We Retreat to Remember
“There are times when we stop, we sit still. We listen and breezes from a whole other world begin to whisper”.
~James Carroll
As I was facilitating my most recent retreat experiences, I kept hearing the phrase “We Retreat to Remember”. When we retreat, in any capacity, our cells have the space to heal. We create that breathing room in our being to remember who we truly are. We have the opportunity to carve new pathways in our minds, our bodies, our hearts, and in our lives as a whole.
When we give ourselves the space for quiet and stillness, we naturally slow down and tune into that deep, intuitive voice. We transition from doing into being.
As a working single mom, I have learned that I cannot afford to wait until that opportune moment to exit my life and go on a bigger retreat. I have created what I call “retreat moments”, that give me the opportunity to remain connected to myself in midst of day-to-day life.
During my “retreat moments”, I remember the crucial nature of creating the space in life to listen, to acknowledge, to honor, and to heal.
“Retreat moments” are an opportunity to reset and remember.
Some of my favorite “retreat moments” include:
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Stepping outside, taking some breaths, and orienting myself to the natural world around me.
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Pausing for a moment while cooking dinner, putting one hand on my heart and one hand on my belly, closing my eyes and tuning into my breath.
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Taking 5 minutes and lying on the ground, coming into my breath, and feeling the connection of my body to the earth.
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20 – 30 minutes of early morning quiet meditation.
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A spontaneous yoga session of a pose or two in the middle of the woods while with my son.
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A mindful walk around the block focusing on my breath and my steps.
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A candlelit hot bath with Epsom salts and soothing essential oils.
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A long restorative yoga practice abundantly using props so that my mind can quiet, my body can soften, and my heart can unwind.
When I am consistently creating “retreat moments” in my life, I feel resourced, present, and grounded. I am a better mom, am more resourced and connected, and am able to meet life with equanimity.
“Retreat moments”alwaysencompass tuning into my breath, bringing awareness to that quiet space inside, feeling my body, and tapping into the stirrings of my heart. From there, an embodied wisdom is invited to emerge.
We must slow down to tune in.
It is truly a radical act of self-care.
It is a declaration of love to breathe into our bodies, inviting in that space to heal, grow, honor, and celebrate the fullness of living an embodied life.
There is much wisdom and potency accessible in cultivating silence and stillness. By practicing daily, in small or larger moments we strengthen that muscle which keeps us steady in the face of difficulty. We have the opportunity to enhance an unwavering belief in the truth of who we are and the rightness of our life’s path.
As we dive deeper into the winter months, may we cultivate these moments of retreat to listen and inform what is to come. May we bring consciousness into this time of darkness and allow ourselves the space to heal.