Creative Healing Retreat for Breast Cancer Survivors

View from the room I shared with Betty, a fellow breast cancer survivor. The retreat was at the Inn at Morro Bay...well in Morro Bay! I was so excited to get the weekend started I left a little too early and ended up arriving about 4 pm (an hour early). I was able to check in and get myself organized.

I met Betty and right away we hit it off. After the meet and greet in the room, Betty and I headed to the lobby since we discovered I did not have any of the necessary information about the weekend (because I arrived too early!).

Once we had my paperwork sorted out, the entire group (18 of us) headed in for a delicious dinner. I am going to try recreating the Israeli Couscous salad that was served in the near future, it was that good. After dinner we had circle time, which gave each of us time to tell "our story". As each person was telling their story, I kept trying to figure out what I was going to say but by the time it came to me I know I forgot some of it. From listening to the women in the circle, I can say that our collective experiences were similar but also very different. There were those that had cancer years ago, "newbies" to cancer, young and old, big and small....a very diverse group of breast cancer survivors. Three stories that touched me and made me reach for my tissue....Missy who lost her husband three weeks after completing radiation, Renee who was given 24 months to live and Amanda who is in the middle of chemo.

When circle time was over, Betty and I headed back to the room to get ready for bed. We sat up and talked for a while but eventually couldn't keep our eyes open. Good thing we both are early risers so we could make it to yoga on Saturday morning. Note: I plan on continuing with the yoga and hope to find a class in Campbell so I can go at lunch or after work easily.

Following yoga was breakfast then off to collaging. OOOOOh, I had so much fun cutting and gluing in my new journal! There were boxes of magazines to use for our collages and I kept finding the greatest stuff, so I am still working on my project at home until it is just right.

For lunch we walked to the Bayside Cafe and could order whatever we wanted! You could even have dessert first, because we can do that as adults!!! I decided to have lunch first and share a huge piece of carrot cake with Kim.

In the afternoon there were exhibits from local groups for us. We could have a free color consultation (I am an autumn just in case you wanted to know), reiki, talk with a lymphedema therapist, join a breast cancer survivor paddle team and talk to the local cancer center. After the exhibits there was so free time before dinner so I worked on my collage a bit more in the hotel room then headed off to dinner.

Dinner was another delicious meal spent with a great group of women. After dinner we headed over for drumming, which was not one of my best experiences. I can't seem to drum in time with everyone else and it made for some comedy. There was a lot of laughing and hot flashes for me.....stress seems to trigger hot flashes....well, hell pretty much everything causes hot flashes! There was a band playing back at the hotel so we hit the bar for a nightcap....I made it to at least 10:30!!!!

Sunday was more yoga, breakfast, collaging and the closing of our weekend retreat. I cried...in fact, I cried several times on Sunday. Coming home I felt so high on life and nurtured....it was such a fantastic feeling. I realized, yet again, how important it is to take time out for me and the things that make me happy.

Follow the link to the EnhancementInc.org website....they are taking applications for the next retreat in April....well worth it. Dianne D if you are reading this blog....please, please apply. Shoosh, Rosalie, Joanne, Marisa and Leslyn all made the weekend something I will never, never forget....THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.
Cheryl
http://www.enhancementinc.org/creative_healing_retreat_info.htm