How an all-women retreat opened my eyes to showing up, trying new things in life
We tell ourselves lies to keep us from going outside of our comfort zone: “No one wants to talk to me.” “Everyone already has their group.” “I’m awful at small talk.” “No one wants me here.”
Such lies nearly prevented me from attending a recent writer’s retreat at a farm house in the middle of Nebraska with 84 women I’d never met.
But I showed up — and I am SO glad I did.
Don’t let the fear of not fitting in keep you from showing up. Own your story, reach out to the edge of the room and find common ground.
I’m excited to share more of what I took away from a writing retreat with 84 strangers in the Omaha World-Herald today. Read more at momaha.com.
At age 59 i suffered a massive stroke from an unknown hole in my heart. I also had fear of fitting in and returning back to work as a registered nurse in a hospital surgical center. I was judged for every action and word I spoke by my supervisor and coworkers. They would compare my old self to the stroke Diane. Everyday I asked the Lord to nail my suffering to His cross and yet I felt shamed because of my sinful past. I healed thru the Mass by offering my brokenness and kept asking to be the best version of stroke Diane. 8 months later and now my coworkers ask for my help for all difficult and complicated patients and I am mentoring a new nurse
Now I show up for my patients and for myself so All can see God heals if you trust in his will not my will. Blessings Diane Bartek
“I was judged for every action and word I spoke by my supervisor and coworkers. They would compare my old self to the stroke Diane.”
I feel EVERY WORD of this. Thank you for being a beautiful example to your coworkers and myself that God makes all things new in His time.