it's a lot like this...

Frog Creek Lodge front porch . Feast Retreat (photo by Sasha Clements)

When I return from hosting one of my Be Present Retreats, I always struggle with how to talk about it here in this space. Capturing the truly life-changing moments with words escapes me. I seldom take photos because I am too busy with other pieces of the experience.

Feast was one of those retreats where I repeatedly found myself whispering silently, "I am home" as I moved from one moment to the next. I felt firmly rooted in knowing I am doing what I am supposed to be doing, and deeply called to circle with women more often.

On that final Sunday, just as we finished unloading the car back at my house, an email from my friend Sasha arrived. She was one of the first to leave the lodge that morning and during her time alone traveling home, she wrote a poem that captured Feast. 

I stood in my studio reading these words with tears in my eyes so grateful to be on this path.

***

Tiny nature altar . Feast Retreat (photo by Sasha Clements)

I carry

In a basket woven of chartreuse moss,
Stitched together with needles of pine,
Bound with multicolored scarves and scraps of lace from women before,
Strengthened with reeds smoothed flat by rocks of vulnerability,
Infused with scents of rose petals and patchouli…

I carry

Doubt,
Love,
Strength,
Confidence,
Fear,
Stories,
Courage,
Friendship,
Connection.

I carry
The glittery bits that spill out of the cracks
Of souls and hearts and minds,
Wet with tears and echoing laughter.

I carry
A white cup cushioned by a mothers gentle hand,
A white bowl still perfectly warm from the feast of nurturing kindness.

I carry
Circles of fabric and dreams,
Circles of pencil and paint,
Circles from the sea,
Circles of flickering light,
Circles of memory.

I carry it all
In the basket by my side,
In the pockets of my soul,
On the bookshelf of my mind,
In the space around my heart.

I carry
A filled up basket
Forward with me to the next journey.
Fortified,
Ready,
Open.

I carry
All I have gathered,
All I need,
To save myself again.

- Sasha Clements

About Sasha: I am... a free-spirited wild child, tethered to the responsibilities of the real world, walking a tightrope of compromise, and searching for a sweet blend of dreams and reality.

I work a full time as a communications and project coordinator for an electric cooperative in Indiana. After 30+ years, I’m still in love with my high school sweetheart. I’m a mom to a grown son and a “G” (grandma) to a 4-year-old superhero in training. When my alter ego demands creative play, I dabble in writing, photography, food, clay, yarn, and paint.

I believe the recipe for “retreat magic” includes a lovely combination of wise and generous teachers, like-minded souls circled together, and the invitation to share the truth of your story in a safe space. I crave the nourishment this magic gives - it’s why I attend retreats.

Connect with Sasha at her blog.

***

And today, I'm so excited to announce that a sneak peek of the Fall Retreat, Story Excavation, is up over at the Be Present Retreats site.

Registration goes live on Wednesday, May 1 at 8 AM PST.

If you feel called to join Jen Lee, Kelly Barton, Sasha, and me on the Oregon Coast this September, please be aware that the summer retreat sold out in less than 24 hours. We don't want you to miss your spot!

Learn all the juicy details here.

yarn goodness (a guest post from my mom)

When this cowl meets wrap started showing up in my Instagram feed, I began to get notes and emails from the knitters among you asking for more details. As I've mentioned, my mom has taken up knitting after about a 30 year break, and I'm lucky to be on the receiving end of many of her current projects. 

I've been wanting a wrap like this one for a long time. I pinned several possibilities from Etsy shops and tried to crochet one for myself (which is sitting unfinished in the yarn project basket hiding behind my couch as I type this). When my mom found a pattern that she thought she could adapt for this kind of look, I said a big "YES!" And now I'm hoping she'll make me two or three more.

I asked her to share some more details about the pattern and yarn for those of you who knit (keep in mind she mentions making it a bit bigger for me because I wanted to truly wear it as a wrap and I'm curvy). In her note below, she also mentions where she bought those little flower pins I've been wearing with my headbands (shown in this post).

