So my awesome yoga teacher buddy and I are running a Yoga retreat in Nicaragua this coming April, 2017. Naturally, we’re both pretty darn excited about it. In my excitement, being the ‘word nerd’ that I am, it’s got me thinking about the word “retreat” and its connotations.
I immediately associate this word with old-timey cartoons, where the army of woodland creatures goes in to attack their foes, only to realize their vastly out-numbered so they squeak out “Retreat, retreat!” and scatter in all directions. I also start to think of Monty Python and “The Search for the Holy Grail”. There’s a show down at a French castle that results in fake cows being thrown over castle walls at King Arthur and his knights causing them to squeal “Run away! Run away!”
That’s where my dorky mind goes when I think of the word “retreat”.
I find this interesting, because retreating in a battle ground scenario is not seen as a good thing. Having to cut your loses and admit you’re woefully over your debt would not be described as a sought after experience.
But the word “retreat” can be turned on its head.
Sometimes giving up is the best option.
When you realize you have no more to give.
When you’ve exhausted all of your resources and need to throw in the towel.
When you finally admit to yourself you’ve been burning the candle at both ends.
For myself, I become addicted to the rush of busyness and suddenly realize I’m trapped in a self-created, crazy pace of life that is not maintainable. I let the busyness define me. I let the rush push me until I’m running on fumes. Inevitably this leads to the “crash and burn” or as I like to call it the “snap back effect”. This is the effect of pulling an elastic band too far in one direction, only to have it snap back ten times harder in the very direction it was trying to pull away from. When it gets to this point, sometimes retreating is the only option.
Retreating looks different for everyone. For me, it’s escaping into my apartment for dates with my yoga mat, a good book, my guitar, or a long journal writing session. It’s quiet conversations in cafes with friends I love, who’s words are like a salve to my aching soul. It’s sleeping for more than 5 hours a night – an amazing habit that, I swear, is magical, life changing wizardry!
The plan is to make this retreat my friend and I are offering just that – a place where you go to refresh, renew, and restore by connecting to who you are and the very things that bring you back to life. I want to turn the word retreat into a positive experience. I want to make running away the cool thing to do. I want to make surrendering to the reality of our crazy modern life the “in thing”.
Whether you end up retreating with me and my friend in gorgeous Nicaragua, or simply retreating into the covers of your warm and cozy bed – I hope you find joy in giving up and calling it quits. May you find peace as you retreat.
