The mental spreadsheet that never closes.

Something I learned from years of design work carries over to the retreats I lead. People rarely buy the thing you describe as your offer. They buy what the thing removes.

Here’s what I mean.

A woman considering an experience in France doesn’t lie awake thinking about museum tickets. She’s thinking about whether she can put down the mental spreadsheet she’s been carrying for a decade, and whether the person who’s been burdened by it is still there.

The mental spreadsheet

You know the one. Who needs what by when? Whose birthday is coming? Which prescription needs refilling, which form is overdue, which family member sounded off on the phone?

The spreadsheet never closes. It runs quietly during meetings, during dinner, during the movie you meant to enjoy.

The days you spend as part of the L’Aventure Française retreat, where there is no list that’s yours to manage, do something specific to a mind that hasn't stopped churning in years.

The first day or two often feels strange. By the third day, women start hearing thoughts that had been long been drowned out.

What comes back

One retreat participant told me she arrived with no clear path forward and left stronger in her decisions, and finally able to focus on taking care of herself without guilt.

Another woman said she’d been letting fear make her choices and came home listening to her own read on things instead.

That’s the return I care about.

Not simply enjoying a nice week, though it is that, but a different relationship with your own judgment that holds up once you’re back in at your desk and back in your kitchen.

The experience starts before you fly.

We have a private coaching session focused on your Enneagram style, plus group calls so you land already connected to the other women.

Six women come with me.

September 26 we meet in Paris and then travel to the countryside before flying home October 4.

Every detail is planned for you, so you can be fully present and cared for.

If you want to know whether this is your year, a short conversation is the fastest way to find out.

Schedule a time for us to talk.

Nobody is pretending it’s an easy year.

I’ve had a run of conversations lately that all sound alike. 

Women telling me they’re fine, mostly, and then admitting a minute later that they’re running on fumes and can’t tell whether the exhaustion is theirs or the world’s.

My husband and I have had our own version of this at the kitchen table. Real conversations about where we’d live, what we’d do, how much we’d want to hold on to. I didn’t expect these particular questions in my lifetime.

So I’m not pretending the ground is steady.

What I keep coming back to

When we shrink, nobody wins.

Not us, not the people who depend on us, not the wider world that needs whatever we’re each here to give.

The people I admire most right now are showing up in their fullest form. That takes fuel, and fuel is the thing most women I know have not made time to focus on.

Your relationship with yourself is where that starts.

Not as a nice idea, but as the practical source of the energy you hand out all day.

An example of what refueling looks like

At a past L’Aventure Française retreat, a remarkable woman decided it was time for her to experience the wonders of France — but she did not want to simply be a tourist.

She yearned for an experience with deep personal meaning and one that would have lasting impact.

After relishing the delights of our time in Paris, exploring off-the-beaten-track spots I love to share, we traveled to the gorgeous French countryside.

It was in the quiet natural beauty there, with time to share deeply, create joyfully, explore charming villages and take beautiful walks that deep clarity rose to the surface for her.

This what she said as she reflected  on what had changed for her:

“Before this retreat I let fear inform my decisions. Now I listen to my inner self to make better, more informed decisions.”

That’s the mechanism.

Not the flights or the food. It’s the absence of anything for you to manage, the space to experience fully and open your heart, and have the kinds of conversations that only open up when nobody is checking a phone. f

The ability to trust yourself as never before might show up for you, too.

Another woman returned from this retreat having released an old wound she’d carried for decades.

One had space to clearly realize the direction she want to set for her business.

One stepped into the courage to make a bold personal change she had been afraid to initiate for far too long.

What might show up for you if you gave yourself the space to be on this retreat?

How the retreat unfolds

We meet in Paris, stay in a stylish flat, and explore museums, neighborhoods and shops as we savor the food and ambience of Parisian life.

We then take a train to the southwest where we live in a gorgeous, private  retreat center surrounded by fabulous gardens in the countryside. This is where the pace slows way down.

Walks into the village, gathering from the gardens, making things with your hands, tasting the love in the food our hosts prepare for us, and shared, unhurried conversations.

Six women, September 26 through October 4.

And the experience begins before you pack, with a private coaching session and group calls so you arrive already knowing the circle.

If some part of you leaned toward this while reading, let’s talk. A short conversation tells us both whether the timing is right.

Schedule a call with me here.

Who Thrives at L’Aventure Française?

Let me be honest about who thrives when they choose to be a part of the L’Aventure Française retreat.

The first question is usually what the days hold.

