More Than a Book Retreat
I honestly don’t remember where I learned about All Booked Retreats in the Catskills. It might have been an online article, might have been on social. Whatever it was, I sent the link to my friend Laurie in New Hampshire and suggested we consider going “one of these days.” Well, one of these days turned out to be a couple of weekends ago.
The retreat brings together women readers around a single novel. This particular weekend the selection was Yesteryear. Have you read it yet? I don’t want to give too much away but suffice it to say there was a lot to unpack!
It is a story that sparked conversations about family, identity, truth, forgiveness and the ways we present ourselves to the world. It is a story that sparked debate on the characters’ decisions and challenged our individual perspectives. We laughed at some of the storylines, got frustrated with others and occasionally admitted that parts of the story hit a little closer to home than we expected.
I’ve spent my career talking about the importance of connection. We often think of networking, meetings or shared professional experiences as the foundation for meaningful relationships. This weekend reminded me that connection through shared stories is just as powerful. A novel creates common ground. It gives people permission to share experiences they may not otherwise talk about because someone else has already opened the door. Before long, conversations that begin with, “What did you think of that chapter?” evolved into discussions about family, careers, friendships, resilience and the choices that shape our lives.
As communicators, we’re constantly searching for ways to connect with audiences. Sometimes we focus too much on crafting the perfect message instead of just starting a conversation.
The lasting impact of this retreat came from the conversations it inspired and the relationships that grew because everyone felt comfortable bringing their own perspective to the discussion. When I signed up, I expected a weekend filled with good conversation, beautiful scenery and plenty of time to read… and it was. What I didn’t fully appreciate was just how quickly a group of strangers would become a community.
I came home with a dozen book recommendations and five new friends. And I came home reminded that stories still have an incredible ability to bring people together. In a world where so much communication is quick, transactional and digital, there is something remarkably powerful about sitting in a room, talking about a book and discovering that, despite our different backgrounds, we have far more in common than we might have imagined.