Dear Liz,

Here is the information your knitting friends would need to create the knitted shoulder wrap I made you:

The wrap is based on the Ella Textured Cowl designed by Rosemary Drysdale, a free pattern from Tahki Stacy Charles, Inc.  I simply increased the size in width (in three stitch increments to keep the pattern) and length and used an 8 needle (rather than the 7 in the pattern to increase the stretch). This wrap (cowl) is not knitted in the round - it is seamed once the desired length is reached. For your shoulder wrap I added the three inches in length (again stopping at an appropriate place to keep the pattern) so it would comfortably reach around your shoulders.

I used Tahki yarn: Savoy, in the cinnamon color which is color 17. This is an Italian yarn with a great 'feel' when knitting as it is 52% silk and 48% Merino wool. After seeing a completed cowl done in red Savoy at Nan's Needleworks (in Horseshoe Bay, Texas), I purchased the Savoy yarn there and received the pattern at the same time. 

Additionally you have asked about the flower pins you've been wearing with your headbands. I purchased the alpaca flower pins and Ellie's hand embroidered alpaca poncho at Rainbow's End Alpacas in Norway, Michigan. All of these items were handmade in Peru of Peruvian Alpaca. 

 

I hope this answers the questions.

 

Love,

Mom 

*****

a note about the photo at the top of this post :: It is pretty intense for a self-portrait photographer to let someone else take her photo. But in this case, I wanted a quick photo of me that showed another angle of this wrap without needing to set up a timer and other things. So I asked Jon to take a photo with my iphone. At this point he knows I want the camera to be slightly higher than my eyes (because it is a more flattering angle for me as it usually is for curvy girls). And then, instead of bracing for a photo I knew I wouldn't like, I tried to just look at the camera with love. For him. For me. Try this the next time someone is about to take your photo. Look with love. (And it is also totally okay to say, "Hey, can you raise your camera a bit?" Say what you need because it is a photo of you afterall.)

why retreat (with erica)

Today, I am sharing another post in a series of guest posts from a few of the ladies who have attended my retreats over the last few years. My hope is that these posts will give you a glimpse into the Be Present Retreats and invite you to realize the importance of taking time away from your daily life to recharge, connect with your kindreds, and rekindle your creativity.

As I am in the midst of re-entry from the Unearth Retreat this week, I am so happy to welcome these words from kindred spirit Erica about her experience of retreating earlier this year. Thank you Erica for sharing your open heart and beautiful words. 

***

why retreat?

because sometimes we lose ourselves amidst the hay-day of life. sometimes we realize, we need to take a moment, or a few hours, maybe even days, for ourselves. so we can reconnect with our true inner- self. i realized the need for this moment last year as i browsed through my new magazine to which i so joyfully and unexpectedly found at our local stationary store.

i truly believe the best things come to you when you least expect them, but need them most. this was the case when i was instantly drawn to the cover of mingle magazine. it was as though i secretly knew there was something unique awaiting my discovery. it was whispering my name. i recall saying "this magazine has my name written all over it".

i recall the evening like it was yesterday, when i flipped to the double page spread that said "BE PRESENT RETREATS: Community and Creativity" followed by "Once you get here you won't have to worry about anything" these two phrases could not have appeared at a more perfect moment in my life. community and creativity? yes. not have to worry about anything? book my ticket!

this all surfaced in front of my tired eyes at a time when I was feeling lost from myself. overworked, overwhelmed and out of touch with what truly makes me, me. as i read on, i felt the pull inside of me. i shed a few tears as i knew i had just discovered something so rich, so inexplicably meant to be. i knew i needed to go. with the support of my loving husband a few weeks later, i finally booked my ticket. i was going to seattle. to retreat. to be at peace with myself. to look inward. to cultivate, uproot and reroot myself.

