Life! Busy, messy, sometimes dull, sometimes more excitement or more heartache than we can bear, but truly a joy when we are in the moment and are relaxed and able to enjoy.

In this day and age, one constant is the endless doing. The emails, texts, and social media feeds are never ending. The long list of things you “need to,” “should,” or “shouldn’t” do can be overwhelming. People in your life who cry out for your help, your love, your opinion - when does it end? The demand on our attention, energy and time is non-stop.

Many of us have are living our life on a fight or flight basis. So much stress and uncertainty, we don't know what's coming next. Our nervous system has ramped up to high alert and we may not be able to completely relax.

Are you

• Overwhelmed
• Constantly Busy
• Forgetful
• Stressed
• Anxious
• Depressed
• Having trouble relaxing
• Unable to sleep

If you can say yes to any of those, you need a reset - your body, mind and soul.

Press pause and tell your world - I need to stop all of the doing. I need to refocus, regroup and renew. I need healing for my body, my mind and my soul. I need to just be.

When you take a moment to step back from your intense reality, you will find peace and clarity. Retreat to your backyard, to a quiet place in your home, to a local park, to a yoga class, to a place where you can relax, renew and find you.

A weekend away from home is the ideal retreat - time stop the constant doing and rest deeply. Sometimes we tell ourselves we don’t have the time. Life is short, we don’t have the time not to. Taking time for you is not selfish - it is self preservation. It is how we are able to do all that we do. It’s easy to make excuses, yet when we don’t make the time for ourselves - not only do we suffer, but our loved ones suffer - we may be impatient, frustrated, stressed and taking it all out on them. Just like a car, we need maintenance to keep going.

Oh the excuses we come up with - who will take care of the children, pets, partner, plants, obligations, your to do list? Reach out to your support group and ask for help. Maybe demand help. Tell them the truth, “if I don’t get away soon, something may fall apart. And I’m afraid it will be me. “

There are many “away” retreat possibilities. Maybe it’s enough to start planning as the world continues to open up, to set your sights on a faraway beach or mountain top.

At Retreat in the Pines we intentionally create a safe space where you can find exactly what you need - we encourage our guests to take what they need and leave what they don’t.

Once you arrive your retreat destination - even if it’s in your backyard - slow down, press pause, and breathe. Take a moment to soak it all in. To discover what it is that drives you. Are you being driven towards joy? Or is everything driving you crazy?

Know this universal truth: If you don’t take care of you, you will simply be unable to take care of anything or anybody else. And when that happens, who will take care of you?