RETREATS

LIFE IS A VERB: Unmasking the power of our personal stories

A 37days Retreat in Asheville, North Carolina

April 24-26, 2009 - SOLD OUT

DATES FOR OUR FALL 2009 RETREAT WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON! Limited to 10 participants.

“The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another; and his humblest hour is when he compares the volume as it is with what he vowed to make it.” - James M. Barrie

If you had only 37 days to live, would you feel happy with the story you have lived thus far? How would you express that story, learn from it, leave it for others? Those are the fundamental questions behind the blog, 37days, and the grounding for this unique weekend gathering focused on unmasking our personal stories to achieve renewed creativity, healthier relationships, and fuller engagement in what poet Mary Oliver calls our “one wild and precious life.”

Often, there is a gap between how we wish to be seen and who we really believe ourselves to be, between the story we meant to write and the one we’ve written so far. This gap mutes the colors of our lives and inhibits the quality of our engagements with other people—in our families, our organizations, our communities. Maintaining that gap diminishes our creative impulse and often splits our intentions. Why, then, don’t we do more to shorten that distance and mind that gap?

Let’s spend a weekend doing just that by exploring  six core practices for more intentional living from Patti’s new book, LIFE IS A VERB. Retreat participants will receive a signed copy of Patti's newest book, LIFE IS A VERB.

This unique retreat will explore these questions:

• How do we make meaning of our lives through story?
• What are the stories we tell ourselves about others? About ourselves? How do those stories reduce us? 
• What learning and significances are right in front of us, in the stories of our days?
• How can we move beyond the limits of who we think we are into what we were meant to be?
• In what ways can we relinquish our “role” in order to discover who we might be beneath the mask?
• How can we live more mindful, intentional lives by saying yes, being generous, speaking up, trusting ourselves, loving more, and slowing down?

Our process

Our weekend will be oriented more toward learning (a process that leaves us changed) than toward problem-solving (a process focused on changing our surroundings). We believe learning is most meaningful when it is embodied, not just intellectual. There will be space and time for individual reflection as well as group engagement.

Is this a workshop only for writers?

Not at all. We’ll do some reflective exercises that involve writing, but we welcome visual artists, people who like to read or bake or sleep late or crochet small giraffes, engineers, kayakers, you name it. The only prerequisite for attending is that you are human. Period. Okay, well, perhaps human with a sense of humor. That’s it. All are welcomed.

SCHEDULE

We begin at 6pm on Friday (check-in will begin at 3pm) and close at 1pm on Sunday.

GUIDES: Patti Digh and David Robinson, co-founders, The Circle Project

Patti Digh’s first book, Global Literacies: Lessons on Business Leadership and National Cultures (Simon & Schuster, 2000) was named a “Best Business Book” by Fortune magazine. Her second book was The Global Diversity Desk Reference (Wiley, 2003). Her third book, LIFE IS A VERB, is based on her award-winning blog, 37days, and is due out in September 2008 from Globe Pequot Press. She lives in Asheville, North Carolina.

As a life long visual and theatre artist, David Robinson has mastered the competencies now recognized by organizations as invaluable to their sustainability: creative, imaginative, symphonic, and mythic. His 20 years of professional directing experience help him design programs that facilitate the recovery of the creative impulse and transformational experiences. David has been Artistic Director of The Dimensions Theatre Project, General Manager of The Seattle Shakespeare Company, and Artist-in-Residence for the Lincoln Unified School District, among other engagements. He lives in Seattle, Washington.

Patti and David are the co-founders of The Circle Project, focused on exploring communities and organizations as storytelling systems, engaging people around diversity issues, and methods for personal learning and organizational change.

HERE’S WHAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID ABOUT OUR RETREATS AND WORKSHOPS:

Patti and David were able to take us to a level of insight beyond anything I could have imagined...and do this over and over again. Our group walked in as acquaintances and emerged feeling close, bonded by the experience and with a whole new language for relating to each other.  It is absolutely the most engaging and enlightening workshop I have ever taken. -Cate, Seattle, Washington

Patti and David are a dynamite team with so much wisdom and power between them. Their training is like taking a personal and collective journey into a place where innate knowledge is illuminated into new ways of seeing ourselves and others. -Teresa, Portland, Oregon

It was like following the yellow brick road. There was a sense of expectation that made me wonder what would come next….When the journey was over, I wished that it had not ended. And it was the journey itself that made me grow, exposing so many layers I had to think about again and again. The most beautiful part of the whole experience was how our two guides made sure everybody was involved and included, graciously and effortlessly. -Alex, Seoul, Korea

