Youth Retreat
For as long as I can remember, I have dreamed of a youth retreat for teenagers. A few weeks ago, that dream came to fruition when myself and the Museum of Happiness partnered with The English Guild Experience and the Stanford Guild House.
Seventeen young people, aged 13-17, came from different parts of America on a journey to engage their heads, hearts, and hands in meditation, yoga, pottery, various crafts, cooking, singing, playing, secular prayer, and listening to poetry and creating live music together.
Twenty-three people, all living in one magical home together in the Cotswolds. This time last year, I was at the Gandhi Ashram in India, and the children sent me home with a "big bag of love" containing handmade heart garlands with Gandhi's messages, such as "Be the Change" and "Love All Serve All." As I was packing, I filled my bag with them, excited to give the gifts to everyone. When I arrived on-site, there was a beautiful surprise. Gandhi had visited the house and gifted a spinning wheel, and there was a handwritten letter from him displayed in the house.
Everything about the retreat was magical! The building, the place, and the people. We invited the young people out of their comfort zones daily, and there were many things that also pushed me out of my comfort zone too.Lots of opportunities to practice what I preach with making friends with my mind, choosing not to listen to fearful stories my mind would play out, to get to choose a wise and compassionate response, instead of reacting and to be present in each moment, as well as practicing lots of self-care and listening to the wisdom of my body. I am so grateful for all of these practices in my tool kit.
On the first day, the young people didn't seem interested in meditation. By the third day, we were up at 7 am, meditating on a hill, overlooking the rolling hills of the Cotswolds. Such a great way to start the day and shake off the cobwebs. By day four, when the noise level was too high (23 people all around one dinner table), the young people would ask to ring the meditation bells and take a moment of mindfulness, which melted my heart, especially coming from a 13-year-old boy.
We went on different fun trips around the area, including Bristol to see Banksy’s street art, Oxford to see the University and Lewis Carroll's inspiration for Alice in Wonderland and the Chronicles of Narnia, and Stratford-upon-Avon to visit Shakespeare's house.
Each day, a young person and a staff member would be invited to share a story or lesson they have learned in their life. It was a joy and an honor to share about "No Mud, No Lotus"... how life will send "mud," and that we don't need to fear the mud, as the mud of life is often a fertilizer that helps us grow in some way. The public doesn't usually get access to Shakespeare's garden, but a community member had a connection there, so we were able to go in and explore. The day for my Lotus from the Mud story happened to be the day we were at Shakespeare's house, and I had the honor of sharing the story of the Museum of Happiness and the lotuses from the mud under a tree, in a circle, in Shakespeare's garden. It was a special moment I’ll hold in my heart forever.
My heart was so warmed by every single one of the young people and staff. Everyone was so kind, inclusive, and willing to help and support each other. I was moved to tears on a daily basis. It was such an incredible experience and one I will never forget. A deep bow of gratitude to everyone involved! My heart feels so full and I'm so inspired and immensely grateful for this experience.
