I’ve been on retreat. Writing workshops. Silent retreats. Creativity retreats. Experimenting with hot wax.
And I’ve been retreating as a verb.
(Humble nod to Patti Digh.)
Retreating from the blogs. Connecting quietly one-on-one on email and social media rather than broadcasting, easing myself in and out of tweeting-liking-sharing-updating.
Hiding in plain sight.
It’s part of the dance with visibility I’m learning to accept and recognize as a necessary part of the creative cycle–going through ideation and creation followed by deep rest and percolation.
In my high tech corporate life, there wasn’t room for deep rest. I loved the agility of the start up environment and pace. We constantly launched campaigns and products. We created policies and decisions on the fly. It was addictive and thrilling to be on the cutting edge.
It was tiring.
I couldn’t get enough rest and recovery time. I loved the intellectual intensity and challenge, but burned out over and over.
Calling it a mental health day and using “sick” time never sat well with me. And does anyone ever truly receive equal “comp time” to what they’ve put in?
The cycle of working hard-playing hard was not sustainable. Not for me, anyway. I’m an introvert. Playing hard implied the sharp edges of producing, of doing, of accomplishing, when I needed to stop and soften.
Even today, I have to work at this.
I’m allowing myself to honor deep rest as necessary and valid. Retreating isn’t a luxury. It sustains.
I gently switch gears.
It might mean writing at a writer’s spa with Jennifer Louden, diving into a silent retreat, or intuitive painting with Chris Zydel.
Or it might mean taking time to tend to the important details that support me.
Eating breakfast.
Napping with a kitty nearby.
Reading a book.
Journaling. Arting. Writing.
Being silent and still. Listening.
Running my fingers across the piano keys.
Picking fresh snow peas from the vine.
Admiring the velvety purple iris in the garden.
Dreaming.
Navel gazing.
Planting the seeds for self-compassion.
Building a trellis for self-trust.
Cultivating a creative, nurturing and sustainable practice for those times when creative energy is low.
Important for my well-being or my business life? I’d say it’s vital to both.
I love it when you post–you have so many wonderful things to say–but I totally get it when you don’t. I understand this…I live this…lovely…
I love that you said, “I live this…” Thank you for the kindness. So good to hear from you, Karen!
Joy,
you have captured what is so important about retreats and what most of us forget to allow ourselves to do – your post inspired me to look the word up in the dictionary (i’m kind of a word junkie)
“The act or process of withdrawing, especially from something hazardous, formidable, or unpleasant.”
Like life in general at times?
“The process of going backward or receding from a position or condition gained.”
We get to the TOP – we are in our cube or running our own business, but then find that there’s no room at the top for our own family, creativity or even our own thoughts!
“A place affording peace, quiet, privacy, or security. See Synonyms at shelter.”
Our homes are supposed to be this place, but often they only represent more work and responsibility.
“The military ceremony of lowering the flag.”
Maybe we need to design a flag and then create a universal civilian ceremony of lowering that flag that signals to the world that we are ON RETREAT!
“A period of seclusion, retirement, or solitude.”
We can put the flag outside our homes, and then lower it when we are going into our own retreat.
as Martha Beck asked recently, why do we only say “Rest in Peace” when we’re dead??
Thanks Joy for your poetic and beautiful words… let them flow – and retreating will allow that to happen!
Thanks, Kelly! You practically wrote a blog post! There are a lot of themes here that have been on my mind, but haven’t translated to words on paper (or blog). I like how you look at the multiple meanings of retreat–a process, a place, a ritual.
The flag idea is a good one. That would be more pleasant than sticking a “Keep Out” sign in the lawn.
Interesting question from Martha too. Mmm…
Yes, RIP indeed!
KEEP OUT!
ooops… didn’t mean to hit reply yet…
KEEP OUT! isn’t the tone of what we want to say…
How a flag with the Latin Translation of “I Am In Retreat”
~ ego sum in verto ~
I couldn’t agree more about retreats and retreating being necessary and valid. Although I’ve been a full-time artist for over a decade, for years the only art I made for myself, to feed my own soul, was at my calligraphy guild’s annual spring retreat.
Now I make time for my art in almost-daily “micro-retreats” alone in my studio, and I’m gearing up to start hosting group retreats of my own.
Nothing is more nourishing and energizing. 🙂