Have In-Person Retreats Become a Revolutionary Act?

I just learned that McDonald’s Restaurants will be replacing their employees with computer terminals.  This can seem like progress in the eyes of our market-driven society. Yet there’s something in us that knows this will have a big impact in how our economy and society works. What happens to the people who lose their jobs? What will it feel like without the human connection to ordering our food, if this becomes a trend with other food businesses? The free smiles? The hellos? 

The more automated our lives are becoming, the more loneliness and social isolation there is. This move by McDonald’s has been coming with the increased technology in our world, where people are hooked to their smartphones, computers and tvs, believing this is life and relating.  I’m sorry to say but it is all artificial relating, and communication through computer technology can lead to bullying, violence, impersonal insensitivities, indifference, etc.  

But human beings need contact with each other in order to feel loved, to grow as people, to be accountable, to find compassion, to know they matter and to bring out their gifts and talents to benefit the world. Is it any wonder we have increased depression? Increased violence? Increased learning disabilities? Increased substance abuse?  Because we don’t have safe places of community to express our feelings, to check our behaviour, to talk about our dreams, to realize we actually exist.

This is why I organize in-person retreats and workshops, even though they are a lot of work to put together. Because we each need the time and space to let go of our roles and responsibilities, to hug each other just out of our humanity, to laugh and cry together, to feel our feelings in a safe space, to know it’s okay to ask for help and be vulnerable, to be willing to take time out while feeling supported.  Studies have been shown that when women gather together their hormones actually become balanced. 

I never thought organizing in-person events would be revolutionary. They used to be normal, an average thing to do. But as I send the message out to others about my retreats, over the last few years, I’ve seen the momentum decline – not just for mine, otherwise I’d take it personally. It’s been happening to retreat owners and retreat facilitators.  

Many people are thinking they can get support through an online retreat or working with a coach at a distance. Though they have their merits, there’s nothing that beats time to sit with others, relax into yourself, be in a new setting and sharing stories. It breaks one out of the lonely box and brings in joy, connection, hugs, tears and compassion.  We are alive human beings. We are meant to play together, laugh together and share food and stories together. We are not meant to sit in boxes and stagnate.

I do believe that there will be a tipping point to this high tech world and the deep loneliness and mental/emotional illness that stems from it, for it will push us to come back to simpler approaches like handmade food, mom and pop restaurants and sharing circles.  

So please, before you get entrenched into social isolation, consider going to an in-person retreat – mine or another’s, as I really prefer you surround yourself with others who are willing and wanting to see you grow and heal.  

It’s imperative for your health and well-being in so many, many ways.

Heather Embree is a soul reader and coach, workshop and retreat facilitator, writer and communications consultant for compassionate projects. She has an upcoming “Heal Your Heart Retreat Weekend for Women”, Aug 21-23^rd near Peterborough, ON.  For more info, visit: www.blossomingheart.ca or www.blossomingheartwords.com