Here’s the shape of it.

We begin in Paris, living together in a beautiful, comfortable flat. It’s situated in a great part of the city with easy access to several metro stations, and there are great bakeries and shops nearby.

We explore the city by metro and on foot. We visit museums — including some less familiar than the Louvre, and quite spectacular. We explore quiet corners and market streets most visitors never find. We wander varied neighborhoods, stop in amazing small shops, and eat beautifully.

Then we take the train south to Nouvelle-Aquitaine in central France, where we settle into a private retreat center in the country.

We live in a modern building that was transformed from an ancient structure. We enjoy our own open space for creating, with cozy sofas to curl up on for deep conversations. It has a cathedral ceiling and is flooded with light, and the lush landscape outside fills every window. Our comfy bedrooms and modern baths make it a delight to live there.

Our gracious hosts feed us meals in their charming country house down a path. The delectable local food is prepared with love you can taste. The gardens are exquisite and the surrounding villages invite long, unhurried walks.

A surprising aspect for women is how personal the experience is before we even leave home.

You and I meet one-on-one ahead of the trip, to explore your Enneagram, so that you arrive in France already grounded in who you are.

And, we all meet on group calls before arriving in Paris. There’s individual coaching in the country too, along with playful creative work that opens your heart in unexpected and delightful ways.

I arrange everything from the moment you land to the night before you fly home.

Your part is to show up and be present.

Can you envision what it would be like being part of this experience, and how much the adventure might impact your life?

I’d love to walk you through it all, answer your questions, and help you see what can be possible for you.

Schedule a call with me here.

Inside L’Aventure Française: What days in France look like.

When women hear about the L’Aventure Française retreat, the first question is usually what the days hold. Here’s the shape of it.

We begin in Paris, living together in a beautiful, comfortable flat.

We explore the city by metro and on foot, visit museums and the quiet corners most visitors never find. We wander varied neighborhoods and eat beautifully.

Then we take the train south to Nouvelle-Aquitaine in central France and settle into a private retreat center in the country. Our gracious hosts feed us meals prepared with love. The gardens are exquisite and the surrounding villages invite long, unhurried walks.

The piece that surprises people is how personal the experience is before we even leave home.

You and I meet one-on-one ahead of the trip, to explore your Enneagram, so you arrive already grounded in who you are. And, we all meet on group calls before arriving in Paris. There’s individual coaching in the country too, along with creative work that opens your heart in unexpected and delightful ways.

I arrange everything from the moment you land to the night before you fly home. Your part is to show up and be present.

I’d love to walk you through it all. Schedule a time with me here, and I’ll tell you everything.

The rare gift of not having to decide.

Most women I know carry the mental load for everyone around them — the meals, the logistics, the endless small decisions that keep our worlds running. 

We're so used to it that we barely feel the weight anymore.

The consequences of chronic stress are real

When we are so accustomed to a level of stress that it feels normal, or unchangeable, we miss the realization that the ongoing pressure compounds and takes a toll.

It’s often not until the pressure eases that we even realize how heavy it felt, and how it hampered us.

Here’s an example of how one client came to see the toll of her overwrought life.

Feeling overwhelmed, she started by focusing on setting small boundaries to protect her time and energy.

This was new for her, so we looked for an opportunity for her to test a new different approach.

When a committee leader at work expected her to take on additional duties, as she had often said “yes” to in the past, she replied that she would get back to them.

By taking time to think before replying, she clearly determined that this request would entail time she needed to devote to other important work commitments, and would rob her of needed time for personal commitments, too. 

She practiced the way she would respond, as saying “no” felt uncomfortable. 

She then clearly and calmly stated that she had other commitments that precluded her from taking on more at this time.

She was relieved that, without drama, the leader went on to ask someone else.

This opening of a small bit of space, and feeling less pressured, helped her to gently set more boundaries.

And, she realized that the tension of doing too much had been contributing to grinding her teeth at night — something she had been suffering from for several years.

The pain of that chronic habit started to slowly subside, and she was also less irritable.

These benefits were clear signs that making space for her wellbeing mattered.

A sweet way to open space for yourself

One of the things I love about leading retreats is providing a very special way to lift weight off your shoulders.

My retreats are designed for you to have space and time that is clear, special, supportive.

Things are planned and beautiful.

The days have a gentle rhythm. You know where to be and when, and the rest of the time belongs to you.

That space opens your heart and brings insights into the light.