 

i assummed, based on the fabulous article in mingle there would be a lot of time to heal, nourish, rest and rejuvenate. that much i knew would be true. what i hadn't realized amidst all my pre-retreat jitters (and believe me....there were many!), was just how much it would all resonate with me. stick with me. guide me. lighten me. capture me. envelope me. balance me. it did all that and so much more, too.  

it got me out of my head and into my heart. it connected me, spiritually with myself, the universe and beyond. it helped me remember who i really am. it helped me recognize there ARE people like me, with passions like me, in this world. i am not alone. there are souls out there who love writing, all things vintage, getting messy with paint and being at one with nature and your camera. yes! this retreat allowed me the time and space to accept myself for who i am. it provided the opportunity to invite myself to be me.

this poem best sums up reasons why kindred spirits such as those i met on this fabulous retreat should retreat. 

i rested
i thought
i created works of art with my hands 
with color
with love
with ambition 

i wrote poetry
it poured out of me as if my heart were a volcano
juicy, molten poetry lava is what i released 

i ate 
deliciously, yummy food. 
got back to my roots.  

i met beautiful women
with open hearts
wanting what we all want in life
to love and be loved
like and be liked
be happy and bring forth happiness  

i explored the beautiful woods of frog creek lodge
i gazed at the mossy green trees
alive like fire
green fire 

i captured moments with my camera
i relished in my time with nature 

i listened to the rain
again and....
again

a beautiful place in a beautiful world

i let myself be me
without judgement
i worked hard to let go of the powerful critic within   

i accpeted the present 
i released the past 
i embraced the future 

i looked inward
seeked the quiet inside my mind 
i was present
present with me

erica lives in the beautiful annapolis valley of nova scotia, canada with her phenomenal husband and two cuddly fur-babies. she describes herself as an eclectique woman and lover of the sand and sea. you can peek inside her world  at www.femmeclectique.blogspot.com where she blogs, not as much as she wishes, as she is currently completing a masters degree in counseling and completing her yoga teacher training, along with working as an elementary school teacher full-time. she looks forward to less busy days and is patiently awaiting the completion of her garage-turned-studio makeover where she plans to "retreat" so she can: sing. play the piano. paint. write. sew. do yoga. sit fireside. read delicious books. seek the necessary quiet inside her mind. she plans to continue to nourish her soul and express herself the way retreating so gently reminded her that she deserves. 

nine {with hannah marcotti}

The Nine is an interview series with creative folks that began on my blog, Be Present, Be Here, in the Spring of 2009; the interviewees are asked to respond to nine questions in photographs (or video). All the interviews can be found here.

Today, I am welcoming Hannah Marcotti to my corner. Hannah's Instagram photos are so often favorites of mine (I heart Instagram) and if you aren't already signed up for her newsletter, you are missing out on beautiful words delivered to your inbox each week. She deeply inspires me with the way she looks at the world, the honest ways she shares her truth, and how she invites others to be themselves through her bravery and her stories. 

Enjoy these slices of Hannah's world as she answers the Nine questions.

***

Question 1: Who are you?

Question 2: In this moment, where are you?

Question 3: What are the textures of your corner of the world?

Question 4: If you had an hour alone to just play, what would you do?

Question 5: How do you seek joy?

Question 6: What nourishes you?

Question 7: When you need to simply take a breath and ground yourself, what do you do?

Question 8: How do you nurture your creative dreams?

Question 9: Does your heart have a secret wish you want to share?

***

Hannah Marcotti is a quietly impassioned motivator who serves as guide to your gorgeous life and business of the heart.

She is a highly sensitive mama who wishes to help you dream and seek out the truth of your purpose and help you celebrate life. She is often found tattooing joy on the spirits of those in her community.

Connect with her at her website.

