Since I have been a therapist now for 20 years, I can’t help that I see people’s pain and trauma.  It’s so much more difficult to hide as you age.  That means, the sooner we just tackle it all, the easier each tackle becomes.  The less intimidating it becomes.  I can see it in their habits,  posture, and perspective.

Things like our health, managing stress, overcoming our issues, enjoying life, and having happier relationships. It’s all part of our overall well-being, success, and performance.

But I saw her as I stood in a long line for wine tasting. I was there by myself for much needed alone time. I myself, needed time to process, heal, and work through my current pain. Read More Here on Being Healthier and Happier.

She was elderly.  Hair was colored and thinning.  Makeup beautifully done and intentional.  However, my attention went back to her posture, her neck, and her emotions that seemed stuck in her neck and traps.

She stood out to me. I wondered her story behind her pain.  She didn’t need to tell me she was in pain, I could see it.

I wondered what she held.

Wanting and desperately needing time to myself, I still asked myself if I should join her to listen.  That maybe voicing her pain or seeing someone who cared, could help diffuse the manifestations in her neck.

Besides, she was alone, too.

At least, I thought.

THE STORY DOESN’T END THERE

I was about to order my glass of wine, and that’s when I saw an older gentleman. He left the bar with a chilled bottle of champagne in a silver bucket, and two glasses.  His fragile frame shuffled his feet through the outdoor patio to meet her.

It was a precious moment that I felt like I wasn’t supposed to see.

He concentrated on every single shuffle to get closer to her and her eyes absolutely lit up to see him.

It was then my own eyes filled with tears and I didn’t even get to drink my wine yet.

YOUR STORY ISN’T OVER

I didn’t know their story and we don’t know all of ours either.

That’s part of the beauty, yet part of the pain.

Especially in a time like this, where many of us are in difficult and uncertain times and place. Many of us are holding in our own necks and traps.  Transferring into our health, well-being, relationships, and success… or lack of.

We see our pain, we feel it, and we wonder what the rest of our story is.  We wonder what the next step is.

DON’T LOSE FAITH

We wonder where God is in the midst of this.  We wonder when our eyes will light up again, when our hearts will stir with passion and purpose.

Sometime’s God shows you when you take precious moments to be present. It’s not about being busy all the time because that’s where you miss the best moments.

In fact, this was only a few weeks after I lost my third baby in a year.

I wanted alone time.  Time to process and time to heal.  Not sure how long that will take, but I had this weekend to work with.  That’s why this time was a retreat for me and became so much more.

WHY YOU NEED A RETREAT NOW MORE THAN EVER

Your retreat doesn’t have to be some extensive vacation.  You can do what I did, and find a nearby destination.  Find something easy and make it happen. Get there and completely unplug, be renewed, and get a fresh perspective.

I drove north for two hours until I got to a lighthouse, sat on a rock, and listened to waves. I unplugged from technology so I could be present, went wine tasting completely by myself, listened to live music, and wrote this story in my journal while tears fell on the page.  Exactly what I needed. Even the tears.

I needed a retreat.  We all do.

Retreats are needed on a regular basis for your overall well-being, success, and performance.

It’s part of your story… a better, deeper, and fuller one.

You do NOT want to wear stress, pain, and trauma not dealt with. As a therapist I see it all the time. The mental and emotional weight will pull down your physical body. If you don’t get renewed on a regular basis, you won’t be able to hide that anymore.  It will take you further away from well-being, success, and performing higher in your life.  So the sooner you can have a little (or a big) retreat for yourself, do it.  Your future self will thank you for it!

HOW TO FIND RETREATS

Look for local interests near you or join me for future events.  From outdoor activities, spas, silent retreats in monasteries, focus group retreats (some for men, women, couples, special interest), wellness parties, fitness retreats, to wine tasting for a few ideas. Check out this article for ideas:  How to Take a Break When You Can’t Travel Far.

Make it part of your lifestyle of being renewed because how you spend your life is how you spend a day.  So make renewal part of your daily habits and don’t wait for when stress, pain, trauma, and whatever issues hold you back and suppress you.  Move forward, don’t be held down.

Be brave and face it. Heal from it. Don’t let it dwell in your mind or your body. Become more successful, healthier, and happier because you do this regularly. It will become easier and easier and more rewarding the more you do.  Read Three Things You Need for a Happier and Healthier You for more ideas.

PLEASE SHARE

Thank you for reading my post.  I hope you felt inspired or empowered in some way.  If you were, please share this.

SUBSCRIBE BELOW

Sign up for my newsletter to not miss updates, future events and retreats!