Hi all!
Welcome to Day 16 of my 31 Day Blogging Challenge in July! I’m halfway through now and I just want to quickly thank those that have messaged me privately and publicly with positive feedback. I’m so glad everyone is enjoying this challenge as much as I am!
Today, I have been asked to share what’s at the top of my bucket list. You might be thinking kids, travel, more published novels etc…but it’s actually something completely different!
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I have always wanted to attend a 100% silent meditation retreat. I recently found one located in Victoria that’s free (donation-based) and you stay in a homestead for 10 days straight without speaking one single word. You cannot write, read, exercise, interact with others, listen to music or make eye contact. All you are allowed to do for those 10 days is eat (this place offers vegan food), sleep and meditate. In fact, you are instructed to rise at 4am each morning and spend the majority of the day sitting in stillness with breaks in between for small meals. By now, you’re probably wondering why on Earth I would want to put myself through something so extreme for over a week. Well I’ll tell you…
I want to grow as a person. Now this doesn’t mean the only way to develop is to do a 10 day silent meditation retreat…not at all! On the contrary, there are thousands of ways to grow and change but I want to experience deep, deep silence for a long period of time. I need to be alone with my thoughts. I desire to feel challenged and I wish to remove myself from all of my comforts to see what’s left of me when the final day arrives…
We all have that one thing in life that we have to do. It calls to us. It pulls at our soul. This is my thing and I know I will do it someday. I’m not sure when I’ll be ready for such an endeavour but I know that one day, I will take the plunge. I won’t be doing it with anybody else. This is something I need and want to do on my own. Having said that, even if I wanted to do it with others, the guidelines specifically state that you will be separated immediately on arrival and are to stay as far away from each other as possible. I know it’s going to be incredibly challenging but simultaneously rewarding and life-changing. I can see myself emerging a different person. I look forward to that time.
What’s at the top of your bucket list? Have you ever been on a silent meditation retreat and can offer any pearls of wisdom? I am interested to know your thoughts and experiences.
See you tomorrow! Peace & Love xoxo
I would love to do something like this. Until reading your post, I hadn’t really thought about how profoundly impacting a ten-day silence retreat could be. Hmmm…if you go, will you PLEASE write about the experience?
Thank you so much! It just feels like something I have to do! I certainly will write about the experience! 🙂 I hope your day is wonderful! X
To be alone with nothing but your own thoughts…I think that is the only way we can truly connect with ourselves and confront our innermost fears and desires. As and when you do get to go, let me know. I haven’t been to one but I do really, really like silent moments like when I have the house to myself for an evening – and I’ll always make it a point to not touch my phone or laptop or listen to music or read but just sit there… 🙂
Publishing my book is at the top of my bucket list. Aside from that, it is being happy. Happiness is such a complex thing and comes in so many different forms 🙂
So nice to see you are halfway. Keep it up, I love this series x
Hi Mabel! I agree that being alone with your own thoughts and nothing else is the best way to connect and confront. I can’t wait for the experience and will definitely let you know how it goes! I like that you make time for silence and I know without an inch of doubt you will publish your book which I can’t wait to read!! xx