4 lessons from a week-long retreat

I just got back from a week long Non-Violent Communication retreat in the Southern California mountains.

The retreat took the form of a family camp, with traditional camp activities (rock climbing, swimming, archery, canoeing) for kids and adults to enjoy between the several hours of trainings a day led by fantastic leaders and trainers who took the role of counselors.

I was invited as the youngest counselor/trainer. I led workshops on public speaking and social media. I also got to attend so many workshops and played with a whole bunch of kids.

The lessons were deep and covered topics like parenting, workplace communication, self-empathy, relationships, and more.

Here are a few immediate takeaways:

1-on-1 support is unbeaten. Lots of the trainers and participants had coaching as a part of their income. Relationship coaches, intimacy coaches, workplace relationship, communication, mediators, psychologists, you name it - all found value in non-violent communication and also many came to my social media workshop because it’s hard to get your name out there.

Listening is the first hug. I loved when Shannon (one of the trainers) phrased it this way. So many people are so tense, anxious, and wound up. Being deeply listened to feels like a hug. Then a real hug feels like another great hug.

Play is for all ages. A bunch of dads finally got to play like kids again. A good remembering that getting a chance to smile and laugh is meaningful for the soul.

Go when you feel it. Not when you’re ready. A lesson I keep learning is that you only need to be 60% ready to say yes to something. Figuring it out on the way is a lot easier than figuring it out before you start.

There are a few things I’ve been waiting until I’m ready for, like writing a daily email.

And yet, here we are - writing a daily email. One day at a time.

Until tomorrow,

Orly