Re-filled.

I just returned from 6.5 glorious days at Drala Mountain Center in Colorado. My meditation teacher hosts the “Quiet Mind, Open Heart” retreat there every year. Last year it occurred right after my cancer diagnosis and couldn’t have been better timed. It allowed me to make the space I needed in order to make it through that journey. This year, despite losing my job, I registered and bought the flights knowing it would be good for me. Thank goodness I did.

With the second surgery looming ahead and trying to juggle so many moving pieces, I don’t think I realized just how empty my cup truly was. The beauty of the land, the connections with the other incredible retreatants, and the presence of being in practice was completely restorative. I was given the opportunity to slow down, which I don’t get or give myself very often.

I napped, read, did restorative yoga, had deep conversations, journaled, meditated, and even wrote a poem (who am I?!) I’ll tell you, if you have the ability and can gift yourself the space to cut off from reality, I highly recommend it. It was truly life-changing.

I learned so much. About my body, my mean-brain and it’s goal of protecting me, and about myself in general. Leaving there was hard, but I am also committed to ‘extending my retreat boundary’ to normal life, Getting quiet is such an important part of my day, but it’s ebbed and flowed in length through the last few months and now I’m re-committed to give myself that time.

I also received a lot of amazing feedback from others that really helped me realize that I AM a pretty good person. I try hard, but never really felt it inside. With encouragement from my teacher, my new mantra is “I have enough, I do enough, I know enough, I am enough.” It may sound silly, and it’s vulnerable to share this, but I think a lot of us could use this lesson.

We saw a double rainbow the first night and I got up at 4 in the morning to do a hike to the top of one of the rock out croppings to see the sunrise. It was incredible.

I was told that the world still needs me, which brought me to tears, and yet I’m trying to absorb that sentiment into my heart. It’s time to radiate fully!

With that, I’m ready to take on more coaching clients again! I love watching the transformations that can happen when people have a mirror for themselves, so if you know of anyone who is just feeling ‘stuck’ or ‘like there’s something else,’ please send them my way!