October 14, 2007
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Rocky Mountain High
I have been away, for a while.
I went to a retreat near Estes Park, Colorado– to a place where I met up with old friends; to a place where I made new friends; to a place where I got away from the world; to a place (a bit like “Cheers”) “where everyone knows your name.” After I come back from such a place, it always takes me a few days of reflection to get back into my normal routine.
Colorado in the fall is a beautiful place to be– unpredictable weather notwithstanding. Many days were sunny and warm, albeit a tad windy. One evening we were sitting around talking, when the snow started driving through. Life at 8500 feet… by the next day, we were back to sunny and pleasant.
Those who have been reading these lines for a while may remember that I talk about “going away” to HSP Gatherings. To date, I have mostly been the “casual participant.” This time, I found myself in a different role, as “co-host” of the event. It wasn’t really a job I asked for– it was one I more or less “fell into.” I also found myself in the role of “workshop facilitator,” which was somewhat of a stretch of my comfort zone. All in all, it was an enjoyable experience.
Each of these retreats seems to have its own “flavor.” Apart from the organizing/teaching gig, I met an unusually large number of people.
Hmmmmm…
That’s not exactly what I meant to say. I met an unusually large number of people I’d previously “known” only inside this box. Whereas I have met 100s of Cyberians in the course of my 14-odd years of connectivity, it has been a long time since so many “old friends” were gathered in a single place. It made me realize how the ways we connect have changed, and it also made me realize how the way introverts and extraverts “feel connected” is usually rather different.
One of my dearest friends of some six years was there… 100′s of emails, but this was the first time we’d occupied the same space. Another friend of about eight years was there, too… now partnered with yet another friend whom I met at the very first retreat of this kind I went to. In a sense, we also had a xanga “mini gathering” (completely inadvertent and unplanned, I might add), as I got to meet fellowxangans S2Know (on whose site you’ll find the “evidence” that I really am rather tall, I’m not just making it up), sprolee, CanadianBear and WildernessLiving.
Sitting on the plane going home, I realized that I had been with my “chosen” family. We may not get along with our blood relatives… but there’s something amazing about having a chosen family. What we shared was much more than just “going to a workshop;” we shared authentic human connections… in this fast-paced world that seldom allows anything but the most superficial. And I feel connected to this family, and I realize that “connection” is precisely what you make it… something we define for ourselves, and not something we should let others define for us.
Comments (12)
How tall are you exactly? Sexay!
I’m happy for you that you have your tribe. I expect to be able to say the same thing one day
Kudos on stretching your comfort zone also
Somehow I knew you would find the words that I’ve been struggling with. Yes, that connection, either from from the very first moment of sharing or due to hundreds of emails. When that connection is made, it doesn’t really matter what the form was, but it sure was nice to meet the personalities. I think in cyber space we get to know the essence first, which is what I like….but those personalities can make it fun.
For anyone wondering…. Peter has a great smile and laugh and does both OFTEN!!! much love big guy! ~Colleen
btw… I miss my sistah!!!!
I know how valuable the connections we make are either through the cyber world or other means. But it’s fun to physically put a face to a name.
I love Estes Park, I used to write for one of the newspapers there.
I went thru Colorado on a train and it is just breathtaking, very pretty place…
Amen
I am lucky that I can (not that I always do) have deep meaningful conversations (on their level at least, which is enough for me with regard to each person) with the members of my family. Except, my brother. And for me, I just don’t feel I can reach him in my normal ways and I don’t feel he wants to be reached – since so many people have been constantly trying to “change him” his whole life. I guess I feel, for him anyway, the best thing I can do is accept him how he is and not get in his business and try to tell him how to handle it.
But you’re right about the “choosen” family feeling. My chosen family is within Isha. I can’t be with them a fraction of the amount of time I’d like to be with them. But I am doing the next best thing I can do… work on myself, to be a more joyous, healthier person so that even where I am at… I can feel “at home” more with folks wherever I am. Eventually I hope that no matter where I am looking around, I feel as if I chose to be there, and for that feeling to be the case as close to 100% of the time, no matter where I travel (and I’d love to travel a LOT!) or who I am around/with.
btw, you are definitely a very tall man! I can’t imagine what it’s like to be looking down at everything all the time, rather than up. I’m only 5’3″.
I think its funny how long I have been a member of the HSP community. But there are incredibly good and helpful people there.
Hey Peter…this is interesting…I Googled these retreats HSP-had never heard of them….wish I had gone! The Xangans you met? Which came first, your friendship with them, or meeting them at HSP? Just wondering….I am amazed at the beautiful relationships that I have formed here “in this box”…how we search for connectedness…it has pulled me through some very tough times the last couple years. I bet your smile is warm, your laughter, infectious!
Namaste, Lauren
Choosen families can be nice. Glad you had a good retreat. Judi
I’m glad you had so much fun. It is great to have friends.
Happy to see you enjoyed the experience! ^_^
Excellent writing, sir. Thanks for putting your words together thoughtfully; I enjoy reading well-articulated posts, even if I’m not the greatest at producing them myself.