When at an writer retreat...

...& you find yourself a found family/sisterhood.

I’m naturally a very nervous person when it comes to meeting new people. So, when I managed to snag a place at a retreat in Belgium with people I didn’t even know in real life yet, well, let’s say I was a nerve-wrack.

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Mind you, I had joined two smaller writer retreats before.

These were smaller, with a group of writers from the Netherlands that I know really well by now, & self-organized (which was amazing too). Those also revolved mostly around spending as much time as possible writing. However, my intention for this retreat was completely different; I wanted to spend time away from the mundane. Make connections with the other 8 people on the retreat. & just recharge.

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So, on Monday 16th of June,

I traveled to Antwerp by train with a small trolley suitcase rolling besides me, the light-blue backpack on my back & a warm sun smiling down from the sky. My anxiety riddled mind occupied by looking out the window as I sped past the next cities, industrial areas, followed by acres of country land & over the border into Belgium.

Antwerp Central Station had me marvel for a few minutes. The building was so beautiful & old & decorative; from the days buildings were built like useable art. From the clock, to the arches and stairs. It kept me occupied for a fair amount of time as I took plenty of photo’s. And before I knew it, it was time to look for the bus to Zoersel & city gave way to countryside once again, beautifully so.

Meeting all these amazing women (for all of them are in fact amazing) was like a warm hug. In some cases a real, sweaty hug. I immediately felt at home with them and knew I was in a good place, which really helps when you’re nervous to meet new people. The next 4 days were filled with fun activities & connecting with each other. From long evening talks to challenging but good yoga, an excursion through the city center of Antwerp, a picnic & visiting a flower field to get the flowers for our flower crowns for the Midsummer celebration. It was refilling the well & being creatively motivated in one.

And as you can guess, the last day came way too fast.

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It has been 3 weeks since that last day,

& I miss the others, that before this, I only knew online from messages. This was something I never thought I could have. Something I originally called my found family outside my real life in blood family, but Taylor had a more beautiful way to describe this connection between the 9 of us; Sisterhood.

I can’t wait to meet all of them again. The plans are definitely there. The connections still go strong online & it’s more than I could ever have hoped. This little post is my dedication to our Words & Wonders Sisterhood.

Photo by Janne.

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Speak soon,

Amanda.

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