Can we run away and live off-grid?
(Asking for a friend)
After a full weekend of hikes and swims in the gorge, delicious food and being completely off-grid most of us on the retreat last weekend are seriously rethinking our life choices.
This weekends ‘gang’ at our off-grid retreat in Tallong, the southern highlands.
You know it’s funny, we think we need certain things to be happy… I spend time visioning how I want my life to be and working in alignment, to create that vision. Then when I have an experience like this past weekend in the Southern highlands, I realise that what we need is less, not more.
‘Take me back!’
‘Anyone want to go back to Tallong and start a commune?’
‘Omg yes! Why are we not already doing that?’
‘Who want’s a lift?😆
‘Can we seriously please go back to the cabin and form this commune? I’m ready to leave now"
These are a few of the messages that were in the group chat from yesterday evening and this morning… so I knew it wasn’t just me.
Freshwater plunge in the rock pools.
So what is it about retreats (or this one in particular?) that make us want to re think all of our life choices?
Below I created a list that will help me and hopefully you, to choose where you spend your time and with whom.
Time off-grid. This was a big one. After just a few hours with no phone reception, time seemed to expand and conversations turned to the realisation of just how addicted to our phones we were. It was so freeing to
Nature. Being immersed in nature all throughout the day with hikes, plunges in the rock pools and simply laying in the sun has the most incredible effect on our nervous systems [see the 72 hour study here] …. You can also be cooking outside, washing up and lounging about while you read a book or play cards. Nature is such a healer and connector. Definitely part of the recipe for a life of greatness.
Amazing Food and nourishment. It could be said that we even ate too much, ha ha. We all brought a meal and everyone out did themselves. From roasted pumpkin and quinoa salad to bbq octopus and stuffed roasted capsicum and eggplant, not to mention the crepes and the sticky date pudding with caramel sauce… everyone had thought about and prepared their meal with so much love and intention, that even when you thought you weren’t hungry, the next meal was sure to spark excitement.
Connection to self and to others Activities like yoga and meditation are really nourishing when done on your own, but when done in a group it takes the experience to the next level. There is something about sitting in a group in silence that is so, so lovely.
Play, fun & movement. These elements arise naturally when we have nourished ourselves. The weekend was infused with ample moments of play, dance and joy that seemed to arise effortlessly. And laughter, so much laughter.
The feeling of slowing down. All the elements above contributed to the feeling of slowing down and really appreciating the simple things, of more natural joy, that’s what I want more of.
Gorgeous view from the escarpment, overlooking the Shoalhaven river.
If more of that natural joy is what you’re interested in, see below to learn more about what retreats and trainings are up and coming…