(all photos copyright Hanna Marcotti)

an interview with catherine odell

Stella Finding Balance . print available here

Today, I am thrilled to share an interview with artist and musician Catherine Odell. I love the way Cat looks at the world and how she is inviting us to come along with her on an adventure with her current project: writing and illustrating a children's book about Stella, an elephant who finds herself in the circus. First, a peek into Cat's creative world and how Stella came to be:

Watching this video, so many questions came up in my mind about Cat's creative process and Stella's story, and lucky for us, Cat agreed to answer a few:

Q: I love that Stella came out of a sketch you drew while in the middle of a recording studio, and I really want to know more about this. Do you often have your sketchbook with you so you can turn to it when you need to process or simply shift your energy a bit?

A: Absolutely. When there are a lot of things swimming around in my head, I pull out my sketchbook. It helps me channel the swarm and give the mess some purpose or direction. If I get an idea out of my head and onto paper, then it doesn't haunt me anymore. I can focus, sort through it, develop it. And there are other times when I turn to my sketchbook because I'm looking for something to do. I wouldn't call it boredom, but maybe just that I'm feeling stagnant or detached from my surroundings. Just by making lines and shapes, I can almost jump start my brain, spark a new idea. So it's both. Sometimes it is a shift, from stagnant to active, and others times it's about calming the storm, it's about processing. Mostly I just feel more connected to my thoughts when they are sitting there staring back at me. 

Q: Can you share a bit more about how the idea for that first sketch appeared? Was it fully formed in your mind before you started sketching?

A: That one in particular was in my mind before it hit the paper, but it was fuzzy around the edges. It's almost like seeing something that is lit from behind, and you can just barely make it out. And the closer you get, the more the figure appears and the light fades. It becomes real. This is probably my favorite sequence in drawing. Sit and think, let it take shape in your mind, and then put that on paper. But since it doesn't always happen that way, sometimes the best thing you can do is to just draw a line, and then another line...softly at first, and then see how they take shape. Stare at the page. Turn it. What do you see now? 

Thinking About the Next Step . print available here

Q: I have to admit to projecting a bit of Ellie's story as a toddler onto Stella. When I saw Stella looking at the tricycle "thinking about the next step," I couldn't help but think about how in some ways this is part of Ellie's everyday because so much is new to a two year old. But then I started thinking about how this is really true for all of us - we are always learning and trying to decide if we are going to risk taking that next step. Is Stella inspired by anyone in your life? Or maybe by your own journey?

A: I keep finding pieces of myself in this story that I didn't even recognize at first, and the more time I spend with Stella's story, the more personal it becomes. That wasn't my goal when I set out, and it still isn't, but things come out and sneak their way into the picture. Illustration is a lot like songwriting to me. No matter what my initial intentions are, it seemingly always ends up incorporating bits of my life and subconscious. Even though Stella knows failure might be inevitable, she still tries.  

Q: What's next for your journey with Stella? 

A: For this initial phase, I've allowed myself time to simply draw, without expectations. The freedom to jump around. No direction, just raw impulse. Now it's time to get down to business. I just pulled out the post-it's, so you know it's serious. Rather than keep everything locked up Willie Wonka style until the book is finished, however, I'm documenting this journey in my brand spanking new blog. I'm opening the doors to my little garage, and letting myself be accountable to strangers. Even as I sit answering this question, I'm starting to get that buzzy feeling in my arms (or is that the iced toddy?). It makes me nervous. Really!? Is this a good idea? I have no idea! And that's why I'm doing it. And maybe the process is only interesting after you see the finished work. Maybe no one cares about what's behind the scenes until they've seen the end result. I don't know. It's all an experiment, but I like to think that I will learn something simply by sharing it, that writing it down will be revealing, and that maybe I'll connect with a few kindred spirits along the way.

***

Learn more about Catherine and Stella by visiting www.canyoufeedthedog.com and connect with her on Twitter. You can buy original sketches and prints at her Etsy shop. 

