Part 1
Using a sports analogy, what are all the possible reasons a basketball coach would call a time out during a game?
Possible Answers:
- To give his/her players a break
- To change the momentum of the game
- To make a substitution
- To regroup
- To provide feedback
- To call a new play
You get the idea. And in each example, wouldn’t you agree that the coach is utilizing the time-out to help his/her players go back into the game with a renewed sense of energy and focus?
Given that, what if, instead of a basketball game, we applied the time-out concept to ourselves, to our lives, and even to each other? Would it have similar benefits?
The answer is a resounding YES.
I take a personal time-out every year. In my case, I call it the Me Retreat, but it’s the same thing. Every summer I book a cabin for three days at the base of the Flatiron mountains in Boulder, Colorado and use the time to rest, reflect, and refocus. I’ve been doing this annual solo retreat for over 10-years now and it’s been the best gift I continually give to myself. And it truly is the gift that keeps on giving. I leave every one of these retreats relaxed, appreciative, and highly motivated to get back into the game of life, if you will.
And, because I take this time just for myself, it’s not unusual for a couple revelations and/or powerful insights to come to me, whether it’s about me, my life, or my business. For example, last year while I was sitting on a rock during one of my hikes, I had a moment where I felt I was being called to share the solo retreat experience, or Me Retreat, with others as well. It was intense…and led to the creation of The Me Retreat that you’ve seen me promoting here and there.
But that’s about me. What about you? Could you see yourself doing your own Me Retreat? What if it was already organized for you, and all you had to do was sign up and show up? Would that make a difference? Think about it. I have listed a bunch of Frequently Asked Questions on the website that might help with this.
Either way, just know you don’t have to be a basketball coach to utilize your own time out. The real question is, when are you going to take the time out, not will you take it.
Stay tuned to Part 2 where we’ll go a little deeper into the solo retreat experience.
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*Greg “Geese” Giesen is the founder and facilitator of The Me Retreat.