After 14 years of watching my husband pack for his annual guy’s weekend, my light finally came on. Each year I would say the same thing, “I wish I was going on a girl’s weekend with my favorite female friends." Of course my enlightened, logical husband would simply reply, “Then why don’t you?”
I could see the logic and value of creating time to pause and celebrate life – it wasn’t rocket science. I usually felt stronger and more focused after spending time conversing with my friends who were experiencing all of the same lights and shadows that life has to offer. This shared identification with my friends somehow made me feel less alone - that perhaps I really was on the right track after all.
So what took me so long to put what I knew into action? In hindsight I think I felt the same way that a lot of other women feel; that they’re either too busy or feel too guilty to make it happen.
In 2004 I finally listened to my internal wisdom, and created the first Wise Women’s Weekend. I invited 8 women who had had a positive impact on my life in some way, to spend a weekend with me under one roof in a beautiful vacation home. I didn’t want this to be just any kind of weekend. What I wanted to create was an event that would allow me to share my gratitude and admiration for each of these women, and at the same time provide us all with an opportunity to learn from each other through the sharing of our stories, and the wisdom we’ve each collected along the way.
Most of the women didn’t know each other that first year; we’re all from different backgrounds, professions and stages of life. Yet today our group of nine has formed a lifelong bond. We celebrate each other’s ups, commiserate the downs, and encourage each other to be our best selves. We've just returned from our 6th Annual Wise Women's Weekend and again have come away feeling connected - and valued.
This experience is what inspired me to create a wise woman... to offer gentle reminders for women to pause more, connect with each other and celebrate their lives.
I know that all nine of us are stronger from having this connection, and it was important to me to bring it to other women.
Meet My Wise Women in the picture above...
I could see the logic and value of creating time to pause and celebrate life – it wasn’t rocket science. I usually felt stronger and more focused after spending time conversing with my friends who were experiencing all of the same lights and shadows that life has to offer. This shared identification with my friends somehow made me feel less alone - that perhaps I really was on the right track after all.So what took me so long to put what I knew into action? In hindsight I think I felt the same way that a lot of other women feel; that they’re either too busy or feel too guilty to make it happen.
In 2004 I finally listened to my internal wisdom, and created the first Wise Women’s Weekend. I invited 8 women who had had a positive impact on my life in some way, to spend a weekend with me under one roof in a beautiful vacation home. I didn’t want this to be just any kind of weekend. What I wanted to create was an event that would allow me to share my gratitude and admiration for each of these women, and at the same time provide us all with an opportunity to learn from each other through the sharing of our stories, and the wisdom we’ve each collected along the way.
Most of the women didn’t know each other that first year; we’re all from different backgrounds, professions and stages of life. Yet today our group of nine has formed a lifelong bond. We celebrate each other’s ups, commiserate the downs, and encourage each other to be our best selves. We've just returned from our 6th Annual Wise Women's Weekend and again have come away feeling connected - and valued.
This experience is what inspired me to create a wise woman... to offer gentle reminders for women to pause more, connect with each other and celebrate their lives.
I know that all nine of us are stronger from having this connection, and it was important to me to bring it to other women.
Meet My Wise Women in the picture above...
Clockwise from left to right; Cindy, Pam, Sherrin, me, Barb, Jollean, Sharon, Sandra, Cara
Here's to feeling valued and connected!
Here's to feeling valued and connected!
Cheers,
Lauri
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