[You might also recognize Cat as one half of one of my favorite groups Hello MTN (the other half is my brother Matt). So this means that when Ellie watched the video above, she squealed with delight when seeing her Aunt Catherine who not only sings her song (the song Matt and Catherine wrote for Ellie when she was born) but also draws her favorite animal. Best. aunt. ever.] 

a conversation with jennifer louden

Today, I am delighted to share a conversation I recently had with kindred spirit Jennifer Louden. A few highlights: We muse on the question "why retreat," Jen shares about her first book tour when she drove around the country with copies of her bestselling book The Woman's Comfort Book in the trunk of her car, I admit to needing to remember to practice self-care at my own retreats, and Jen talks about why her course TeachNow (taught with Michele Lisenbury Christensen) is called TeachNow.

I've been a fan for a long time (from Jen's Comfort Queen years!) and am honored to have her visit my corner of the world today. Enjoy!

A little about Jen: Jen Louden is a personal growth pioneer who helped launch the self-care movement with her first book The Woman’s Comfort Book. She co-created, with Fortune 100 executive trainer Michele Lisenbury Christensen, the popular course TeachNow for people who need more confidence, more income, and more power in their teaching – no matter the subject. On September 19th you can try TeachNow for free with the call Jen mentions in the video. Find out more about the call and TeachNow over here.

why retreat (with sue triggs-rhuda)

Today, I am sharing another post in a new series of guest posts from a few of the ladies who have attended my retreats over the last few years. My hope is that these posts will give you a glimpse into the Be Present Retreats and invite you to realize the importance of taking time away from your daily life to recharge, connect with your kindreds, and rekindle your creativity.

Please welcome the delightful Sue today. I am honored to share her brave, honest story. And if you have a chance to connect with her in person one day, this is what I know: her laughter will fill you up. Yes. Thanks for sharing your story Sue!

***

I didn’t realize it then. 

I had lost her...Myself, my True Authentic Self and, a bit of my soul. 

I had lost her along the way, amidst the hurley-burley of life.
I had lost her amongst fear and doubt and letting other factors decide my story.
I had lost her and didn’t realize it, but I knew, deep inside something wasn’t right. 
I had lost her and had no idea how to go about finding what I didn’t know was lost.

There was a tiny break, a little window with a glimmer of light shining through. It was small, but it was there.  

I found “Your Story” through Ali Edwards, while taking her class at Big Picture Classes. Late at night, I was working a layout telling my creative story. A story of frustration, of fear, of not-being-good-enough, of being stuck-really-truly-stuck, stuck like i’m-never-going-to-dig-out-stuck. I cried when I wrote the words, screaming on the page...all my frustrations poured out of me.  

“Why can’t it just be ok to be me in all my imperfect glory ... and have it be OK?” 

And then I realized that if something didn’t change, I was going to be well and truly miserable for the rest of my life, and make everyone around me miserable as well and that was not acceptable. I was staring down hard at 50 and thought...I do not want to spend the second half of my life like this and be a bitter, unfulfilled angry woman. 

I talked to Ali, I talked to Liz...The retreat sounded interesting and engaging and very new-agey and totally out of my comfort zone, completely not something I’d be into... 

And I went anyway.

I almost didn’t make it...the morning of my departure, I couldn’t leave the house....major major anxiety/panic attack out of no where...my sister literally talked me out of the house, into the cab and into to the airport and on the plane. As I flew from Boston to Oregon_a touch of grace_the fear started to fall away. By the time I reached Portland, I was so excited for the adventure, the fear was completely gone.

Over the weekend, I listened to the stories around me: we laughed, we cried, we encouraged each other, we were silly, we were true. We all played with words and cameras and paper and paint and glue. I tried things I’d never thought I’d do. (Intentional walking? This is a former New Yorker you’re talking to seriously? Yes and it was a great creative exercise.) I found the courage to tell my story in a torrent of words and fear and tears and ... it was OK, there were words and hugs and complete and total acceptance. No baggage, no judging, no “you shoulds.”

Just Me.

