Explore Clarity on Retreat
Hey Friends,
Dropping into your inbox to encourage you to explore clarity on retreat.
A retreat weekend provides a rare opportunity to try life without alcohol, THC, nicotine, sugar, caffeine, social media, work emails, or whatever it may be that feels like it might be holding you back.
Allow yourself to be fully immersed in all the ways you are nourishing your body for the weekend and see how VIBRANT and ALIVE you can feel.
The beauty of a weekend retreat is that you will be treating your body to feel-good movement, mindfulness, breathwork, and an enriched environment in nature all weekend long. You will laugh until your cheeks hurt. You will have healthy, organic food prepped for you all weekend long. Thanks to Jami’s Juice, you will have access to delicious, nutritious drink options to flood your body with vitamins and nutrients.
When you are packing your snacks, maybe this is an opportunity to try packing healthy snacks instead of the bag of Doritos. When packing beverages for the bonfire at night, consider opting for Jami’s kombucha or NA beer instead of a glass of wine.
I like to think of retreats as my tune-up. Just like I take my car to the shop for a tune-up, an oil change, or a fresh set of tires, I too need time to evaluate what needs to be swapped out.
Life is a balance. I adore coffee and coffee creamer, maybe to a fault! This weekend I’m going to abstain from coffee and creamer and see how I feel. I like the opportunity to fully immerse myself in all things positive- healthy relationships, healthy movement, time in nature, time learning new skills, and nutritious food.
I quit drinking alcohol in October 2022.
Alcohol was a big part of my identity from ages 20-34. I thought alcohol was the best and only way to have a jolly time in social settings. Over the past few years I’ve slowly experimented with periods free of alcohol. I ultimately made the leap last October and, mostly, haven’t looked back.
As a sleep-deprived mother with a six month old, I couldn’t stop thinking about something I’d read. In the book, “This Naked Mind” by Annie Grace, I read about how alcohol impacts sleep. The body starts metabolizing the sugar in alcohol around 2 or 3am, and can cause you to wake up and feel restless. I couldn’t unlearn that information. I needed sleep and that was that!
We live in a society that not only encourages alcohol, but a society that takes issue with those who abstain. When someone stops drinking others wonder if she’s pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or if she has *a problem*. I’m here to remind you that you can quit doing something just because you want to, thank you very much, and you don’t owe a justification to anyone.
I want to share this information so that you know you will be fully supported, even celebrated, at a Boreal Bliss retreat if you would like to enjoy the weekend alcohol free.
We recently added a question on our survey where you can opt for alcohol-free roommates. Now don’t get me wrong, if you’d like to sip wine at the retreat you’ll be in good company! No worries! I simply share all this so that you know a retreat can be a great place to build confidence in your ability to have fun in a social setting without alcohol.
When you are brand new at alcohol free, the first wedding dance, work happy hour, girl’s weekend, or conference without alcohol, can be intimidating. Every time we have a positive experience without alcohol, we build up our confidence in our ability to have a great time without booze. Over time it becomes easier and easier to opt out of drinking because you know that your dance moves are just as solid with or without a drink. (Same can be true of any of the other items listed earlier, like social media or sugar!)
I have been alcohol free for nearly a year and cannot believe the freedom and vibrancy I’ve found. And so, this is my humble invitation to you to give this, or something similar, a try.
Try a weekend free from alcohol, social media, nicotine, or whatever it is you think could be holding you back.
A retreat is an opportunity to start a new story for yourself, to step into the next version of the person you are becoming.
With love, Amanda
