Highlights from our Annual Retreat

by Mac Thomson

Every spring we gather for our annual retreat in a spirit of celebration, renewing and deepening connection, and growth. Like everyone else, we had to modify our plans this year and held our retreat on Zoom this past weekend. Even though the setting was different, the results were the same – lots of laughter, some tears, and an ever deeper appreciation for each other and the special community that we share.

We always kick off our retreat with a slideshow of the past year's community highlights. I found myself so pleasantly surprised as I watched the slideshow on Friday night to see so much joy and connection even though we've had to curtail many of our most cherished community events: common meals, potluck dinners, Sunday brunches, Heartwood's 20th anniversary party, Thanksgiving dinner, New Year's Eve party, and so much more. And yet, community members rallied to come up with new Covid-compliant gatherings or reinvent our traditional gatherings.

Click here to go to Heartwood's homepage where you'll find our 2020 Slideshow: Connection in the Time of Covid. (Look in the right sidebar just below the Covid update.)

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Sarah, Beth, Renee, and Tom sharing a laugh during one of our breakout sessions at our annual retreat this past weekend.

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During one of our sessions, we were invited to remember back to when we were each on the verge of moving into Heartwood and then write and share a short haiku-like poem describing our vision of our soon-to-be life in Heartwood. Here's a small sampling..

Safe place for our children to grow
Deep connections
Simplicity
Shared values


friendship
intimacy
acceptance
connection
Heartwood


The best kind of life
For me and my wife and son
If we get there we won


Empty Nester
Starting over
Looking for and finding a Home


harried mother of two, 
needing sleep and desperate for community,
for some kind of tribe,
for a place to belong,
a place to grow


Big sky, simple life
Looking for a home to grow
Connection


Blue skies
Smiling faces
Welcome
Welcome
You are home

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Spring arrived just in time for our retreat. Thanks to temps in the 50's and plenty of sunshine, we were able to enjoy outdoor meals together. We also took advantage of our long lunch break to go for a trail walk with a neighbor as another opportunity for connection and friendship.