~ March 6th ~ McKinney, Texas ~ Women only! ~

Just added: yoga with beloved local yogni Brandie Werner

After reading Jen’s books for years, I found the courage to travel on my own for the first time to attend one of her retreats. It was one of the most life-altering events of my life. I was able to gain insights into patterns that were holding me back and move forward in ways I never imagined.” Karen Leary

• Are you deeply tired?
• Do you know your life is wonderful only it’s like you’re watching it through a very smudged window?
• Do you wish you had a magic pause button–a way to step out of life and catch your breath?
• Are you a bit frayed from trying to do all that you want to?
• Are you hungry for lightness, play, and even (gasp!) fun?

You’ve heard it a thousand times: self-nurturing helps you handle the challenges of life. You’ll be more patient, more creative, a better boss/parent/friend.

You know what I say? Blah blah blah.

Here’s the truth: being kind to yourself feels better than being mean to yourself.

Being mean to yourself keeps you stuck. It exhausts you. It does not motivate you – that’s a lie.

Being mean to yourself and constantly pushing yourself creates one thing and one thing only:

a depleted unhappy you who can neither enjoy the life you’ve been given nor express your gifts, gifts that the world desperately needs.

Being mean to yourself shapes a brain that is afraid to do much of anything but stay busy and hide from life.

Being kind to yourself – in all the ways you will learn at this retreat – is the best way to remember this is the only life you get.

And it’s yours to live, and savor and shape, the way you want.

It’s also the best way to get into action and start creating more of what you want.

When I learned about Jennifer’s one-day retreat, I instantly sensed that it was just what I was looking for (even though I didn’t know I was looking for anything!). I left the retreat feeling deeply nurtured and I carry that rejuvenation with me today as I start up my new business.”  Janine Rood, www.marketingaccelerant.com

Being kind to yourself is the best way to remember this is the only life you get. And it’s yours to live, and savor, the way you want to right now.

• Yes, this delicious fun creative mini-retreat will renew you.
• Yes, you’ll learn easy ways to keep your head from exploding.
• Yes, you’ll gain fresh perspective on stuck places.
• You’ll most certainly you’ll laugh, be in the creative flow, and know that you are not the only one struggling with your challenges.
• All really good and useful, and yet not really the point.

The point is – this is your life.

Do you want to enjoy it or do you want to hustle through it, muttering “When the bathroom is remodeled, when Henry retires, when Sara starts 1st grade, when I finish the project at work, then I will…”

You are the only one who gets to decide.

You don’t have to be a victim of the feverish, frenetic pace of life.

You don’t have to be a victim of your fears and what ifs.

You don’t have to sacrifice your vitality, your imagination and your health to keep up a pace that isn’t sustainable for you.

You don’t have to live five miles ahead of yourself and miss the entire wacky, gorgeous trip.

There is another way.

Lots of other ways.

I want you to experience some of the “other ways” in our one-day mini-retreat.

I want you to experience self-kindness in your bones and in your heart. To dance it alive through your whole body.

I reaped so many rewards from the time on retreat with you and am so grateful that you shared your wisdom, perspective, and understanding with us. It was truly wonderful.” Joanne Meriwether

Okay, you might be saying, I buy that but what will we actually do? This sounds a little touchy feeling and even scary.

Here’s a general flow – things always change as the day unfolds.

You’ll learn 7 ways to be kind to yourself.

We’ll break into small groups and do a tad of talking – not therapy, not advice giving (never that!) but rather naming what’s up for us in our lives.

You’ll journal using powerful questions to name what you want and what gets in your way.

You’ll experience deep rest in a visualization.

You’ll choose images from a big luscious pile (I won’t tell you why – some things need to be a surprise).

You’ll laugh and reflect.

You’ll savor your lunch and eat chocolate (or fruit) mindfully as we talk about how to use delight to shape our brains.

We’ll talk about choice and how being in choice helps our brains to deal with stress. We’ll learn how to use our bodies to choose our lives.

You’ll play in messy fun ways to deepen what you learned so far.

You’ll get some yoga loving (easy, restorative stuff) with beloved yoga teacher Brandie Werner.

You’ll explore your strengths and use collage to see them more clearly.

You’ll wake up with laughter yoga and other play.

You’ll talk about what could get in your way going forward and acknowledge ways to stay awake.

You’ll weave all the learning together to come up with simple things you can do to live with more joy and energy.

You’ll leave feeling rested, centered, filled up and hopeful – plus liking yourself a whole heck of a lot.

Take a day to step outside the rushing stream of your life. Fill it with collaging, journaling, talking, laughter yoga, swooshing and swaying, giggling and creating. Simmer yourself in miracles and the unfolding grace of life directly experienced.

Plus, it’ll be fun!

“This afternoon was so so so amazing and I am processing so many lovely insights and understandings… I loved every second of it and the material is terrific. It was brilliant.” Havi Brooks, www.fluentself.com

FEAR!!! This is important.

I get pretty terrified whenever I sign up for one of these creative fuzzy-wuzzy kind of spiritual retreat things.

Whenever I think about plunking my money and precious time down, I’m sure I A) either won’t get what I need (and that feels even more true when I’ve gone too long without a retreat and am desperate) or B) will be the only one who doesn’t fit in. The only one with a big laugh and who needs to get her chair just right and doesn’t like to sit for very long and gets bored easily and….

Are you having thoughts like that?

You will not be the only one. I know because I will be there!

And email me those questions jen at jenniferlouden dot com.

“The retreat changed my life. The retreat helped me create that lasting change inside of myself – I found me! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.” Jenn Givler

What if I pay and later find I can’t come?

Why would you do that?

I know, life gets in the way. So I will refund $75 if you have to cancel UNTIL February 6th and then no refund unless I can fill your spot. In which case I will gladly refund the $75. Well, not gladly, rather sadly.

Box lunch, light snacks and water will be served. Please bring your own water bottle. If you have a certain tea you like, bring it and a comfy mug, too.

And chocolate, of course!

“That sweet voice of yours that says “Yes, this is what I really want” is a voice you should follow. Despite any excuses you could come up with or reasons why you feel you can’t or shouldn’t go, take a deep breath, listen to your heart and go. I’ve attended three of Jennifer’s retreats and she provides me with inspiration and wisdom just when I need it most. You don’t need to think about it any longer. Just go.” Lisa Evans, www.beachdance.com

Once you register, we will send you a what-to-bring email plus directions.

Please feel free to email me with any questions jen at jenniferlouden dot com

If you wish to pay by check, please reserve your spot FIRST with Deb at jenniferlouden dot com FIRST (address spelled out to thwart nasty spam bots) and only then send a check to P.O. Box 10065, Bainbridge Island, WA. 98110. We will hold your spot for five days. No international checks please.

With love,