A Retreat into the Next Chapter
This month, I gave myself something rare and deeply needed: five uninterrupted days on a business retreat in the Arizona desert. No calls. No packed agenda. Just me, my thoughts, a commitment to go inward, and the wise counsel and presence of two of my closest friends—soulful women who were also on their own personal retreats, each navigating meaningful transitions in their lives.
The intention was simple: unplug, reflect, and get clear. Each morning began with a two-hour hike in nature—an intentional ritual that grounded me in wonder. We watched birds glide through still skies, discovered (and respectfully left) ancient Native American pottery shards, and paused to take in crystals forming along the walls of a box canyon. I carved out time for daily meditation, which helped quiet the noise and tune into what was most true beneath the surface.
While I'm not ready to share everything just yet, I can say with confidence that this retreat gave me the clarity and grounding I needed.
One of the most profound reflections was how I want to shape this next chapter. In 2026, I'll become an empty nester. Since 1992, full-time motherhood has been a core part of who I am. Preparing for this shift feels both tender and empowering. I want to enter this new season with presence, purpose, and a strong sense of who and how I want to be.
Here's what rose to the surface:
Clarify and commit. I'm focusing my work on what I love most—helping leaders and emerging leaders grow into their full potential through a people-first, purpose-driven approach to leadership.
Savor the work. I'm ready to slow down and enjoy the process, not just push through it. Every week doesn't need to feel like finals week.
Be intentional with relationships. I'm reflecting on which connections I want to nurture and how I want to show up with more presence and care.
Let go of urgency. Not everything needs an immediate answer. For someone who values decisiveness, this is a growing edge—and one I'm learning to embrace.
Give to myself first. Tending to my own well-being expands my ability to serve and love from a more rooted place.
This retreat was a reset. A reminder that alignment is something we choose and cultivate—through stillness, through connection, and through courageous honesty.
One of the gifts of this time was space to read, slowly and deeply. I'm most of the way through The Great Work of Your Life by Stephen Cope, and one quote at the very beginning has stayed with me the entire trip:
"Every man has a vocation to be someone: but he must understand clearly that in order to fulfill this vocation he can only be one person: himself."
—Thomas Merton
The path ahead feels both grounded and expansive, and I'm ready to meet it fully.
Love and light,
Shelley