Shout Out to my old/new friend, Jeanette the Brave who attended last weekend’s Oregon Respite Retreat because she wanted to and despite the fact that she didn’t want to. Those of you, like Jeanette and me, who have Anxiety as a sidekick will know what that means.

Jeanette contacted me a couple months ago to see if there was still room for her to join the April retreat. When I said there was, she wrote, “Yay! And EEK” and explained she was hoping I’d say no, because then she could give herself credit for reaching out without having to, you know, actually attend, but she was out of luck. I had one spot left. And THEN she did the Most Courageous Thing and came. Friends, this act always amazes me. Because I know personally how many thousands of times she had to talk herself into following through.

Yesterday, she wrote to thank us for “a lovely weekend with such an amazing group. When I first reached out to Beth and expressed my trepidation about attending the retreat she assured me that everyone attending was incredibly warm and welcoming and she was not wrong! I can’t say enough what a pleasure it was meeting each and every one of you. Thanks so much for all the kindness and support and laughs this weekend. It was the best ‘personal growth and psychological health and safety’ I could have asked for.”

And that’s why I host retreats both in my home town and around the world. For rest and respite. For recreation. But mostly for community and connection and joy. But it only works because every one of these people was, once upon a time, brave, changing our longtime online friendships into a new one, in person. And I just want to acknowledge them and express my deepest gratitude for their trust and friendship.