Mountain Retreat Experience

I spent last weekend in the mountains with old friends, and got to make some new ones. We attended workshops, meetings, practiced self-care, and played a lot.

My favorite workshop invited us to consider our artistic identities, and how we could use creative expression as a means to grow and contribute to the well-being of others.

At the meetings, I enjoyed people's openness and willingness to be honest with their heart meeting needs for authenticity, honesty and belonging, as we all are trying to find health and life alone and together.

I got to practice self-care by getting a massage, taking naps, going in the hot-tub, and waking up before dawn to watch God fade the lights on while I practiced Tai Chi.

We all played through singing, drumming and dancing together. But my favorite activity was the "Talent/No-talent" show. I was surprised at how much fun this was for me, and how much "Talent" showed up in the room - several of us commented on how the "No-talent" was missing; but I think it was more about being authentic with our play and showing up to be ourselves in front of a bunch of other people.

I signed up to read a poem I had written a few years ago called "The Well". I was telling myself that "it was too long" and feeling some anxiety around that -- as I gave myself empathy, I realized that I was wanting to contribute aliveness and flow through my poem, and I was also wanting to show mutual consideration to the other participants given that there were so many. After sharing my honesty with the MC, and with the group, I read the poem to the audience; this was the first time I had ever read this poem in front of anyone. I took my time reading it, and pausing after each phrase allowing absorption to take place. I could hear my own voice echoing in the room (I love to speak into a microphone). I got a little chocked up around the verse that described living water exposing all the gold, as my needs for meaning, contribution and beauty were stimulated. As I finished, I felt joy, support from my friends, a sense of accomplishment, and celebrated the peace that I helped to create.

At the end of the retreat, we all gathered in a circle to celebrate the joys of the weekend and mourn our return to normal life. I was moved by all of the beauty in the room. It was fun for me to harvest the heart stuff, reminding everyone that we get to take it home with us -- we had access to it any time we wanted. I felt the joy of contribution, belonging and community -- part of the gold that I uncovered this weekend.