I started planning this retreat last year in November. Worked so hard on it for months and got the best but very important support for it to make it happen. Felt like everyone was cheering for me. Felt amazing but so so pressured. This needed to be a success! Not many thought I would get enough people. My husband of course thought I would get even more than I had imagined. My magic number was 16. I do not know where this number came from and what it meant, but i knew I wanted that many as my participants.
What happened? I freaked out, I panicked, but I managed it all! I was constantly on the edge about how something might go wrong. But I meditated with everyone which really helped.
Everyone showed up for each and every activity even when it was early morning at 6am in the rain. Everyone dedicatedly took part in them. They laughed, they made friendships, they freaked out with the bushbabies, ate, ate and ate again, tried some difficult asanas and some intense meditations.
All reviews have lovely comments about how everyone felt so welcome, part of the community, loved the silences and the early morning meditations.
You will ask, Masuma, but how did it really go? What do you feel about it?
I think I forgot to feel about it through the retreat. I had a very calm but very professional mode on. I went through it making sure everything goes correctly and everyone feels fine. I don’t know what such a huge success should feel like. I don’t feel like jumping, or shouting or even sharing everything. Somehow it feels so sacred! So, I am going to share a few comments from the feedback that really touched me heart.
This does not mean that it was completely flawless, but the feedback has been so constructive and beautiful with everyone saying they would join back!
It is extremely hard for me to accept compliments and especially on something that I worked so hard on. But, I will accept and consider this a success and bask in it for a while and hopefully get ready for arranging the next one.
This, is how it went! :)
So very proud of you!