It's rare to have the safety and encouragement to explore your edges, question your assumptions, change your perspective, and have a lot of fun doing it. Patti and David's facilitation style is fluid, smart, creative, balanced, and aware. They expertly extracted the wisdom in the group and guided us through a playful, and sometimes uncomfortable, journey of discovery. None of us will ever forget it.  -Marlo, Portland, Oregon

My experience with the 37days retreat was absolutely magical!  Patti’s wry humor, intelligence and expertise, combined with David’s brilliant ability to facilitate learning through stories and theatrical games, created an environment in which I felt completely at ease. I was inspired and motivated to explore deeply within my own heart and mind. -Janna, Asheville, North Carolina

LOCATION: We will meet at the Bend of Ivy Lodge.

This beautiful Gathering place is nestled on 63 acres of land that slopes gently down to the Ivy River, just 20 minutes north of the unique mountain town of Asheville, North Carolina. Called the "Paris of the South" and "Santa Fe of the East," Asheville is a special place.

Our location will support our purpose. Imagine 63 acres of quiet serenity down a gravel road, a beautifully restored barn, sleeping rooms that showcase art from around the world and bring people into community, gorgeous wooden beams—add delicious organic vegetarian meals on the porch, sitting areas by the pond and in the covered pavilion, and a remarkable meeting space. You’ll leave TV and email far behind here. Our Lodge will be non-smoking and alcohol free.

As a recent guest at the Lodge wrote, “I was aware of the sacred all around me, from the craftsmanship of your construction, to the beauty of the natural environment, to the love, thoughtfulness, and spiritual qualities of your design of space, to the art and books all around—all of this encouraged quiet connection. Thank you for creating such a place and sharing it with others!" 

We urge participants to stay “on-campus” with us to maximize your experience, build a community of learners, and allow yourself to really relax. If you are local and would like to go home at night or stay elsewhere, we ask that you plan to participate in all sessions, which end on Friday and Saturday nights at 9pm.

SLEEPING ROOMS: The living space at the Bend of Ivy Lodge is simple, clean, and inspires community and reflection. Shared rooms provide two twin beds and participants share baths on each floor of the Lodge.

SIZE: Like our location, our size will also support our purpose. We can accommodate no more than 16 participants, so early registration is recommended.

COSTS: We want to honor those intentions of “gifting” from which 37days itself sprung–so in the spirit of community and giving, we’d like to offer this retreat on a sliding cost scale between $875-$1075, which covers everything except your transportation to the Lodge. You are asked to place yourself on that scale and pay what you can within it. If you are able to contribute more and help support our work in the world, please do. If you can only pay expenses at the lower end of the scale, please know that we welcome you as well.

Your tuition is all-inclusive, covering a signed copy of Patti’s new book, LIFE IS A VERB, double occupancy lodging with shared baths, delicious organic vegetarian meals and snacks from Friday dinner through Sunday brunch (cooked by a wonderful chef whom David calls the Kitchen Goddess), and all Retreat materials. You can hold your space with payment of a $250 deposit; the balance will be due three months prior to the Retreat.

[If you’d like a single room and we can accommodate your request, we’ll ask you to pay an additional $175. If you’d like to join us, but stay elsewhere, your tuition scale will be $675-975.]

Transportation: The closest airport is Asheville (AVL), which is about a 30 minute drive from the Lodge. The Greenville-Spartanburg airport (GSP) is a 1.5 hour drive away, and the Charlotte airport is a 2.5 hours drive (CLT). All are easy drives on major roadways. Directions and other details will be provided in your registration confirmation letter.

TO REGISTER, complete the registration form and mail to: Patti Digh, 37days Retreat, P.O. Box 18323, Asheville, NC, 28814 USA with a check payable to The Circle Project. Or you can pay online via PayPal to patti(at)thecircleproject(dot)com and fax the form to 800-886-3604.

Cancellations: If you should have to cancel, we'd miss you terribly, but we understand that life changes our best-laid plans sometimes. Cancellations over 30 days prior to the Gathering will receive a full refund less a $25 administrative fee. Cancellations between 1-30 days prior to the Gathering will forfeit all fees if the space cannot be filled. If the space is filled by another participant, you will receive a full refund less a $75 administrative fee.

Questions?  Don’t hesitate to call Patti at 828-280-5766 or email her at pattidigh(at)gmail(dot)com and put "37days Retreat" in your subject line. She’ll be glad to talk with you and answer any questions you might have.

Many thanks for your interest. We'd love to have you join us there. It won't be the same without you.