Writing Retreat as Self-Care

 

Liz and I are heading south today for a writing retreat, which, for us, is self-care in its finest form. We spend three to four days thinking only of ourselves and our writing. That sounds more selfish than it is. Both husbands are on board with the trips away--as a matter of fact, I think they probably enjoy having the houses to themselves for a brief time. It's our time away from everything and we're both looking foreword to it more than usual. 2021 kicked both our butts and to be able to do something as extraordinarily ordinary as go on retreat feels incredibly special.

This year, we're going to a small hotel in a little town in the hills that we both love. We stayed there a couple of years back--ended up getting iced in there for an extra day as a matter of fact--and we loved it. It's a boutique hotel with a great restaurant and in January, we practically have the whole place to ourselves. The little tourist town is quiet, some shops are open, some are closed for the season and that's just fine for us. We aren't big shoppers, anyway, and although we'll head out, safely masked, to walk in the afternoons, we won't miss wandering the shops. 

Mostly, though, we'll be writing, brainstorming, processing, writing, drinking coffee and probably, some wine, and writing. We'll scare up some chocolate for me and cheese and crackers for Liz and munch while we write and talk and laugh and write. It is Nan-and-Liz time and we cherish it and are fiercely protective of it. Frequently, friends will offer to come along--other writers wanting to join in or nonwriters who say, "I'll come and cook for you" if we're renting a house or cabin. The offers are sweet, but this our time, and only having each other to consider is all part of that self-care thing we've been talking about. We recommend a retreat with your writing bestie regularly as a good self-care habit.

So, we'll check in, and Liz will be here Friday with a full report. Meanwhile, stay safe, stay well, wear your masks, and be kind to yourself and others.