The eighth Provence retreat has just ended and I'm pleased to say that this year's was a remarkable experience. I was delighted by all of the women participants and found that they taught me a few things that I'd like to pass on to you in my blog. I'll do this by sharing vignettes from the week (with names changed) in which one of the actions is highlighted.
#1: Let go of your expectations and go with the flow of what presents itself.
Carol arrived in Nice a few days early to get acclimated to the time change and cultural shift. I wish that the concierge at her hotel had been reading David Lee's blog on customer service because he was far from congenial or welcoming. Her images of the first days in France were shattered by the lack of attention and rudeness she experienced. Carol actually thought of going home, but decided to stick it out and see what else the week might bring. At the end of her stay, she felt proud that she had persisted and felt that her stay in France exceeded her expectations.
# 2: Remember to smile often and find something positive in whatever happens throughout the day.
After two decades traveling to the south of France, I know that September in Provence is typically sunny with a slight breeze. That said, I was not prepared for the inclement weather that abruptly swept into the area during the middle of the retreat week. "Le mistral", as the French refer to a nasty, strong and cold north wind, came with a vengeance. Along with it came a soaking rain after 6 months of drought.
I was concerned that my visitors, who had already enjoyed a few days of typical Provence sun, would be disappointed about the gray rainy skies and nip in the air. But, I was wrong. Not only did each woman take the weather in stride with a smile, but also expressed appreciation for an alternative plan for the day.
#3: Be open to new and different insights about yourself and your life journey, even if you do not at first fully understand them.
There's something rather magical about the south of France that elicits one's inner knowing rather quickly and profoundly. While some women have preferred to stick with their initial ideas for a focus for the week, this year's group considered new insights and directions to pursue as they came up. Each was amazed by the shifts in awareness made by being willing to stay open even when the significance of the new direction was not immediately understood.
# 4: Seize moments of silence and stillness to listen to yourself and your inner knowing.
There's much to see and do here in Provence, only 15 minutes from the Riviera and the Mediterranean Sea. Yet, this week is advertised as a retreat with intentional time for reflection and stillness. To recognize the introspective part of the week, I gift each woman with a hand-decorated journal upon arrival. Whether or not each woman takes the time to write in her journal is her choice. Jayne, in particular, touched me by her vigilance to writing—something she had not seriously done before. Each day, she'd tell me how she was awakened the night before from her sleep by the need to write her thoughts and feelings. Rather than dismiss this call and return to sleep, Jayne would open her journal and fill the pages until she was ready to sleep again.
While I believe that beautiful environments and a shift in daily routines can change your experience of life, it is not necessary to visit an exotic place to realize these effects. Perhaps you can enjoy some of the benefits of a retreat by keeping the four actions in mind as you live your life.
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