Desperate for alone time, I took a personal retreat

​I'm an introvert (albeit a social one), and over the course of the pandemic I could feel my soul slowly shriveling like a prune because I was constantly. Around. People.

MY GOD, was I desperate for some time alone.

While writing about Mother's Day disappointment last month, I wondered, what did I really want?

I'd heard of other people taking personal retreats but never considered myself "that" kind of person. 

I thought it might be something I ~might~ be able to do in the summer.

But when I got quiet and really listened to what I wanted, I wanted time alone, like, yesterday.

I'll save the details of how we pulled it off (see my 4 tips for planning your own retreat HERE), but here are few photos, if you'd like to see...

My aunt and uncle let me stay at their house in West Seattle while they were away. I dog-sat for the first time and helped myself to my aunt's DELICIOUS beet-and-mint salad and homemade granola.

(Probably not meant to be paired, but - YOLO.)

I hit the thrift store!

Didn't find anything for myself but gained an appreciation for how tricky it is to find good shorts. Pair #2 gave me phantom curves and pair #3 was so short and wide my backside was - ahem - very well ventilated.

​I was close to beautiful Lincoln Park and walked there multiple times a day.

My amazing friend gave me all the components to make a salt scrub and scented bath from the book Black Futures. I adapted the instructions on how to make a "self-compassion bath" and took two decadent soaks.

Finally, I had a transcendent Korean fried chicken experience thanks to Bok a Bok. The thigh was good but the fish sauce caramel wings were OMG-THESE-ARE-AMAZING good.

Throughout all this, I sometimes felt scattered and disoriented ("wait, there's no one else to think about today? Just me?"). I stayed up later than I meant to. I sometimes tried to pack more in than could fit, or got anxious about trying to figure out what it was that I wanted at any given moment.

But overall it felt SO GOOD, SO RIGHT.

I'd recommend it to anyone who is curious to try!

Would you ever take a personal retreat? Hit 'Comments' below and let me know - curious if I'm the only one this appeals to.

To your own brave self care - wherever that takes you!

​Charissa Pomrehn
Self Care Life Coach for Moms and Nonbinary Parents
Brave Self Care