I recently was slightly forced into visiting my first wellness retreat. Please use the word ‘force’ lightly lol. One of my new friend girls Stephanie Agyemang MD, owner of Fresh Start Primary Care. That’s right ya’ll your girl is out here rolling with doctors! Lol. Anyway, Stephanie also owns an event planning company called The Orchid Elite which specializes in quality luxury events. I attended two previous events without quarell, so me hearing about her upcoming ‘Rest and Restore Retreat’ a one day event devoted to self care; wasn’t a matter of if the ticket was worth it. It was issues with my availability. With my current business and work life, Sunday’s are a tricky day for me to enjoy off. So I’m always anxious when it comes to planning things around them.
During a girls night sushi date she demanded I come and she was comping my ticket. Needless to say I. Made. It. Work and took Sunday off without regard. For the first time in a while I didn’t care what got done, I was going to this retreat.
I was looking forward to spending a day of relaxation and self-care. Which brings us to today’s article. During my time at the said Rest and Restore Wellness Retreat, I learned three things that I will take with me for the rest of my life. Keep reading to find out what they are. Today, I am going to get a little personal, hopefully this helps someone out there.
1. Put Myself First
During the day we had a session with mental health doctor who made the segment dedicated to the black woman. She talked about how in society we are expected to persevere and push through. We are always looked at to be strong. We naturally put others before ourselves. I realized, I am the text book description of ‘this’ representation of a black woman. This wellness retreat taught me that is not who I am. In fact, I am vowing to put myself first. If I feel tired, I will stop. If I feel stressed I will digress. I am going to condition myself that I don’t have to work myself to the bare bone to achieve success. I can work at a healthy pace, and will accomplish the same goals.
If it is a matter of me taking time off from my business to do something toward my self care and benefit I will make it happen. I will put myself first. Because I deserve it.
2. Dig Deeper Into Self Care
During the day we were able to get massages. It instantly triggered a happier time in my life when I had a massage therapist as a go to, and I took this level of self-care serious. Life be lifeing and I stopped making setting aside the funds a priority to do it.
We all think self care is getting a good meal or pedicure, and believe me it is. However, the wellness retreat taught me, I can take my level of self-care up a notch. I will make getting a massage a priority again, even if it’s only once per month. It also makes me revisit the mental health doctor. I need to invest in my mental health, stop ‘just dealing with it’ and seek professional help for day to day life. Self care is way deeper than a coat of paint on my toenails, It is a way of life.
The wellness retreat showed me when you are taking care of yourself, mentally, emotionally, sexually, physically, and cosmetically it’s the ultimate cocktail to be the best you.
3. I Am Not The Only One Battling Life, and It’s Okay
The most alarming and refreshing thing about this wellness retreat is that everyone is dealing with something. We say it all the time, but this retreat literally showed me this statement is factual. There were countless women there who are successful on paper and financially but deal with the same struggles as anyone else. I learned no one’s shit is perfect and it’s okay.
Granted, I am not triumphing over anyone’s downfall. It’s refreshing in the sense of I am not left to be feeling forsaken. After the retreat I learned even though we are all unique, we are all equally the same. I am not the only one battling life and it’s completely normal to face adversity and hardship. There is always a solution and a better day ahead. Knowing that, makes weathering whatever storm life brings doable.
A Quick Rundown Of My Wellness Retreat Experience
Just to give you an idea of what attending the Rest and Restore Retreat was like. Here goes.
The retreat was held at a gorgeous venue in Springfield called Brick and Beam ( 1101 N Main St, Jacksonville, FL 32206). We started the day off in the outdoor patio allowing them to complete the setup. Inside was a grass like set up with white couches and floor pillows, candles and floral arrangements were randomly places on glass coffee tables.
After a brief introduction and meet and greet we were free to roam the building enjoying messages, buying self care products from vendors. From there we did a session of yoga, amazing. After that a healthy lunch. From there a mental health counseling session followed by a sexual self love session.
Words really can’t express how worthy and grateful I felt to be at that event. I met some beautiful and equally successful women who looked like me. What a wonderful day.
I’m so glad I followed lesson 1 without knowing it was one and put myself first to attend this event. If you have never been to a wellness retreat, I highly advise you give one a try. If you’re interested in doing the particular event I went to, be sure to follow The Orchid Elite or Brew Wellness Collective on Instagram to keep up with their next one (hopefully there is another).
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-Ash
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