Each person reading this may have a different notion of a “retreat.” In business, companies will sometimes organize a retreat or an “off-sight” to re-energize the strategic thinking of their key leaders in a place away from the daily grind. Some people go on religious or meditation retreats to escape daily pressures and immerse themselves in their spiritual practice. Writers’ retreats often offer a place in solitude or among likeminded folk, often in nature, where they can submerge into their work unperturbed.

 

All of these ideas of retreats share some commonality: removing yourself from routine and ordinary pressures, an intense focus, a goal for growth and perhaps a reset when you must return to everyday life. The idea of this appealed to me so much, but I wasn’t quite sure how to do this, how to afford this, and what my focus should be.

 

A few years ago I came up with the idea I called the QTR retreat, which stands for Quarterly Three R’s retreat. The R’s stand for Reflect, Reset, and Recharge. I designed this retreat for myself to be done at home in one full day, from sun-up through bedtime. The goal of this is to really put a magnifying glass on all parts of my life in a loving, nonjudgmental, but honest way, decide what is working and what needs revamping, and pampering myself in a way that makes me feel completely charged up to start the next quarter with my new goals and outlook at the forefront.

 

It has been three years now since I began this process. I started not knowing if it would stick or if it would be a one-off, but I can honestly say they are four of my absolute favorite days of the year. I have been able to maintain excitement for personal and work projects for much longer, gained confidence to try creative projects that I’ve never tried before, all while at the same time feeling like I was being kinder to myself.

 

I can see the benefit of doing something like this away from your home to really feel that traditional sense of retreat (and also to be able to ensure avoiding interruptions), but since I live alone I had more leeway to set up a retreat in my own space (and thus do this really on the cheap!) but in a way where I could avoid the trappings of my usual habits.

 

To truly embrace a demand the shimmer philosophy of life, you must get off of auto pilot and check in with the how you are doing on the path you are on, and if that path is even in the right neighborhood.

 

I am certain that anyone can design something that would work for them personally, but if you are interested in this idea but would like some more guidance in getting started with your own QTR retreat, I have created a detailed guide, available for download for a nominal fee on etsy:   click here 

I always used to say that I was a creature of habit and a person who loved her routines. Characterizing myself this way, though, gave me pause, because frankly it sounds a little boring. Routines – aren’t they kinda, well, routine? And doesn’t routine imply sort of a mindless sequence of events endlessly repeated? Why would I want to define myself through that lens?

 

Over time I’ve come to realize that it isn’t routine that I love – it’s ritual. What’s the difference?

 

Ritual is something that is repeated, yes, but ritual is carried out with intentionality and some degree of reverence. Rituals are carefully orchestrated, not fallen into casually, and hold some special meaning and purpose for the actor. Far from being mindless routines, they involve mindful presence with even the smallest detail of a sequence of actions.

 

If this sounds appealing to you, here is some good news: with a little bit of reflection, planning, and dreaming, you can turn many of your boring old daily or weekly or yearly routines into rituals. This type of thinking is at the heart of demanding the shimmer!

 

Here are some ways to get you started:

 

* Think about a routine that you have – whether it be something like a daily hygiene routine (washing up and brushing teeth), to a weekly trip to the same grocery store with the same list and the same route through the aisles that you could do with your eyes closed.

 

* Think about the ways in which that routine is actually a privilege. Aren’t you lucky to have the means do those things? Take a little time to really appreciate and revere the opportunity to do this action on a regular basis.

 

* What is the larger purpose of the routine? For example, it would be easy to just think of washing up and brushing teeth as a way to keep from being dirty and stinky, but it is also a way to show your body some real care and honor, to pamper yourself, to keep yourself looking and feeling your best, and even as part of the creation of the image that you are putting in the world as a person who cares about detail.

 

* How can you immerse all of your senses and your full attention into the actions you are doing? Think about sight, sound, smell, taste, and feel – how could you add something to what you are doing to heighten the experience you are engaged in and bring yourself a boost of positivity and pleasure through all of these senses, if even only for a minute or two?

 

Once you’ve thought through these things, you can design an upgraded sequence by beginning it with gratitude, thinking about its larger purpose, and adding elements of joy through all of your senses. Guess what? Bam – you now have a ritual!

 

You may start small with some personal rituals, and if you find that what used to bore you or seem like a vaguely annoying necessity is now something you look forward to, then you may want to work with your family and friends to see if you can upgrade some of your joint activities into rituals. The sky’s the limit.

 

Cheers,

Lisa

 

P.S. Slightly off topic, but writing about this and thinking about repetition reminded me of a song that used to be one of my favorites and I haven’t heard it in forever – I got so much pleasure from YouTubing it and hearing it again that I just had to share! It’s from one of Prince’s less acclaimed (but one of my favorite) albums, Graffiti Bridge, and it’s called Joy in Repetition . Do you remember that song from 1990? Go check it out. It’s hauntingly beautiful and gives me chills.