December 2025
It took me 11 years to return to a retreat house no more than 45 minutes away from my house. It’s the best deal there is…a quiet place with other quiet people, three meals, lots of trails, spaces and woods to roam.
I went back to my favorite place there – still there, much the same and much changed. I remember finding peace and strength there right before my divorce – though I didn’t know that at the time. I kept that picture up from September 2014 on my phone through those tough years.
Now that it’s just upheaval all the time, every day…I found a different form of peace and strength that I didn’t know I had staring at the stream for 30 minutes.
Though I was outside a lot, I spent an equal amount of time holed up in my room reading, journaling and stretching. I walked the labyrinth at sunset – unplanned and meaningful in a way I hadn’t anticipated.
Getting to go to this space to get myself sorted, reminded and relaxed was such a gift. As would likely surprise no woman alive, I almost backed out of it thinking I didn’t have the time or money to go. But in support of breaking the cycle, I went anyway…
Thank you for sharing this experience with me and hoping that you find some solace, peace and strength in the coming weeks.
Wishing you and those you love all the best as we finish off December.