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Thursday, October 17, 2013

Retreat Today

          Go over to Cathy Mere's Merely Day by Day to find all the Poetry Friday people who love, enjoy, write, then share their special ideas about poetry on Fridays.  It's such a great time!


          One definition of the word ‘serendipity’ is “the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.”   This time at my school’s fall retreat, I love how our time is going to fall around us, delighting us with the usual people, like having Thursday evening to hang out with everyone, having some wine or beer, just talking, snacking, playing silly games, and laughing.  It’s been a huge rush of busy-ness since school began, and this is a time of renewal before the second rush to conferences, then the holidays.         


            During Friday, each of us has chosen an activity for the morning and for the afternoon, like journaling in the wild, horseback riding, low ropes, talking about a film, etc.  It will provide us with different ways of finding serenity, keeping a quiet relaxation within ourselves while sharing an activity in a new place with colleagues.  I am reminded of the poem Wild Geese by Mary Oliver, especially because of its inclusiveness.  Our retreat means different things to each colleague, and we are grateful for it.
photo credit: saturn ♄ via photopin cc


Wild Geese

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
        love what it loves.

Read the rest for your own retreat, here!

19 comments:

  1. It's always a good day with a Mary Oliver poem in it. Rejuvenate, refresh and enjoy your retreat, Linda!

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  2. I am so retroactively jealous of your retreats, Linda! Why can our state not see the benefit of happy, relaxed, educated teachers? Oh. Never mind. Sadly, we're still working on destroying that for our students, come to think of it.
    Treasure your time and colleagues! I am more happy for you and the others than I am jealous! Wish it could be spread thickly over the whole education system!

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  3. Your retreat sounds wonderful! I hope it is all you wished for.

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  4. Thanks Jama, Donna & Ruth. I'm home now, tired, but it was a terrific time.

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  5. LInda,
    How wonderful that you have found the time to rest and grab a little energy for the next big hurdles. 'Serendipity' not only matters for bringing us energy, but it seems it may also be a little necessary for poetry. Thanks for sharing the Mary Oliver poem, Wild Geese. Your poem seems it might go well with Catherine's over at Reading to the Core.

    Cathy

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    1. Just clicked over to read the poem in it's entirety --- so glad I did. Beautiful.

      Cathy

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    2. Thanks Cathy, I'll be over to read your entire post soon! Happy you enjoyed the poem!

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  6. It's funny how the site I clicked to posted this poem on summer solstice. You posted it at a very different time of year and for a different reason. But for both of you, the poem resonated.

    Your retreat sounds fantastic!

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    1. Mary Oliver fits in so many places, doesn't she, Stacey? The retreat is always good, good to be in a different place with my wonderful colleagues. Good talk and great activities this time!

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  7. Ah, the retreat sounds wonderful, Linda. Wild Geese is such a haunting poem - it was a friend's cri de couer when she was in the midst of a terrible marriage and then divorce - those last lines resonated so powerfully.

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    1. I love that you have another story with a connection to Wild Geese, Tara. I feel as if I could read it again and again, seeing new things each time.

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  8. Hi there Linda, this is one of my favorite Mary Oliver poem. I think I've photoedited this poem as well using my iphone app, and passed it along to special friends who are in sore need of poetry in their lives. I am so glad that you are finding some quiet and a lovely time of renewal with colleagues. Much deserved and much needed.

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    1. Thanks Myra-it was a good time. I'm glad to hear about this poem from you, too.

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  9. Linda, what a lovely and balanced weekend. It's nice to have breathing space in weekends filled with intense activities. The Mary Oliver poem is soothing and reassuring. I love how collections of words, arranged in just the right way, can have that effect.
    Violet N.

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    1. Mary Oliver offers many gifts, doesn't she, Violet? My time in the retreat was a pleasure too. Thank you!

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    1. You are most welcome, Mary Lee. It's a hug from Mary Oliver!

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  11. Hi Linda - Sounds like you're having a wonderful renewing time at the retreat. Love this Mary Oliver poem!

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    1. Thanks BJ-home now, but it was a wonderful time! The poem is a favorite!

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