Many people have asked me about the retreat and what it was like. I say it was amazing or enlightening but those words don't seem adequate enough. Intense, emotional, educational also can't capture the essence of the retreat. The foundation has really invested in the healing and educating of women who were taught or shown at a very early age, that life can be cruel, ugly and unfair. Everything from the house to the food to the staff is carefully selected to promote self care, health and empowerment. Nothing is pushed on anyone. If you didn't feel like attending a class, you didn't have too. If you wanted to sleep in, that was OK. The goal is to empower the survivors to make choices and live lives that may have seemed impossible before.
One of the few rules at the retreat were pictures were not allowed. Since many of the women there may not want to have people know where they are or that they were there, no one is allowed to use cameras. It's unfortunate because the house was BEAUTIFUL!! The bedrooms were big enough to sleep 6 comfortably, with 3 sets of bunk beds. Most of the classes were held either in the library or the common areas, all rooms furnished with big comfy chairs or couches. Colors were soft and comforting. Everyone is gifted a water bottle upon arrival, and there are fountains throughout the residence to stay hydrated. Everything was carefully designed for comfort, safety and healing. It was a beautiful home nestled amongst majestic mountains, hidden away from the real world.
While the house was breathtaking, it would have been meaningless without the staff, who went out of their way to attend to the needs of everyone. As I mentioned before, I was over 4 hours late in getting to the retreat and assumed that the staff would be annoyed at having to make special provisions for me but instead I was greeted kindly and warmly. The staff genuinely cared about the participants. During the week, the first question was usually, how are you today? Followed by, did you sleep OK? These were not just "making conversation" questions. They were sincere and attentive to details to make the participant as comfortable as possible. The food prepared was delicious but also nutritious. Anyone with a food allergy had a comparable substitute, prepared just as lovingly and carefully as the main dish. As a participant, I knew I could go to my case manager or therapist with a need or a request and they would take it seriously and try to assist in anyway possible. While there, I didn't have to "worry" about much, which allowed me to focus on myself. It allowed me to connect with the other participants.
Often times, sexual abuse is not something most people discuss. Whether the victim is told not to discuss with anyone else or doesn't feel comfortable discussing it, it is a secret that hides in the deep, dark recesses of our mind. At the retreat, we all knew why we were there. We may not have know the details of each story but we all had the common thread of being a survivor. Because of this, we connected on a deeper level. We were all on different parts of our healing journey but we were there together. It was a sisterhood made up of women from all different ages, backgrounds and walks of life. In these women, I saw beauty, compassion, courage and most importantly strength. The inner strength and grace that surrounded me inspired and uplifted me. To know that I am not alone in some of the ways I struggle or more normal than I may have thought, was healing for me. To know that I can continue to count on these women for support and encouragement is a blessing.
One of the few rules at the retreat were pictures were not allowed. Since many of the women there may not want to have people know where they are or that they were there, no one is allowed to use cameras. It's unfortunate because the house was BEAUTIFUL!! The bedrooms were big enough to sleep 6 comfortably, with 3 sets of bunk beds. Most of the classes were held either in the library or the common areas, all rooms furnished with big comfy chairs or couches. Colors were soft and comforting. Everyone is gifted a water bottle upon arrival, and there are fountains throughout the residence to stay hydrated. Everything was carefully designed for comfort, safety and healing. It was a beautiful home nestled amongst majestic mountains, hidden away from the real world.
While the house was breathtaking, it would have been meaningless without the staff, who went out of their way to attend to the needs of everyone. As I mentioned before, I was over 4 hours late in getting to the retreat and assumed that the staff would be annoyed at having to make special provisions for me but instead I was greeted kindly and warmly. The staff genuinely cared about the participants. During the week, the first question was usually, how are you today? Followed by, did you sleep OK? These were not just "making conversation" questions. They were sincere and attentive to details to make the participant as comfortable as possible. The food prepared was delicious but also nutritious. Anyone with a food allergy had a comparable substitute, prepared just as lovingly and carefully as the main dish. As a participant, I knew I could go to my case manager or therapist with a need or a request and they would take it seriously and try to assist in anyway possible. While there, I didn't have to "worry" about much, which allowed me to focus on myself. It allowed me to connect with the other participants.
Often times, sexual abuse is not something most people discuss. Whether the victim is told not to discuss with anyone else or doesn't feel comfortable discussing it, it is a secret that hides in the deep, dark recesses of our mind. At the retreat, we all knew why we were there. We may not have know the details of each story but we all had the common thread of being a survivor. Because of this, we connected on a deeper level. We were all on different parts of our healing journey but we were there together. It was a sisterhood made up of women from all different ages, backgrounds and walks of life. In these women, I saw beauty, compassion, courage and most importantly strength. The inner strength and grace that surrounded me inspired and uplifted me. To know that I am not alone in some of the ways I struggle or more normal than I may have thought, was healing for me. To know that I can continue to count on these women for support and encouragement is a blessing.
This was a once in a lifetime experience that I will forever be grateful to have been a part of.
As always, thank you for reading and take care.
As always, thank you for reading and take care.
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