This is the second Joy Retreat that I will be leading.  The first Joy Retreat took place in Sonoma and Napa Valley’s this past March and was wildly successful (see testimonials below). I have been a teacher, student and avid retreat leader and participant my entire life. After growing up in Illinois, I moved to California for college (and years beyond) where I relentlessly pursued and claimed my joy. In California, I found great alignment spiritually, emotionally and physically.  My joy emanated genuinely from my essence.

In the years that followed a move back, however, I allowed the all-too common stresses of work, marriage, child-rearing and divorce, to obscure my memory of who I truly am. I accomplished much of what I thought was my purpose; attending law school and then graduate school in Washington DC, earning an Ed.D. (Education Doctorate),  teaching at a University, becoming Director of a huge teacher education unit, getting married, having two kids, producing, producing, producing.  

What I neglected during my time of “high achievement”, was my true self, my joyous being, my childlike view of the world.  I forgot about and neglected Little Molly, the child, whose grandma put “M’s” on her clothes.  I realized that I was no longer the free spirit that others remembered me as when I was a kid.  After years of taking antidepressants and drinking wine with my girlfriends while complaining about the daily stress and grind, I found myself broken open.  My marriage ended, I was replaced at my high prestige job,  and I got the call with the news that I had breast cancer.  I refer to this as my “dark night of the soul.”  I wanted my joy back, I wanted me back and I committed to making that the most important priority of my life.

What I have learned in the past ten years of coaching, studying and retreating, is that the extent of my joy is directly proportional to my willingness to make space for the pain. It is through allowing ourselves to feel all of our emotions, cleanly and without making stories about them, that we can begin to transform them.  This is the miraculous work of alchemy.  In my work, I  have also embraced rich practices of gratitude and of presence which act as constant reminders that I am surrounded by beauty and goodness.   And finally, I have found love….profound love for myself which allows me to love others from a place of overflow and genuine care, no longer attaching to people to soothe my anxiety or meet my needs.   

In looking back at my journey, I realized that my story is hardly unique.  In fact, I see now that we are all on this hero’s journey to remembering who we are.  It was on a life-changing retreat in Greece in the summer of 2024 that I realized I want to help others and that I have things to teach and tools to share.  I birthed the adventure retreat concept and I knew that joy would be my purpose.

I decided to combine my two greatest passions in life— leading retreats and traveling to inspirational places— in this signature California adventure. For me, there is no better place to come alive.  I hope that you will join me and other beautiful sisters on a  journey to true awakening as we find ourselves and our incredible joy within while also exploring the captivating Palm Springs, high desert and Joshua Tree areas of California.