"Transitions and New Beginnings" retreats involve art and movement as well as conversation

Hi Barb, 

A couple weeks ago, someone who had attended one of our "Transitions and New Beginnings" retreats, wrote me out of the blue. 

He wanted to share what had happened after the retreat he attended in March 2023.

According to Bob (his real name, used with permission)...   

If you recall I was contemplating leaving my career as an architect and trying to figure out my next career. 

The art exercises that you had us do really had an impact on my thought process.  I discovered that it was ok to get messy and explore ideas and options I normally wouldn’t have.

I can confidently say that the retreat helped me settle into a phase of open exploration without being afraid.  Shortly after the retreat, I began working on the book I had always talked about writing.

I have a completed manuscript almost ready to go to my editor and am hopeful that by May of 2025 I will be a published author.  I also currently have a children’s book that we are editing and getting an illustrator onboard and hope to have that published by spring of 2025.

I wanted you to know that your retreat, for me, was eye opening and did make an impact and for that I am grateful. 

Thank you. -- Bob Vajgrt 

Yes, transitions often are messy. You know this from times you have moved, changed jobs, lost a loved one, or experienced a crisis of your health, finances or relationship. You may feel disoriented, tired and "beside yourself."

Art is messy too. I've found that just playing with paint helps me make sense of things and give me a glimmer of new possibilities.

It's not about creating a painting (in case you are an "I'm not an artist" type) -- it's about expressing yourself and being curious. Something about art changes you. 

Adele, one of our participants in April 2024, can attest to this: 

I am still basking in the radiance of this weekend's energy with all of you. Something has been transformed within me. I'm not exactly sure what, but it's exciting, feels incredible and is motivating me to keep taking solid steps forward in my transition and starting this new beginning. -- Adele

We are getting ready to open registrations for transitions retreats in 2025. See the "Courses and Resources" section below for more information about these restorative weekend retreats. 

I would love to meet with you to play with paint and see what new beginnings are emerging for you!  

Warmly,

Barb Bickford

Transitions retreats -- save the dates! 
-- in person on one of two weekends in February or April, 2025

Back by popular demand!  If you are going through a transition in your life, you may feel disoriented and alone. Come join a retreat with people who are also navigating transitions. Over a weekend away, we will explore what happened, how it's showing up in your life, and consider what might be coming next, using conversations, art and gentle movement. 

Read more about these events. To be sure you are notified when registration opens, go to our Topic Sign up page and check the box for "TOPIC: Transitions / Grief." 

We can also present a shorter version of the transitions retreat in just one day, for churches, staff retreats and associations.  Even apartment complexes! Let me know if you are interested by replying to this email. 

Gratitude in Action: Getting Started with Social Impact
Are you a community leader, business person or non-profit professional who wants to give back to your community in a proactive way?

Perhaps you are not sure what you impact you want to have, so you waste time figuring out what to give to. Or, you don't have even have time to try to figure it out. Or, you just give to whoever asks and have no way of knowing if your gift made a difference.

Hey, me too!

I've asked Carolyn Keller of Curio 412 to give people like us an intro into Social Impact. Whether you're just starting or looking to enhance your efforts, you (and I) will gain valuable insights and find a supportive environment to explore new ideas. 

To become more intentional about managing the social impact of your business or organization, save the date: Tuesday, November 19th at 1 PM ET /12 PM CT /11 AM MT/10 AM PT for this engaging short workshop. Registration will open in October. 

Clean Language in Healthcare Community of Practice
Lately, I've been attending a community of practice for using Clean Language in healthcare. If you are looking for a way to improve communication in healthcare, you are welcome to join in! 

The group is intended for anyone who's using Clean Language in any way, in any health or care context. It includes complete beginners as well as experts!

Register for these 3 stand-alone events here: November 8.  January 17.  March 14. There's no cost, and they are really fun!

Related blog posts
-- Listening skills for when you don't have time
-- How conversations smooth transitions
-- Embracing life transitions

Our current workshops and courses

The Case Against Brainstorming
(Or, how to access wisdom through non-habitual methods)

Using art to access our inner wisdom during transitions is an example of using a non-habitual way of making sense of things.   

In a similar way, this video from Sumeet Gayathri Moghe challenges the effectiveness of brainstorming as an idea-generation method, citing scientific research and highlighting four problems with the approach.

Want even more tips? Access Ten Tips to Foster Online Engagement.

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Photo Credit: Barb Bickford