R&R

Just returned home from a four-day 'camp' near Clear Lake for women of color. Four days of not doing much of anything but eating delicious, healthy food, going fishing in Blue Lake (unfortunately we didn't catch anything), swimming in a refreshingly cool, non-chlorinated pool, getting brown under the hot Lake County sun, writing, napping, reading and chillin' with some wild women of color in our own private resort.

Sounds like heaven, doesn't it? Well, it wasn't exactly heaven but it was pretty close. I saw a deer when I took a hike down the entrance road to the resort, as well as a family of quail (I think that's what they were), some woodpeckers who woke me in the morning by tapping away on the wall outside my lodge room, and some huge bass jumping out of the water of Blue Lake to sun themselves.

I think everyone--and every stressed-out, overburdened woman of color in particular--should go on a retreat like this at least once a year. To relax, rejuvenate and recharge for the over-scheduled, jam-packed lives so many of us live. And maybe, just maybe, to help us realize that bringing some of those peaceful moments from nature to our everyday lives may be just what we need to be happy and content.

I've made a commitment to myself after this retreat to get away like this--away from my partner and my everyday City life and commitments and stresses--and just do whatever I want. It may sound indulgent, but I don't think it is. It's called bringing my life into balance.

Blessings,
Rona