When I first imagined this retreat, I naturally wanted everything to be perfect. Every detail considered. Every moment meaningfully designed. Every experience was exactly as I had hoped it would be.
But as the first days of our retreat unfolded, I was quickly reminded that the moments we don’t plan or anticipate become the ones we remember most.
At our welcome dinner, I felt a natural nervousness that comes with trying something new.
In front of my closest friends and family, I shared pieces of my childhood and the hardships that shaped me, feeling the weight of responsibility settle in.
Would I succeed? Would I make my family proud? Would each mother here feel safe, seen, and understood?
And then it happened. As each mother and daughter made their Despacho (offering) and released it into the creek to Pachamama (Mother Earth), the sky opened up in a vibrant display of reds and pinks.
Our girls took each other by hand, dancing and laughing breathlessly with the kind of freedom that we so often forget belongs to us, too. And I remembered why I was here.
Every hardship, every obstacle, and lesson learned had led me to this moment.
It is my own act of Ayni to be here with you.
This morning, our girls continued to take the lead at our first activity of the day.
Some shy and reserved, some vivacious and giddy, all doing their best to move their bodies to the music of our Move to You Session. The moms followed in suit, becoming more confident with each new step. But it wasn’t about the choreography or who had the best moves. It was the feeling of releasing your inhibition while strutting to “Man, I feel like a Woman” as a whole group of mothers and daughters cheered you on.
Later in the afternoon, we gathered for sound bathing and painting. Mothers and daughters created side by side, not focused on making a perfect replica of the landscape before them, but rather focusing on the act of creating together without expectation. Ayni, in its simplest form.
Tonight’s Cookout was one of those moments that could never be planned perfectly, which is perhaps what made it so special. The light drizzle of rain didn’t scare anyone away as mothers and daughters came decked out in true Cowgirl style.
Leather boots crossed the grass, s’mores stuck onto sticky fingers, and a mix of decidedly not Western music filled the air. Everyone sang along, everyone danced like nobody was watching.
Because no one was watching. They were too busy joining in.
Little Joys
An Asheville Sunrise: A few early risers took advantage of the perfect weather conditions and watched a warm, golden sunset over the rolling hills at 6:45am this morning, setting a positive intention for the day ahead.
Liege Waffles, Apple Tarts, and S’mores: We were treated to sweet surprises throughout the day with sugar caramelized Belgian waffles and homemade tarts. In the evening, a s’more station, complete with honey graham crackers and Hershey’s chocolate, paired perfectly with a crackling fire.
The Creek: This has quickly become our favorite place on the farm. Ever since we released their offering into the water, watching the current sweep it away, our girls, and specifically my daughter, love to return to this spot again and again.
Shania Twain: Not once, but twice, this song made an appearance as mother-daughter pairs showed off their moves at dance class and on the dance floor at our Cookout, making this the unofficial anthem of our retreat so far.
