Last Sunday afternoon, I returned home from a 5-day silent meditation retreat just outside Cortez, CO. With a clear mind and an open heart, I welcomed 2012… much differently than the year before when I’d woken up on January 1st a little fuzzy and with a headache from 1-2 too many glasses of champagne the night before!
Yes, this year was a much different experience. Five days of reflecting on the year past and setting intentions for the year ahead. Hours and hours of time outdoors in nature. Time spent in sitting and walking meditation & mindfully eating meals with the 30+ others with my fellow retreatants. We gathered on December 28th at a beautiful B&B (www.kellyplace.com) in McElmo Canyon and, without words, formed a beautiful community of kindness and shared intention over the next four days.
This retreat was much different than the retreats I lead or typically go on myself. I’m an extroverted , social person and love to verbally process my experience. Yet, something deep within called me to go on this retreat. To experience the stillness and the silence that my soul was yearning for after an extremely busy holiday season and a challenging 2011.
This is the gift we give ourselves when we go on retreat: stillness, quiet time, time for reflection and to be in Nature in a way that is so incredibly delicious and unrushed. We slow down enough to notice all the small things we so often take for granted—those finches chirping and fluttering from branch to branch or the branches swaying in the breeze.
It’s the beginning of January. A new year, a blank slate, and plenty of time to plan to go on your own retreat this year. What are you waiting for? J
Retreat Coach Mindy Stern Meiering | Bridges Coaching
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I love the story of how you retreated in a different way and how this nurtured you. There are so many kinds of retreats out there and being a student of “retreating” I find it fascinating when I read a blog post like yours that testifies to the power of trying a different type of retreat with a rhythm that is not your norm. Kudos to you Mindy for being bold in the way you retreat.
Mindy,
Your post calmed me down and helped me get centered just reading it. Seems that your retreat experience has carried over into this moment. Thanks!