Comments on: The BIG RETREAT Contest – How Much do *You* Need A Retreat? http://www.comfortqueen.com/contest Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:39:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Pre-Launch Lessons Learned: Q&A With Jen Louden http://www.comfortqueen.com/contest/comment-page-3#comment-4218 Pre-Launch Lessons Learned: Q&A With Jen Louden Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:58:09 +0000 http://www.comfortqueen.com/?p=3049#comment-4218 [...] I’m really loving – although it is breaking my heart to read the entries – is a Why I Need a Retreat Contest. People can win a free seat at the retreat or a iPod Nano with this year and last year’s [...] [...] I’m really loving – although it is breaking my heart to read the entries – is a Why I Need a Retreat Contest. People can win a free seat at the retreat or a iPod Nano with this year and last year’s [...]

]]> By: Virtual and Mini-Retreat Winners » Comfort Queen http://www.comfortqueen.com/contest/comment-page-3#comment-4172 Virtual and Mini-Retreat Winners » Comfort Queen Wed, 27 Jan 2010 07:02:57 +0000 http://www.comfortqueen.com/?p=3049#comment-4172 [...] Wowza – retreats are needed - that’s what I got from your responses to my Big Virtual Retreat Contest. [...] [...] Wowza – retreats are needed – that’s what I got from your responses to my Big Virtual Retreat Contest. [...]

]]> By: Maria http://www.comfortqueen.com/contest/comment-page-3#comment-4140 Maria Sat, 23 Jan 2010 02:31:28 +0000 http://www.comfortqueen.com/?p=3049#comment-4140 Jen, You’ve sent out multiple invitations for the Virtual retreat and multiple opportunities to enter. With the first invitation I got excited about the opportunity, but didn’t follow through immediately- so much else shouting for my attention, so many “to dos”, and “shoulds”. So I missed a first opportunity, then another. Then I put it on my calendar to respond to the contest, because I know it is important. Just last year I went back to work full time. Working part time, I was fairly able to balance family and work and having some nurturing, retreat type practices in a part of my day/week. I believe that part of the reason I was hired for my current position was because I was grounded, and full of creativity and enthusiasm. Fast forward to now, so why is it the 11th hour (almost literally) that I am trying to meet the contest deadline. Perhaps that unspoken fear, that lizard mind, that doubting that says I can’t afford to take time to retreat, there’s not the money. . . So if apply to the contest late, and don’t win, then that just “confirms “ those voices. Actually, I really didn’t want to wait until the 11th hour, I had it on my calendar to do yesterday and today but I think the Universe needed to hit smack in the face with the fact that I do need a retreat. In less than 12 hours I will be working with a team to facilitate a retreat (thank God I’m working with a team)! But I’ve been feeling drained lately- feeling like I’m doing so much “busy work”, still trying to navigate the transition to working fulltime, trying to be supermom, trying to do more, push through the next thing . . .and then I’ll rest, then I’ll retreat. So today, it was a string of events that just began to scream to me YOU NEED a RETREAT!! I had a coworker question why I wasn’t at work first thing this AM (even though I’d be working all day tomorrow), the computer repair place called to tell me our family computer was blue screening (and they’d do their best to recover our data), then one of session leaders had a family emergency (and may or may not be able to lead their session). (This all happened before noon). In the afternoon we had a registered retreatant cancel, my cell phone stopped working, and I forgot to call school to have my son come on the bus instead of going to afterschool care. When I arrived home the puppy had torn apart his dog bed, and my husband was calling home asking me why I wasn’t answering my cell phone. Someone during the day told me I looked horrible. Is it any wonder? I guess today was my version of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day. I don’t have a video camera, otherwise I suppose my drained face would speak volumes (and I suppose I already have written volumes). So even if you don’t choose my entry, today hit me over the head with the fact that even if I don’t feel “worthy”, there may not be the time or the money to retreat the way I would want as a first choice (i.e- a total getaway); I NEED A RETREAT. Thanks for giving people the opportunity to retreat virtually. Sincerely, Maria Jen,
You’ve sent out multiple invitations for the Virtual retreat and multiple opportunities to enter. With the first invitation I got excited about the opportunity, but didn’t follow through immediately- so much else shouting for my attention, so many “to dos”, and “shoulds”.
So I missed a first opportunity, then another. Then I put it on my calendar to respond to the contest, because I know it is important. Just last year I went back to work full time. Working part time, I was fairly able to balance family and work and having some nurturing, retreat type practices in a part of my day/week. I believe that part of the reason I was hired for my current position was because I was grounded, and full of creativity and enthusiasm.
Fast forward to now, so why is it the 11th hour (almost literally) that I am trying to meet the contest deadline. Perhaps that unspoken fear, that lizard mind, that doubting that says I can’t afford to take time to retreat, there’s not the money. . . So if apply to the contest late, and don’t win, then that just “confirms “ those voices.
Actually, I really didn’t want to wait until the 11th hour, I had it on my calendar to do yesterday and today but I think the Universe needed to hit smack in the face with the fact that I do need a retreat. In less than 12 hours I will be working with a team to facilitate a retreat (thank God I’m working with a team)! But I’ve been feeling drained lately- feeling like I’m doing so much “busy work”, still trying to navigate the transition to working fulltime, trying to be supermom, trying to do more, push through the next thing . . .and then I’ll rest, then I’ll retreat. So today, it was a string of events that just began to scream to me YOU NEED a RETREAT!!
I had a coworker question why I wasn’t at work first thing this AM (even though I’d be working all day tomorrow), the computer repair place called to tell me our family computer was blue screening (and they’d do their best to recover our data), then one of session leaders had a family emergency (and may or may not be able to lead their session). (This all happened before noon). In the afternoon we had a registered retreatant cancel, my cell phone stopped working, and I forgot to call school to have my son come on the bus instead of going to afterschool care. When I arrived home the puppy had torn apart his dog bed, and my husband was calling home asking me why I wasn’t answering my cell phone. Someone during the day told me I looked horrible. Is it any wonder? I guess today was my version of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day.
I don’t have a video camera, otherwise I suppose my drained face would speak volumes (and I suppose I already have written volumes). So even if you don’t choose my entry, today hit me over the head with the fact that even if I don’t feel “worthy”, there may not be the time or the money to retreat the way I would want as a first choice (i.e- a total getaway); I NEED A RETREAT. Thanks for giving people the opportunity to retreat virtually.
Sincerely,
Maria

