I find that when I step away from my regularly scheduled life and experience three days of amazing things like I just have, I am challenged by what to exactly to share when there was so very much that happened to me ! It is also a challenge to convey the amazement that I feel about my experiences.
As I sat down to write this post, I was facing that challenge.
I thought I might find some help from the photos that I took.
But it turns out that I actually took very few. And some of the photos I did take were kind of silly or rather mundane. They didn’t seem to have a lot little “meat” to them.
(The purple ceiling at the Armory Building in Somerville, MA, where the retreat was held.)
(Part of the ceiling and the sign over the Cambridge baaw (in my best Boston accent done by a Canadian) that we went to after the retreat.)
But wait a minute !
(The molten chocolate lava cake that Susie ordered for us from room service at 10:30pm when having some chocolate was absolutely necessary!)
(The amazing Susie Riley in the flesh, with her kooky orange sunglasses purchased on a previous adventure we had together, doing her Susie on a Stick pose.)
Maybe some of those pics are a little meaty for the imagination !!!
But they don’t really convey what I experienced or loved most about the weekend.
In the end, I decided to make a list of the top ten things I came away from the weekend with (in a random order).
Susie and me in the Cambridge Mariott rooftop garden.
1. The number one thing that I loved about the whole weekend was sharing time with some really, really shiny, talented, open, and brave people. I met so many of them throughout the weekend ! The time with my friends, Susie Riley and Patti Digh, was especially good for my heart. I love those two women a lot.
2. I was moved by how many people came up to me and let me know that a rock that I had marked with a word or two of love had made its way into their life and touched them. Sometimes, very deeply. It made me feel so very grateful to be a part of something so beautiful.
3. I appreciated learning that while writing is an important part of my creative process, I know that I am an Artist first and foremost. That is where my passion lies.
4. I loved sitting at the baw, drinking a cold Stella, with Susie as she sips her Guinness, and tawkin’ and tawkin’…
5. I learned that I really want to work on being a better, more attentive listener.
6. I confirmed, once again, as a result of this weekend, that I really need a community of like-minded people in my life to keep me well. Sharing and connecting with others fills me up ! I know that I will keep on building that, and being a part of a meaningful, creative community both on-line and in person wherever and whenever I can.
(rock left in the rooftop garden of the Cambridge Marriot)
7. Taking bits and pieces from what three very different but all very creative women (Jen Louden, Sue Piver and Patti Digh) shared about their own creative process, and seeing where I can improve, or enrich my own.
8. Brainstorming with two women that I really respect as creative beings about where the Rock Fairy will be flying to next…
9. Getting confirmation over and over again that while I cannot control the circumstances of my life, I always have the choice in how I will react to them. Happiness is a choice. And I want to choose it whenever I can.
10. Having a nice long, wonderfully silly lunch with Susie and Patti on Sunday afternoon, and waking up this morning with aching ab muscles (I actually have those. Who knew ??!!) because of all the laughing we did !!!
(Susie, Kim, Patti – photo by Patti Digh and borrowed from 3X3X365)
For those 10 things and all the other ones that are inside of me as a result of my three days away, I am truly grateful.
As my wise friend Susie would say,
I am one Lucky Bitch.
Happy Monday, Beautiful Ones.