And it was as if a weight and a veil was lifted and in their place was grace and peace and a wonderful group of kindred spirits, and we are walking the same path together and it is all OK.  

And....I went back this year, with 8 kindreds and 9 new friends and it was even more rewarding, in a much different way as I feel like I am more my authentic self a year later.  

I am still processing, two retreats and over a year later, how this experience has changed my life.  On an early morning walk just after I returned home from Oregon the first time, my girlfriend looked at me and said, "you look different, you seem calmer and more at peace." My reply was “i am.”

Do I still doubt myself...absolutely, but now instead of wallowing, I acknowledge it, see how I can use it, and send it on its merry way.

Do I still have creative angst...you betcha but I’m learning that it’s OK, it’s part of the process and that I have to move forward even if it’s one little baby step at a time. 

I retreated to find myself (I know, sounds totally cliche but it’s absolutely true), and in finding myself, I saved the rest of my life.

I discovered:     

Brave

That I can re-write my script, anytime, anywhere, anyway I want it to read, as many times as I want.

I am An Artist...with no definition.

That life, like art, is a work in progress...we have a beginning and an end...and in between is fluid and moving and lovely and changing and heartbreaking and mindblowing and hard and sweet and oh so wonderful, and it’s ours to decide.  

That reaching out can reap the sweetest rewards.

I discovered that it is all, on every level, OK. 

And that my friends, is why I retreat. This is a gift that I have been given. This is a gift that I pass to you.  

***

Sue lives just north of Boston with her knight in shining armor and crazy fun twin girls. She’s re-writing her script for her next set of adventures amidst home-making, kids homework, excursions to the beach, fun with friends and walking the dog. She loves living in the footsteps of her New England ancestors in her favorite part of the country, and near the ocean.   

The best way to describe her would be...

me-wife-mom-friend-daughter-sister-artist-fabricnut-storyteller-dreamer-reader-naturelover-scrapbooker-scififan-designer-busygirl-searcher-funlover-chief-cook-bottlewasher

Sue blogs not-as-much-as-she’d-like at:  http://triggsey.wordpress.com (which, as soon as she gets her act together, she’d like to just rename:  triggsey.com !) Come along for the ride!

***

A note from Liz: This September, Mindy Lacefield, Kelly Barton, and I are working together to create an incredible adventure in the Pacific Northwest. Kelly and Mindy are co-teaching a three-day juicy, soulful painting workshop, and I am sharing some of my favorite creative self-care practices through mini creative adventures in topics like writing, self-portraiture, meditation, and a few other good things. Find out more about the Unearth Retreat over here.

why retreat (with kimberly kalil)

Today, I am sharing another post in a new series of guest posts from a few of the ladies who have attended my retreats over the last few years. My hope is that these posts will give you a glimpse into the Be Present Retreats and invite you to realize the importance of taking time away from your daily life to recharge, connect with your kindreds, and rekindle your creativity.

Please welcome my kindred Kimberly today. She saved the day at the first Your Story Retreat when she literally put out a kitchen fire. But more than being a superhero in the true sense, she is also a wise, real person willing to share her story so that others will learn they are not alone. I am honored to share her words with you today.

***

She screams.
Spinning, a fiery top, out of control.
She gasps.
Unable to breath. Smothered by the anger.
She melts.
Fear and sorrow oozing from her feverish abyss.
She hopes.
Palms raised, she reaches out
She believes.
Grasping for light, reverie bound.
She screams.

-She Screams, by Kimberly Kalil
Written post retreat

At the start of 2011, I didn’t eat organic.

I didn’t do yoga.

I didn’t meditate.

I couldn’t write a poem to save my life.   

I wouldn’t even call myself creative.

Looking over the Your Story Retreat description the idea of “daily group gatherings that explore meditation, ritual, and everyday sacredness as ways to be more present in your daily life,” seemed absolutely foreign to me. In fact, it seemed downright nutty. I was raised by staunchly Republican, highly religious and ultra-conservative parents. My dad hunts. He slaughters the cows he raises. And there is never any talk of Zen, Buddha or anything equally as exotic or hippie-esque.

