I received an email recently about from a wonderful woman who was afraid of attending one of my retreats: "…the retreats always peak my interest but I am too scared to sign up. I envision all these creative women getting together and bringing and expressing all their wonderful ideas and I will be sitting there looking stupid. I have lots of creativeness running through me but can’t seem to express it for some reason."
I have lots of intellectual and nurturing replies for those fears but then I thought, perhaps the best way to tell women that these are really, really safe and renewing experiences is with a picture of me leading a retreat:
Of course, when you realize that you will have to look at me in my pj’s and boots, you may think twice but that is a whole heck of a better reason than thinking you are not so utterly and completely wanted, needed, and welcomed. And hey, these are not fashion retreats!
2 responses so far ↓
1 keri Smith Feb 15, 2006
I love that photo! it sums it all up perfectly. just let it all hang out.
to the person who wrote I would like to say, when you start a retreat everyone has insecurities that come to the surface. (am I doing this exercise right, so and so is better than I am, more creative, prettier, etc.) I think that is a part of it. It is important to look at why we feel the need to continually compare ourselves to others, and get in touch with those feelings.
on a recent retreat I realized that during a creative activity, I was constantly looking at what other people were doing and comparing. It was important for me to be conscious of this and look at that tendency in myself.
I think sometimes we have an expectation that a retreat is supposed to be all about inspired moments, but the good stuff comes from the places you least expect (and the really scary stuff). There was an aha moment when one of the girls spilled some water on someone’s artwork (in progress). It forced the artist (a self proclaimed “controller”), to let go and look at her tendency to want to control the work.
I admit that going into that retreat I was really nervous about what others would think of me.
it all fell away in the end.
2 Bobute Feb 16, 2006
Namaste
I would like to say, attending a retreat in January of this year, saved my life!
Strong words I know, but oh so true. I lost my only son, January 19th, 2005.
After the holidays I wanted to die! Again, strong words. I am 71, live in south La, the land of Katerina. Everything was impossible to find my way out of.
My grief counselor suggested a retreat just before the anniversary of my son’s death.
That retreat changed my life, gave mE hope, renewed my reasons for being.
It was for my son and I. Others were healing from Katrina. We were all grieving in different ways.
I am going again in March on a silent retreat. Still on a mission of finding self, I do not want to lose her again.
I would say to anyone, go for you. Search, seek, and find among like minds. Whats to lose?
Blessings Bobute