This weekend, I had the privilege to work with some very smart and creative people as part of a workshop, that explored what motivates us to reach certain goals.
The workshop was intentionally designed to take place in a nature setting that was far away from the distractions and electronic influences of our suburban/urban lives. The house, nestled by trees, overlooking a beautiful hill with a red barn and fields, generated an immediate feeling of relaxation and reminded me of secluded temples I had encountered on hikes in South Korea.
The house itself felt very warm and peaceful, creating time and space for meditation and music. It was amazing to me how 10 strangers, could reach such personal and emotional levels in such a short time. We had all one thing in common: a love for nature. It was clear that it was the setting of the house, that put us all at ease, the strenuousness of hiking along rocky cliffs, searching for somethings beautiful in the grey winter forests and sharing its beauty with someone else.
During deep meditation exercises, that asked us to focus on sounds around us, whether near or far, it seemed almost as if we detached ourselves from the physical place that we had chosen to sit or lie in. I imagined flying above the clouds, moving in one direction, sunlight around me and puffy clouds below. It was an amazing experience, during which we opened our mind and centered ourselves around one thought, one desire, one dream.
Sitting in a circle, sunlight flowing into the room, we prepared ourselves for working as a group as well as an individual by drumming on carved West African drums. A beat was given, we all joined in, copied that beat, played it quieter or louder, slower or faster, until we were all in sync, connected by the deep vibrations that seemed to crawl across the floor and filled the whole room. Some of us added a few additional beats, their own voice and expression, then joined into the communal drumming again. The drumming reduced our heat rate, relieved stress and almost felt like a trance. At the end, we felt energized, ready to start the day.
My personal promise that derived from this peaceful and eclectic weekend? To add more creativity to my daily life, to make it a priority and not wait until we have an open slot on our busy calendars! Nurturing my writing, my photography and learn how to live in the moment from time to time.