Women tell me afterward that they’d forgotten what it feels like to be cared for that way, to arrive somewhere with nothing to manage and finally hear themselves think.

You deserve that kind of ease far more often than you may allow yourself to have it.

If reading this made you exhale a little, that's worth listening to.

This is exactly the space I’ve built into L’Aventure Française — a week where nothing is yours to manage. The itinerary, the meals, the details, all handled, so your only job is to show up and be present.

If you've been carrying the load for everyone else for a while now, this might be the season to let something carry you. I’d love to have you there.  

Activating Creativity from Beautiful France

A glimpse of our joy as we ventured to parks, museums, AND QUIRKY SHOPS, TRAVELED THROUGHOUT PARIS ON THE METRO, WALKED FOR MILES, and ate amazing food!

Bonjour!

It’s a thrill to be writing to you from France!

Having dreamed of bringing women to this magical country after many visits to my father’s native land, and living in Paris for part of 2023, I created the L’Aventure Française retreat last year. 

Being back here with another remarkable group of women is a true joy.

Inspiration in Paris

This precious time, away from the day-to-day of our lives at home, began when we filled our spirits with all that Paris has to offer.

We savored art, food, culture, beauty and history. We delighted in surprises as we explored and made discoveries!

Sharing many favorite, off-the-beaten-track places that most visitors never see, and guiding my clients to see and feel this city in meaningful ways, has been a delight, as it was last year.

Reflection in the lush countryside

After 5 days in Paris we have just traveled by train to the glorious Dordogne region, where we are living in a fabulous retreat center that offers a perfect mix of beauty, comfort, history and magic.

It is quiet here.

Our pace is slowing.

We are being fed by amazing hosts who cook with love — and are kind, funny and sweet.

We are creating and playing.

We will be exploring villages and markets, churches that date back to the 12th century, artist studios, and tucked away spots that offer sweet surprises.

As we reflect deeply on everything we have experienced, and discover layers of insight rising from our hearts, we are savoring this glorious opportunity for new ideas to appear and clarity to come forward.

Activating and expanding creative power

A lot has changed in the world since I led the first L’Adventure Française retreat last fall.

What has not changed is the enormous creative power that resides (often quietly) in each of us. This is power we can all tap and amplify.

We can each use that creative power to light up our spirits.

We can use it to shape the focus of the lives we want to live, and how we want to make our most meaningful marks on the world.

This unlimited power, when it’s unleashed, can enrich us in ways we may not even be able to imagine now.

And it will surely impact everyone and everything around us.

Wherever you are as you read this, pause to look for wonder. Take a few seconds to connect to your heart. Then do something new that’s aligned with a deep desire.

Violà! Your just activated some creative power!

Ready to ignite your soul?

I am passionate about travel, and the impact that visiting new places has always had for me. In addition to visiting major sites, I love looking for special out of the way spots, hidden gems. 

And when I had the opportunity to live in Paris for a month last year, where I made many incredible discoveries, I started dreaming of bringing a group of women to France for a retreat.

I wanted them to be able to step away from their busy lives, experience the magic of Paris, and then spend time in the glorious countryside — where they could reflect, create, and integrate the inspiration of culture, spirit, art, history and food from the time in Paris.

I also dreamed of each of them returning home with incredible energy, fresh perspectives, and elevated excitement about their lives and work.

Do you yearn for a travel adventure that will ignite your heart and light up your life?

Imagine a spectacular trip to France with a small group of amazing women. After 5 days exploring Paris, you will travel to Southwest France to spend 6 more days in a superb retreat center in the countryside. You will be nurtured, play, create with ease, and connect to your creative core as never before.

This retreat — L’Aventure Française — is a remarkable opportunity to step out of your routine and embark on a life-changing experience!

You will have private coaching time with me before and during the retreat, and bond with amazing women. You will not only revel in the joy of exploring, you will cultivate powerful creative energy.

• Your elevated energy will impact you personally and professionally.

• You’ll have the satisfaction of bringing new agency to all you do.

• You’ll feel more fulfilled each day, and experience more joy.

• You’ll bring full self-expression and inspiration to everything you think and do.

• Your natural state of being will be elevated.

If you are excited to think about the possibilities, this opportunity may be perfectly timed for you. We start in Paris November 6 and return November 18.

And November is right around the corner! Now’s the time for us to talk, as only 2 spots are still open.

Email me and I will send you all the details,

And if you feel excited about the possibility of this adventure, we’ll make a date to talk. I will answer your questions, fill you in fully, and we’ll see if the fit is right.