Resurrection After Rape Community Group
Discussion, question-and-answer, general social support, and journal processing for progress-oriented rape survivors. No crisis, no damaging or triggering conflicts--this is for individuals who want to contribute to collective, cooperative action toward the goal of making actual PROGRESS through rape trauma. Much of this work is based on the book "Resurrection After...
Even though you all did SO much to help the retreat succeed, I still couldn't help but feel rushed all the time. It seems like I was always trying to prepare for the next thing, and I didn't have as much casual time to hang out until later at night. Most of the things I had to rush to do weren't things I could have delegated, either, but it meant I wasn't as "calmly available" as I usually like to be. I'm very much a "Type B" personality, but during retreat it's 90% "Type A" just to pull it off.
Or perhaps we'd experimentally RELOCATE the retreat one year to a place like this, simply for enjoyment of company together: http://www.beaverlakeretreat.com/profile.html
There are so many ways to help out and if you delegate more (like with the rides from the Airport to the hotel /campground) then those are things you don't have to worry about. If Bill will allow someone else to pick him up you can lose that responsibility.
One thing I think would be cool to do and no one would go for it but a trust building exercise. Like we fall backwards and trust the person/persons behind us will catch us..but it doesn't have to be that. We could have a ton of fun with something like that.
One thing that concerned me this year (and it may not be my place to say anything...but I will just in case others felt it) but my concern was that some people didn't take the opportunity this weekend to interact and enjoy what was offered. The opportunity to pull away from everyday worries and strife and just 'hang loose". I know I find it easier to block things, but I worry that some came away feeling like they weren't accepted or included when in reality it was each our own responsibility to see that we felt included and accepted.
I LOVE the idea of those of us that are familiar with the campground, Stillwater, and the retreat itself helping people coming for the first time. I loved the advice Matt gave about us taking care of ourselves and making sure we are in a good place when we come. It helps so much to keep everything running smoothly for ourselves.
-- My goal is to slowly take this from being the "healing retreat" to a "Celebration Festival" for us. --
I love this and your comment about lattice work of role model survivors. So as not to take this off topic, I'm going to continue my thoughts on another thread.