All of my retreats prior to this one have been co-ed and with people my age. This past weekend, I went on a retreat that was comprised of all women. All but one were older than me. Many were significantly older. Allow me to share some characteristics of women's retreats that make them unlike any other and that contributed to my culture shock.
Gift bags received upon registration filled with lots of girly items including tissues.
Apparently, the gift bag coordinator thought the rate of crying would be two tissue packs per women per retreat. Given all the heartfelt sharing followed by crying and sympathy tears, that estimate may have been about right.
Laughter.
Regardless of age or gender, everyone likes to have fun on a retreat. But, women's retreats seem to have an extra dose of it. The women I shared the weekend with knew how to have a good time. For every tear shed, there must have been ten good laughs.
Lots of great conversation.
Cutesy things.
Not only were there gift bags, but there were also beautiful centerpieces on our dinner tables and these heart decorations on the doors to our rooms. I can't imagine the men's retreat or the high school retreat doing this.
Desserts after every meal.
I'm not sure if this is a women's retreat thing or not, but I just wanted to include this picture.
The only man around looked like this.
All in all, I had a wonderful weekend. The culture shock was well overshadowed by the gift of spending time with and learning from women of all different ages.
Beautiful!
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