Though I’m many years removed from my parents’ home, my upbringing colors many of the decisions I make as an adult. I’d like to think of myself as somewhat progressive and open-minded, but there are times I’m downright small-town. You can take the girl out of the conservative, but you can’t take the conservative out of the girl.

 

Signing up for the Your Story Retreat was a leap of faith. I’m not sure what prompted me to do so, other than a desperate need to find a place in the world where I could unload my aching heart. My marriage was on the rocks. Not kind of sort on the rocks, but moments away from imploding. There was rarely a day that went by that I didn’t cry. I was turning into an angry, bitter person. I had no patience and the anger I had for my husband was seeping into every aspect of my life. I was a ticking time bomb often exploding at the most inopportune times and at people who didn’t deserve my wrath, namely my children.

On the opening night of my first Your Story Retreat I broke down in tears. Liz asked us to share a bit about ourselves and why we were there. I couldn’t articulate why I was there. I couldn’t tell the group the shame, anger and isolation I felt. All I could do was cry -- big, gulping, messy tears. My whole body shook as I let go and with tears streaming down my cheeks the most amazing thing happened:  around the circle arms opened, hearts reached for me and nurturing began. I was welcomed into a tribe of amazing, strong and loving women.

My tribe told me I was awesome. They told me I was brave. The convinced me I was strong enough to make the changes that really mattered. Each word spoken was folded up and placed in the sacred space around my heart.

Over the course of the weekend my soul was fed. At some point, I heard the following words:

“We always have a choice. It’s easy to believe we are stuck. But we all have choices … It’s your story. You can write your own story. ”

I went home a different person. I was still angry. My marriage was still in jeopardy. I still felt like a major failure. But I realized that I had to take charge of my life. There was only one way for me to get better -- if I wanted to fix my family, fix my husband or fix my life -- I had to fix me.

I became a runner.

I changed my diet.

I lost 35 pounds.

I started writing more and taking on creative projects that made me happy.

I started saying no.

I moved on and left behind the things that didn’t bring me joy. At one point that included the idea of being married and making “things” work.

Magically, being the change I wanted in the world worked to bring change not just to me, but to my husband, my family and others around me.

My marriage isn’t on the rocks anymore. My relationship with my husband is better than it’s ever been.

I yell at my children less and enjoy the benefits of greater patience.

I laugh more. A lot more.

I still don’t eat organic, though I’d like to try.

I don’t do yoga, though I’m sure it would help me.

I try to mediate, though I haven’t made it a daily practice.

Sometimes I write poetry, but it still feels less me and more forced.

But, what I am is someone in charge of her own story. Each day, I wake up and I decide how my day will unfold; I decided how to react to my challenges; I decide if I will seek joy; and I decided what matters.  Before I met Liz, I felt hopeless and out of control. Today, I know I’m at the helm of my life and my story.

This is why I retreat. 

Kimberly Kalil is a mom to two precious kiddos; wife to one cool dude; busy traveling consultant; crafter; digital memory keeper; and seeker of all things creative. She and her family make their home in Southern Arizona amid the cacti and javalinas. She’s all about the hot, dry weather of the desert – the hotter the better. 

Kimberly blogs regularly about her life, memory keeping endeavors, and creative projects at www.kimberlykalil.com. Each Monday she shares a piece of digital art she created and you can download it for free in 2012.

Read other posts in the Why Retreat series here.

***

A note from Liz: This September, Mindy Lacefield, Kelly Barton, and I are working together to create an incredible adventure in the Pacific Northwest. Kelly and Mindy will be co-teaching a three-day juicy, soulful painting workshop, and I will share some of my favorite creative self-care practices through mini creative adventures in topics like poetry, self-portraiture, meditation, and a few other good things. Find out more about the Unearth Retreat over here.