Beautiful post. Have a great time and feel our good energy surrounding you any time you feel the least bit uncomfortable.

That was beautiful. We will miss you too. I will interested to hear about your experiences at the retreat.

Happy trails to you and your dh.
And yes, you can do it!

My SIL went on a silent retreat for 10 days. He found it difficult at first but said that it was one of the best experiences he has ever had. YOU CAN DO IT!

Shhhhhh... :)

I so admire you for doing this, and I can't wait for you to come back and tell us about it. I'm really not sure I could do it....

all the best to you and your dh.

What an amazing experience that will be! I'd love to hear about it when you return. I'm in the process of doing a lot of self-introspection and that might be something I'd enjoy.

Congratulations on 41 years!

Congrats there Girl!!!

Wow...this Fall it's our 25th!

How romantic here.....I'm honestly listening to Dire-Straits "Romeo & Juliet" video from the 80's!!! LOVE that tune!

I think I'd go crazy listening only to myself....;-)

Faron

Is this called Vipassana? My son did a 10 day silent meditation retreat. No laptop, no internet, no cell phone, no email, nada. He's in California. He's a techy so it was a challenge, but he really enjoyed it. He said the interesting part was not being able to talk to the others involved so they didn't know each others background. He and others tended to create a mental idea of the other's careers and backgrounds and it was interesting at the end to introduce themselves and hear the reality of who they really were.

Yes, but can you communicate telepathically? I mean how would anyone know? You two are already doing it now so I wonder if it will get stronger during this talk-less retreat. Trail, you are so inspiring and I cannot wait to hear of your trip.

Thank you for the wonderful responses to my post. DH and I got home late yesterday and had our son with us . He had flown in from San Diego to do the Tough Mudder adventure race with his sister in Atlanta on Saturday the 11th. We drove to Atlanta and congratulated the 2 of them on a fantastic day and had a bite to eat and then brought DS2 here to stay with us until his return to CA on the 18th.

The Vipassana 10 day retreat was more than either of us expected. We have spent hours talking about it while driving to Atlanta. We weren't sure how to answer the inevitable questions concerning our personal experience. That is the key , of course. This is an individual experience. No 2 people will travel this path in the same way. Just as we all have different lives up to the time we enter the retreat we move through the days in our sheltered bubble and then emerge from our cocoon as butterflies ready to try our wings.

I will link a very good explanation below. DH and I decided that our joint response is , the retreat is a life - changing experience. It is a gift to yourself and the world. Please look up a retreat in your area of the world and go.

Our 41st wedding anniversary took place while we there. We did not see each other but were certainly thinking off and on during that day of the other. Today DH gave me a wonderful gift. After we did our morning meditation we were standing in the kitchen having our coffee...he looked at me and then tentatively reached out and lightly touched my hand. He said, " it feels like we just got married, you know ?". I said yes...I know....

Our DS2 has had so many hard times over the decades. I have shared some of my feelings on this forum . Before he came to see his sister and before we had even gone to the retreat , he registered in CA to go to one in March. We are glad he is giving himself and the world this gift.

If anyone wants to "talk" you can email me using GW. I would be happy to continue the discussion and answer questions , if I can. Thank you again for letting me share this with you. c

Here is a link that might be useful: Vipassana....what it is...

I am so happy for both you and your DH, Trail. It indeed sounds like it was/is a life-changing experience and I'm anxious now to read your link to this place. Congratulations on your anniversary, too. Forty-one years . . . how lovely! That your sweet DH wanted to share such a retreat with you speaks volumes as to how you made it this far. Wishing you many, many more.
Lynn

So amazing. Can't picture my DH's face if I posed the prospect of 10 days without speaking. He would fall on the floor knowing that it would be very tough for me to not talk, and if I were to venture a guess, I think I would get a very enthusiastic YES. Also, DH feels very strongly that "talk" is over-rated.

I am once again humbled by your life choices trail. Not only do you exercise the muscles contained within your body, but I really can't think of anyone I know who even comes close to your flexing of your mind.

TFS

Work in Progress, I think you've just summed up Trailrunner perfectly, "I am once again humbled by your life choices trail. Not only do you exercise the muscles contained within your body, but I really can't think of anyone I know who even comes close to your flexing of your mind."
Beautifully and eloquently said, WIP and I totally agree!
Lynn

Welcome back! And double ditto what WIP said.

By the way, while you were gone we decided Sigourney Weaver will play you in the movie of your life ;)

lynn I am so deeply moved at the love that comes through in your response. DH and I both feel very lucky to have each other and the life we have made together. Since attending this course we have a desire to share what we have learned with others. Anything we can do to further the peace that we are experiencing , even at this early days of the process we learned, is a gift we want to give.

I am linking one further article that says everything I think can be said to make it clear what this is about.

WIp...I am truly humbled. I hope that I can live up to such profoundly moving sentiments.

dee...thank you...and what a wonderful compliment. I think she is a marvelous actress. Thank you all. c

Here is a link that might be useful: Art of Living

I can not imagine not speaking for ten days! Trail, I looked at your link but it doesn't answer my question? What activities did you do all day? Were the leaders allowed to speak? Can You share a typical day?

I am glad to answer . The day begins at 4 AM. Lights are out at 9:30 PM. There are 1 hr meal breaks and breaks for personal / rest time. There are 10 hours of sitting meditation with 10 minute breaks after each hour of sitting. This is all distributed evenly throughout the day. There is an hour to hour and a half discourse/lecture every evening.

The gift that Vipassana gives to the meditators is one of complete peace. You do not have any responsibility . The servers are all volunteer "old" students who simply want to give this gift to those who want to learn this technique. This is a perfect example of " play it forward".

There is a facilitator for the women and one for the men. You may speak to that person if you have a need concerning your stay. There is a time set forth every evening at the end of the day to speak to the teachers and also a sign up sheet for private interviews with the teachers every day.

There has been much thought by Goenka as to how this technique can best be taught. He is now 87. At first look it may seem daunting. It isn't . It is the best thing my DH and I have ever done . Please give yourself this gift. c