|
Finding
Your Wisdom: Take a Retreat!
Do you fit in one
or more of these categories?
- Business
is slow. You need to find more markets, more prospects,
and more money …fast!
|
- You
are caring for elderly parents, managing all their
needs. Your
kids need more energy than you have to offer.
|
- Fast
food is a regular occurrence and you often grocery
shop or do laundry at midnight.
|
Take
a retreat!
Whether life is a
grind with your career going nowhere or you run at a fast,
results-oriented pace, a retreat offers an opportunity
to rejuvenate your energy and key into your wisdom.
Why not?
Lack of time or money
presents a strong reason to do it. The benefits of a retreat
are multiple. You can:
- gain a new perspective
on your life
-
solve problems on a subconscious level
- birth new ideas,
dreams, and strategies
-
feel deeply fed on a physically emotionally and spiritually
return energized, motivated, relaxed and inspired
Many creative people
take retreats on a regular basis. A nationally known speaker
actually books a cruise for the purpose of writing a book!
In The Dance of the Dissident Daughter, author
Sue Monk Kidd describes her own retreats as a way
of taking a spiritual journey, of finding herself and exploring
her beliefs. My friend, author Ann Tyndall, used
to hole up in a mountain cabin to write her book when the
research was finished. I know a group of women friends who
get away every year to laugh together and review life’s
challenges.
Overcome
your obstacles:
- Checking into
an expensive spa may be a retreat for some, but in my
experience, some of the best retreats were on
a shoestring.
- Ask
your senior services agency for suggestions to places
that offer short respit stays for elderly parents.
We used a wonderful place when my dad was ill. Later as
he digressed, he stayed at Hospice House for a weekend.
- Schedule your
retreat for when the kids are at camp
- Set
up a swap with another family. You keep
their kids for a few days, they’ll keep yours. Or
settle your kids into more than one home.
Determine
your objectives:
- Obviously, if
you are writing, you need a lot of time alone.
-
If you want nurturing and refueling, you might
choose a companion, such as a woman friend you enjoy or
haven’t seen in a while.
- Make sure you
have an opportunity to exercise in a way that suits you.
- Make a
list of areas you need clarity on, or situations you want
to resolve.
Choose
your location. I’ve had marvelous
retreats in a variety of places:
 |
| Mom and me on
a recent camping retreat. |
- A tent in the
mountains
-
A friend’s mountain cabin
- A seaside motel
-
My mother’s house
- A Montana lodge
- A forest
clearing (for a one day retreat)
- A music festival
in a park
Prepare
- Take a good novel
for reading, and 2 or 3 books for browsing or inspiring
your creativity. (I’ll recommend some at the end
of this article.)
-
Pack a journal and your favorite pen
- Splurge on a set
of colored pencils, water colors, or markers, white paper,
a camera and film
- Make sure
you have good walking shoes and clothes for exercise
When
you are there, explore!
One of the important activities recommended
by Julie Cameron in The Artists Way is exploring.
Exploring encourages the practice
of looking at life differently: discovering
new thinking patterns, inspecting details, experiencing
awe and delight. What a great way to jumpstart one’s
problem solving function. Exploring can take many forms:
- Nature: cave exploring,
hiking, walking on the beach, snorkling
- Arts of
a region (including music, architecture, theater)
- History (Cemeteries,
museums)
Cook for each
other
Even though I get sick and tired of cooking for
my picky family, I love to cook for woman friends
when I am relaxed. Cook as a creative expression.
Try
something new
A retreat with my
12-year-old son included playing games. Since our camping
trip had been discouraged by a weeklong rain, we
took our retreat at Grandma’s house where he taught
me to play hearts on the computer. It was fun sitting
with my son who acted as my strategy consultant. I
gained a new appreciation for how he thinks,
his offbeat sense of humor, and his sweet, affectionate
way of making me feel special.
Exercise
a lot
Make
time to ponder questions
Whether you are asking
yourself questions in a journal or sharing with a friend,
enjoy this opportunity to explore your values and
insights. Some good questions might include:
- What has been the
most fulfilling aspect of my career?
-
What has been a peak experience in my life?
- How can I help
others facing challenges like I have had?
-
What do I want to change about my current situation?
A few of my recommended
resources for a retreat:
The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron
Any book by SARK
The Woman’s Retreat Book by Jennifer Louden
The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Stone Ander
and Benjamin Zander
Living Color by Natalie Goldberg
The Womanly Art of Alligator Wrestling by Ana Tampanna
There you have it.
Now pick up your calendar, identify
two possible retreat times, and start making
it happen. You have everything to gain and very little to
lose. In addition to gaining insights, new perspectives,
and energy, the most important motivation
for taking a retreat is that you will gain a deeper relationship
with someone special: yourself! |
Known
as The Alligator Queen, Ana Tampanna coaches women to wrestle the alligators
in life and at work. Ana reinvented herself from starving artist to an
international personality featured in the LA Times, on NBC primetime,
and even Japan television. As a working mother, Ana managed her family
through multiple crises and a tragedy. Her saucy, playful style brings
laughter while her interactive presentations help people to connect from
the heart and create better life strategies. Ana is a member of the National
Speaker’s Association, and has authored three books including The
Womanly Art of Alligator Wrestling: Inspirational Stories for Outrageous
Women Who Survive by Their Wisdom and Wit. 
Legacy
Life Skills Coach