Last week I was on a personal retreat at the Highlights Foundation. It was wonderful sharing ideas with friends and taking the time to write and refresh in such a beautiful place. I always look forward to my Highlights visits where I am nurtured as a writer. I went with no expectations of what I would accomplish, although I did have a list of possible ptojects I could work on.
To my surprise I started revisions on a manuscript I haven’t looked at in several years, figured out a structure I might try for another manuscript, read poetry, wrote poetry, and even did a little sketching. And, thanks to Janet Wong, Sylvia Vardell, and many Poetry Friday friends (Patricia and Marcie I’m looking at you!) I also fooled around with Canva.
Outside the Barn at Highlights is a word garden. I took a few pictures, then let this one inspire a haiku.
I hope everyone enjoys a Thanksgiving full of food, family, and fun. Jama has the round up today, so be sure to head over there for some poetry goodness.
Imagine the Possibilities 
Happy to hear you had such an enjoyable, productive time at the retreat. Have a beautiful Thanksgiving, Rose!
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What a lovely approach to a retreat. I’m jealous! But glad you got to go! I love to go on a retreat filled with an open heart and possibilities, but not absolute requirements/expectations…
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Isn’t Highlights the best?!?! You made the most of your time!!
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Rose, I’m glad you had such a positive experience! Happy Poetry Friday!
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Lucky, lucky you! Sounds like you made the most of it, Rose, and are thriving.
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I have loved my time at Highlights, so I’m happy you’ve taken me there, if only in spirit, Rose. It is a time to “celebrate”. Happy Thanksgiving to you & yours!
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A Highlights retreat is the ultimate gift in my opinion. There’s no better place to just be the writer you want and need to be. The support of other writers and Amanda’s meals make it the best. I’m so glad you got to play in the rock garden. Your poem is wonderful!
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What an amazing retreat you had! I’m buoyed just reading about it. Thriving indeed!
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Rose, I’m happy for you that you were inspired to worked on so many projects! Way to go! Did you work more on your poetry MS from May? You know the poetry collection you were writing when we were there this spring with all the great poets we met? I’m glad you took the time to enjoy the word garden and you were able to create a great haiku. I love it! Keep this ekphrastic haiku close to your heart to remind to remind you of your muse and retreat at Highlights. Now, I am hungry remembering all the amazing food! 🙂 Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family.
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Thanks, Gail. That was a great time at Highlights last May and it was wonderful to meet you. I put away that poetry project you mentioned for a long time, but at Highlights this past week my interest was renewed. I’m rethinking it, fooling around with some more poems for it, and have decided to keep working on it little by little. Highlighs is so inspirational!
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Rose, it was wonderful to meet you, also! Yay, I’m so happy that you are rethinking it and fooling around with poems for it. I find it is always good to take a break from a poem or MS. Let it stew or simmer, or not think about it at all and come back to it with a renewed vision. Highlights was so inspirational for me, too. Going to a workshop at Highlights had been one of my dreams for years. I hope that I can afford to go back some day.
Did you take Georgia’s and Rebecca’s online class for a poetry collection? I convinced my husband the class could be a birthday and Christmas gift for me. I emailed Georgia about the class, and she said there was still room, but I came down with a sinus infection for 3 1/2 weeks and didn’t follow through paying for the class. It also would have been a very expensive present. I feel if I had more guidance (G’s and R’s class) besides reading many poetry collections, I would become more inspired. I also feel learning more about the process of writing a poetry collection by two author/poets would help me become more organized, help with more ideas for a book, help with the dos and don’ts, and be valuable in so many ways. I guess I need to feel like a nurtured writer, again. Sorry to go on and on.
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I’m glad your Highlights time was fruitful, Rose. What a gift to take that time for yourself. Don’t give up on Canva yet! 🙂
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Not giving up, but I know it will take some practice. Thanks for the encouragement!
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I love that you got to Highlights! And that you dabbled in Canva. I also enjoy being nurtured at Highlights.
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