Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth.—Thoreau

Last weekend I hosted the annual Writing in the Woods retreat and, per usual, we had a powerful group of women join us. When Tim and I arrived late Thursday night, we couldn’t tell if the West Virginia foliage was still on the trees. I woke up Friday morning to a beautiful surprise—the trees were peppered with yellow, orange, red, and brown and the sky was blue.

After decorating with twinkle lights, pumpkins, and yellow mums, the house was ready to host all weekend. Due to the outside chill, we spent our days writing and practicing yoga by the fire inside. Saturday night we roasted s’mores by the campfire and waved sparkles in circular patterns before the storm rolled in. A torrential downpour provided the meditative backdrop to Sunday.

The past few days of colorful foliage, sounds of rain, heat from a roaring fire, taste of colorful roasted veggies, and smell of freshly-baked pumpkin pie provided a welcomed respite for this city dweller’s soul.

Time away offers an opportunity to hit that pause button and check in. What’s working? What needs attention? Does how I spend my time align with my values?

By shifting routine through time away or doing things differently, there’s a break in the “rinse and repeat” lifestyle of get up, go to work, come home, go to bed.

One exercise I encouraged the retreaters explore was creating a two-month wish list. We have two months left in 2017, what do you want to see, smell, hear, taste, and feel by New Year’s Eve?

Wishing you a sensory-filled conclusion to October. Bisous. x