I am Her
Full Pour Initiative Retreat
Park City, Utah
October 11-12, 2019
As we gathered in Park City, bringing together women from different geographic locations, backgrounds, family situations, careers, and ways of thinking, there was one thing in common: BELIEF.
Belief in themselves to embark on an unknown adventure. Belief in the women of Full Pour who created this event. Belief in dreams, in potential, in the good of others. Belief in worthwhile dreams waiting to take flight.
It is beyond remarkable and humbling to me to think that the women we were tying beautiful ribbons around carefully selected books and journals for, the women I deliberately chose certain handkerchiefs for, and the women we confidently bought chocolate covered almonds for (dark chocolate, of course!) traveled across states to come together for a dream created by us. Us being the ones who are crazy enough to believe in our dreams and do the work to bring them to life. Us, the ones who go out on a limb, reminding others that it can be done, and with planning and preparation, will find the fruit at the end of the limb. Us, who see the depth of the human heart and feel the human condition and know that in some small way, by bringing these hearts and conditions together, connections are created and experiences shared that create lasting relationships.
This is Full Pour. This is our Full Pour Retreat. To help women transform their stories, to feel connected to something bigger than any one of us can be alone, and to rekindle the light that burns in each of us, by adding “oil to the lamp” and pouring into each one - this is our INITIATIVE. We take action by taking care of ourselves to be able to take care of others. We take action by creating space to dream, to be, to love ourselves and the worlds we live in. We take action by offering retreats and by keeping the connections going and the bonds strong through our ongoing Initiative coaching.
In Park City, we soaked up the Fall sun in an octagon shaped room filled with light pouring in from all around and above. Here, we began our retreat, “I am her”.
“Within you there is more than you can imagine. The universe and all the stars dance under your skin. The tangled up roots of all the trees on earth meet in your center. Every grain of sand and every wave of the ocean flow through your veins.”
“I am her”, you whisper. “I am the stars. I am depth and light, wonder and love. I am the trees. I am strong, resilient and bountiful. I am the ocean. I am energy, calm, stormy and healing. I am her.”
“You whose day it is get out your rainbow colors and make it beautiful.”
Dedicated to Jeanne Ruth, 1947 -2019
And so began “I Am Her” retreat. The truth is, as we begin the process, we really don’t know how it will turn out either. We listen to our hearts, do our best to see more than meets the eye in the little, daily things we encounter. We dig deeper into women in history who have inspired without even knowing it, simply by doing what was right and what their gifts to the world asked them to share. We honor the human condition and allow for love to shine, forgiveness to be discussed, vulnerability to be acceptable, and voices to be heard. We use our hands to create masterpieces, art, memories of our time together and of the moments that take our breath away or that simply make us pause for a second thought.
To each of the women who joined us, and to the women who wanted to but could not, or who do not yet know that opportunities like this exist, we thank you. Many stories were shared and our hope is that more stories will continue to be shared. When we open up to the beauty within and around us, we all benefit. You make us better, and for that, we thank you!
I Am Her
“Female friendships that work are relationships in which women help each other belong to themselves” ~Louise Bernikow