t be treated as a luxury; it is a need. It’s unfortunate that more people don’t do it more often. But that’s my current mission. To give you time, space, permission, and instruction to breathe.
If any of this resonates with you (even the vodka part), put yourself on this wait list for more info about the next retreat. No, you’re not committing to anything; just signing up for updates so you don’t miss anything. I also offer one-on-one coaching for those who don’t know where to start. You can always message me to schedule a session. When we don’t deal with our shit, it piles up and causes damage. Often, we are so very close to not suffering, but we just don’t know it. Think about whether this would be a useful weekend for you (and your loved ones). Comment, message, or e-mail with any questions you have. And remember: breathing is good. ?
Related Posts:
Well, Shit. (When You’re Dealing With the Same. Crap. Repeatedly.)
This Is What Forward Motion Looks Like