Reflections from our May 2024 Men's Wellbeing Retreat

There was a touch of anxiousness, from my crew of four (as there usually is) when they arrived for our May 2024 Men’s Wellbeing Retreat. “I very nearly turned around on the drive here” is a common theme, when we first go around the circle, sitting in front of the fire, when it is lit at the start of the retreat. It takes courage and faith to turn up, with a bunch of guys you’ve never met, and be vulnerable enough to tell your story, share and download your pain, grief, anger, shame, regrets, exhaustion, confusion, the weight on your shoulder you’ve been carrying, looking after everyone else. All things that don’t serve us, that we can use as fuel and power to transmute into higher emotions.

Regardless of any man’s journey, he needs to download some of this, at some point in his life. And it can only be done, to a certain level, with other Men who have the same capacity to hold space. Sometimes, that is not within your usual crew.

The intention is to leave with a new energy.

Many men coming, are looking for their new story. “The real me. My true purpose.”

We get this new energy, not only from the release, but from treating our body like a temple for four days, no booze and no processed food, being the foundation. Kai with mauri, a life force, gathered ourselves. Connecting with the rivers, the forest, the ocean, and its medicine. Moving, breathing, stretching, coming back to centre, learning how to go within, and connect to our hearts, get out of our heads. Korero with like minded men, steered in the right direction by a facilitator.

Everything stays within the group, so thats about all I have to say, from an awesome four days, with four bloody good, strong, funny, adventurous, kind hearted men and leaders who have created so many positive ripples in their lives already, and are going back out to create some more, with some new energy.

Love you my new brothers and thank you for not turning around, and for coming, all the way from Sydney, Invercargill, Kapiti and Auckland.