Two Justifications Shy of a Cancelled Friend Trip
I was overwhelmed, exhausted, feeling anxious about the much anticipated trip with my best friends to hot springs in the middle of nowhere Mexico. I was rushing around REI looking for who knows what, when my phone rang.
It was my friend checking in to see how I was feeling about the trip. After a few minutes of us both pretending that we were SOOOOO EXCITED about the weekend, the truth of it came trembling out in breathless, whining fits and starts about how hard it felt to get out of town right now for both of us.
We blamed it on the heat.
We blamed it on worries about being found dead in the desert after getting a flat tire.
We blamed it on our demanding businesses.
We blamed it on our busy lives and piled up laundry.
We were 2 justifications shy of a canceled friend trip we had been planning for months with ecstatic anticipation.
After dumping all of our reasons why life was just too much for us to go on this trip, we decided to sit with our shit before calling our other friend, terrified to disappoint her. I hung up the phone, depleted and sad, hiding in a dressing room white knuckling a spork I didn’t remember picking up.
As I drove home, I wondered:
“Is life supposed to feel this hard?”
“Why is it so difficult to feel energy for the people and experiences that matter most in my life?”
“How could I be ready to cancel precious time with my dearest friends, because I’m tired and burned out? I make my own schedule!!!”
Later that day we spoke again and agreed this trip needed to happen, but it wasn’t going to be sitting in hot springs while it's 100 degrees outside. We regrouped and two days later the three of us were off on a 7 hour road trip to Yosemite where crisp Autumn had already arrived.
The weekend turned out to be the experience of a lifetime! The one you talk about the rest of your life. A weekend you tell stories about, over and over, weaving them into the tapestry of lifelong bonds that change who you are and become the magic elixir of life.
It’s hard to believe this life changing experience was almost canceled. How could this be?
Well….
Loss of intentionality in my life choices
Overriding my values, needs and soul desires
Not scheduling regular time to reflect, integrate and cultivate aligned intentions
When I got home from that trip, I was tired, but the good kind of tired. The type that leads to deep, peaceful sleep, and waking up refreshed and inspired for the day. Everything I did was enhanced and infused with the energy, love, and clarity from the weekend.
We spent hours appreciating nature, reflecting on our lives -what was working and what wasn’t. We processed what we were learning, we honored our relationships, we envisioned our next steps, and asked for support from one another to keep us true to our souls’ desires.
We also decided this type of deep, intentional shared time together needed to happen regularly, because what happened during this time infused our lives with meaning, purpose, and a deepening of bonds to support us along the way.
Since that experience many years ago, we have continued to prioritize this type of intentional time together and it has been life changing for us all.
It’s a coming home to ritual and space for collective grounding and celebration of life.
It’s a rebuke to hustle culture that tells us to keep going, keep accumulating, no matter how tired or disconnected you are from yourself and those you love…and, damn the consequences to your life, relationships, soulful dreams or anything that connects you to what matters most in your life.
Seasonal rituals are not foreign to us as humans. It’s in our DNA to make meaning, connect and share.
To survive capitalist culture, you have to intentionally defy and reject the persistent messages that tell you more is better and that your worth is connected to what you do or produce.
The Delightfully Free Journey creates space to slow down, turn in, hold space, connect, reflect and listen. Listen to your heart’s desires and to those around you. Inspiration and restoration lives here. And, likely, some great laughter.
I invite you to join me this Fall Equinox to take an intentional break to exhale, reflect on the offerings of summer, the learning, the knowing that can guide you forward into fall with intention.
I invite you to hold a circle with me and other childfree women who crave soulful connection, and the desire to live a life that feels cozy, sustainable and inspired.
Event Details:
📅 Date: Friday, September 22nd
⏰ Time: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM (PDT) (There will be plenty of time for lunch, snacks, and movement)
📍 Location: Virtual Retreat (Join from the comfort of your home and cozy pants!)
🎟️ Admission: $350
This will be an intimate gathering of 9 women to support connection and time for shared reflection, so be sure to reserve your spot now.
If you have any childfree women in your life that you feel would be a great fit for this offering, please be sure to share this invite with them.
With love,
Annie
