ALL THE PAUSES, ALL THE GRATITUDES

It is a gift to be able to pull back from life and travel to another country on retreat. A dream that came true for myself and daughter as we carved out this special time with one another, practicing yoga, meditating, journaling, hiking, swimming and just being in a safe space that allowed us to appreciate life in a way that I cannot describe with words.  Withdrawing from our devices proved to be a powerful healing tool with limited communication from the outside world. We lived simply but witnessed the amazing landscape within and outside.  It is a memory that will be etched in our minds forever.

We decelerated, slowed down in our new location with new teachers and new friends. It was a time to listen, learn, recover and remember who we are. So many are striving to overcome difficulty, loss and trauma from the past few years. Our new destination would help us to recover and renew our sense of hope and faith for the future. Learning to breathe together in community with lots of laughs and moments of joy. So many present moments of awe and delight. Grateful and blessed to share these moments together.

As you withdraw from your everyday life you update and practice new routines. You return to your true self without the labels and titles. You learn new tricks and become inspired. When you are inspired you breathe new life into your old life. Creativity begins to swell from deep inside. My deepest wish is to bring this inspiration back home. If I could share one thing, it is we have everything we need right here at home. Home is where our hearts are and I love coming back to Rockaway where we are a strong, supportive, loving community. There are places all over the world just like Rockaway.

One day while traveling, a young woman from the Czech Republic asked my daughter, “why do you come to Europe when in American you are living the dream. We laughed and said, we do not have what you have here and yes while America was once the place people came for a better life, things have changed and we too are struggling like the rest of the world. It made us pause and think how blessed we are to live in the United States of America. Only when you leave do you know how lucky you are to be American. Land of the free and home of the brave.

There is much disconnection in our country and world. We need to bring back democracy and safety. We cannot live in a world with violence and disregard for life. We must fight to bring back the American Dream.

November 11th, Veterans Day, we honor and remember all the men and women who have fought to keep us safe and free. Jen Kelleher and I will host a half day retreat at the Rockaway Hotel on November 11th from 11-3pm. There is limited space so sign up early if you would like a day of healing, restoring and reflecting for your self-care. We remain in service to this special community. All are welcomed.

May you remember, may you find ease of living and may you be healthy and whole.