INTRODUCTION

I became more successful in my forties, but that pales in comparison with

the other gifts of my current decade--how kind to myself I have become,

what a wonderful, tender wife I am to myself, what a loving companion. I

prepare myself tubs of hot water at the end of the day, and soak my tired

feet. I run interference for myself when I am working, like the wife of a

great artist would--"No, I'm sorry, she can't come. She's working hard

these days, and needs a lot of down time." I live by the truth that "No"

is a complete sentence. I rest as a spiritual act.

-Anne Lamott, Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith

What would you do if you magically discovered “free time” with nothing to do or no place to go? How would you spend the gift of a few hours or a whole day, alone, in your own home?

We invite you to experience a Petite Retreat.

This book is designed for women who long for time away from the routine  . . . women who say,

I’d love a day to stay in my pajamas and read a book.

I sure do miss digging in my garden.

I wish I had time to finish organizing my sewing room.

I could use some peace and quiet.

The desire is strong but roadblocks seem even stronger . . .

I couldn’t possibly leave the kids.

I’d never get time off from work.

My credit card is already maxed out.

What on earth would I do with myself?

Sound familiar?

GIVE ME A BREAK

You can love your family, get a kick out of your work, and find satisfaction in your community projects. Yet even the most fulfilling life needs a break from an abundance of overdoing. At some point you need to unplug, get quiet, and reconnect with the woman everyone else finds so fascinating and competent.

Petite Retreats help cultivate a new attitude about your worth and a new relationship to your home. They are short chunks of time to tap into your yearnings, your wisdom, what you most want and value. With intention and permission, these home-based retreats can be habit-forming.

Reading this book and sampling some of the retreats will help you learn to have fun with the most important person in your life – YOU!

Ultimately, a Petite Retreat is all about intention. No matter what type of retreat you choose, this is your time, and how you spend it is completely determined by you – not your job, your family roles, or your list of “shoulds.”  A Petite Retreat is time alone with your inner Wise Woman, time to listen as she whispers – or maybe even shouts with attitude – what she needs in order to thrive, to be complete, to open to her essence.

Consider this an invitation to step away, to explore, to choose to be with your life in a different way. 

THE JOURNEY INTO PETITE RETREATS

Just by opening this book you have begun your first Petite Retreat. The book will guide you into the kind of experience that only happens when you are alone, disconnected from the people and tasks that call you to accomplish or achieve. Your choices on how to use your special time are endless.

Taking a Petite Retreat requires giving yourself permission. Permission to step away from your never-ending list of commitments. Permission to rest, play, explore. And permission to make these small solo experiences a regular part of your routine.

This book is a guide that continually reinforces one of the basic premises of a Petite Retreat: It is all about you. You will have opportunities to reflect on questions that help you identify your needs, wants, and values. You can use the journal pages provided at the back of the book for these musings or buy yourself a special journal reserved just for your retreat experiences.

In Chapter 1: The Heart of Petite Retreats, you will find more information about Petite Retreats and the importance of not only doing them alone but doing them in your own home. Mindfulness is at the heart of Petite Retreats, calling you to pay attention whether you are doing the laundry, cooking a meal, dancing to your favorite song, or soaking in the tub.

Chapter 2: Getting Started will help you prepare for a Petite Retreat from the inside out. You will learn how to tap into your needs and set your intention for your retreat. You will come face to face with the obstacles that stand in your way – no time, no space, no money, no clue about what to do. Moving beyond the excuses, you will begin to explore some ideas for creating your retreat. This chapter also deals with the practical aspect of scheduling and preparation.

Chapter 3: Finding Your Bliss helps narrow down your choices. Here you will find exercises to help you identify what you most need and what type of retreat might best fill those needs. Perhaps your retreat time will be filled with a crafts project or cooking a sumptuous meal. Perhaps it will be a time of meditation and quiet reflection. You may nap, read, dance, or take a luxurious bath.

Chapters 4 through 11 offer details for Petite Retreats that nurture your body, stimulate your creativity, and cultivate your intellect. Others titillate your senses and mine the gold found in quiet contemplation. You will learn how cleaning out a closet or organizing old photographs can be relaxing and energizing. Each of these chapters outlines steps that will guide you to engage your mind, body, and environment for a few hours or a full day.  

Chapter 12: Living Petite Retreats offers ideas for 5-, 15-, and 30-minute retreats that will help you continue to find solitude, rest, and renewal in your own home environment every day.

Chapter 13: Cooking Up a Petite Retreat gives you a recipe for designing your own retreats.

In the Resources section, you will find recommendations for books, music, videotapes and websites that may enhance your Petite Retreat experience.