]]> By: Clara http://www.comfortqueen.com/contest/comment-page-3#comment-4138 Clara Fri, 22 Jan 2010 23:23:59 +0000 http://www.comfortqueen.com/?p=3049#comment-4138 Hi Jen, I hope I'm not too late. The e-mail said the deadline was January 21, but then I saw at the top of this page it says January 22, so maybe...? I would love a retreat. I realized lately I haven't been making enough room around things. The clues? Easy things to do still waiting to be done a week later (like entering contests!). Guilt and resentment showing up more often. Getting distracted easily. When this happens, I know I need to slow down and listen, and get honest about what I've been doing and what I haven't been doing. A retreat could only be good! Thank you! Hi Jen, I hope I’m not too late. The e-mail said the deadline was January 21, but then I saw at the top of this page it says January 22, so maybe…?

I would love a retreat. I realized lately I haven’t been making enough room around things. The clues? Easy things to do still waiting to be done a week later (like entering contests!). Guilt and resentment showing up more often. Getting distracted easily.

When this happens, I know I need to slow down and listen, and get honest about what I’ve been doing and what I haven’t been doing.

A retreat could only be good! Thank you!

]]> By: Chris http://www.comfortqueen.com/contest/comment-page-3#comment-4134 Chris Fri, 22 Jan 2010 04:50:30 +0000 http://www.comfortqueen.com/?p=3049#comment-4134 Leaving your baby after maternity leave comes to a crashing end is just jolting to the system. A heartache that trumps all prior ones. I already miss the days I haven't lost. I figured it would be easier this time around since I did it 3 years ago with my daughter. But now I have her asking why I have to work "EVERY day" (with a sour look on her face...). And I tell her I do it for her. To pay for our home... to pay for our food. It's a financial necessity. I've been back for only 8 days and already feel depleted. My body aches from the stress... it aches from the fast pace... it aches from the interrupted sleep...it aches from caring my breastpump and laptop on either shoulder... but mainly it aches from the longing to see my little son's smiles during the day. Everyone says "he'll be loved, he'll be fine." And I know that. But will I? Leaving your baby after maternity leave comes to a crashing end is just jolting to the system. A heartache that trumps all prior ones. I already miss the days I haven’t lost. I figured it would be easier this time around since I did it 3 years ago with my daughter. But now I have her asking why I have to work “EVERY day” (with a sour look on her face…). And I tell her I do it for her. To pay for our home… to pay for our food. It’s a financial necessity. I’ve been back for only 8 days and already feel depleted. My body aches from the stress… it aches from the fast pace… it aches from the interrupted sleep…it aches from caring my breastpump and laptop on either shoulder… but mainly it aches from the longing to see my little son’s smiles during the day. Everyone says “he’ll be loved, he’ll be fine.” And I know that. But will I?

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