You arrive to the woods, to the lake, to happy voices down on a dock and quiet pine needle strewn paths and old friends that you may not have seen since last year at this time, and to new friends you always knew were out there and just hadn't yet met face to face, and your Squam experience begins.
The first afternoon is spent settling, reconnecting with friends and with yourself, and listening to all that space that is yours to dream in, to create in, to build in, to hear your own voice, and remember again, that you believe in that voice.
For me that first afternoon, was about solidifying some changes that I have been trying to make in my life. Changes about how I relate to my work, and how I see myself in relation to my work. The changes need to happen, and yet I have found myself going back to the old routine, the old ways of thinking, like a wheel rolling on a very rutted road. Time to try that other path and move off the old road.
And then it's time for dinner, and the evening and loons calling on the lake, and flashlights blinking in the woods, and a fire in the fireplace . . .
And then you get up on thursday and you're off . . . classes, talking, thoughts, walking, laughing, learning, sharing stories, re-learning, eating, writing, some wine on an evening, more laughing, and so it goes and so it goes.
Before you know it, it is Sunday morning, and you are tired and happy, and sad, and saying good byes, and packing your things, and driving away. You are refreshed and renewed and remembering why you inhabit this body, at this time, in this place, and you remember who you truly are, you have re-met yourself, again, and it is wonderful and amazing and bittersweet and remarkable.
And as you drive away, you turn around just one more time to remember. Hold it close, know that you know exactly who you are, and come back to this moment again and again over the days and months to come. This time away in the woods at Squam is a talisman for your year ahead, for your life down the road, for all the moments that you might forget who you truly are: You have seen yourself, and you know.
Oh Liz this is beautiful.
Posted by: Steph | September 23, 2010 at 09:52 AM
oh so lovely Liz!
Posted by: melissa | September 23, 2010 at 09:55 AM
How beautifully you have described this, Liz! "A talisman for the year ahead"... love it. x
Posted by: jin | September 23, 2010 at 10:01 AM
so beautiful liz....missing you gobs. xo
Posted by: jen gray | September 23, 2010 at 12:31 PM
SOunds like you had an incredible time liz! Joy all around!
Posted by: twitter.com/CandiedFabrics | September 23, 2010 at 02:37 PM
oh my gentle roomie, thank you so much for a very long list of things you dropped into my heart
x0
Posted by: Grace | September 23, 2010 at 04:53 PM
beautiful post as always. so good to see you Liz ~ already looking forward to October xo
Posted by: Marisa Anne | September 23, 2010 at 06:46 PM
love you sweet woman! xoxo
Posted by: stef | September 23, 2010 at 10:14 PM
I must join the chorus here ~ so lovely, so very lovely.
Posted by: Swirly | September 24, 2010 at 07:26 AM
Loving the new blog design. So full of life, color, love. And really love this passage of prose and images. YAY Lizzie!
Posted by: niya sisk | October 13, 2010 at 07:21 AM