Connection in Every Moment

Exploring the Pillar That Holds Stillness and Creativity Together at The Nest

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Hello friends,

I’ve shared the first two pillars that guide your experience in The Nest, our virtual retreat center. Today, I want to speak about the third: Connection, which stands steady alongside Stillness and Creativity.

✨ The Heart of Connection at The Nest

At the Nest Retreat Center, one of our guiding values is connection. It’s the golden thread that ties together stillness, creativity, and community. Even in a virtual space, connection can be deeply real, meaningful, and lasting.

🌿 Connection through Stillness
When we pause and turn inward, we reconnect with ourselves. Stillness allows us to hear the quiet truths that are often drowned out by daily noise. This inner connection is the foundation for every other kind of relationship.

🌿 Connection through Creativity
Creativity is another doorway. When we create—whether through writing, painting, stitching, or making something small and beautiful—we connect with joy, our inner essence, and sometimes with one another through the inspiration we share.

🌿 Connection through Community
And then there is the circle of belonging we form with each other.

Just yesterday, I connected on Zoom with two friends—one in Victoria and one in Quebec, all of us by bodies of water—the ocean, a lake, and a stream.

A few years ago, when we all lived in the same place, we began a ritual of throwing wish stones into the water together, naming our hopes and dreams. Our lives have taken us in different directions now, and we have chosen to keep that ritual alive.

This time, the stones were ones I had brought back from Italy. I mailed each of them a stone, and together—miles apart—we gathered by the water, held our stones, and made our wishes. Then, on the count of three, we released them into the waves. It was simple, yet profoundly moving—a reminder that distance does not diminish connection when we choose to nurture it.

Just as the ritual with my friends shows how connection can be nurtured across time and distance, The Kitchen Table has become another place where this same spirit unfolds.

One participant recently shared:

“I love the way you pull people together, somewhat strangers, but still create an atmosphere of safety and comfort — as if we were actually meeting around your kitchen table.”

That’s exactly the heart of what the Kitchen Table is becoming: a space where women gather virtually, yet experience the warmth, safety, and presence of truly being together. Stories are shared, laughter flows, and even through a screen, we are reminded that connection is not bound by physical walls but created by openness, intention, and trust.

💫 Why Connection Matters
Connection nourishes us on every level—body, mind, and spirit. It softens isolation, strengthens belonging, and gives us courage to step more fully into our own lives. Here at The Nest, connection is more than a pillar—it is the living thread that binds stillness and creativity into a whole.

Autumn is my favorite season of all. I’m excited to share our September theme in The Nest Retreat Center: Leaves Falling, Autumn Calling.

As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, nature invites us to slow down, pause, and notice the subtle changes all around us. Just like the leaves letting go of their branches, this season encourages gentle release and reflection—making space for new ideas, inspiration, and connection.

Throughout September, we’ll explore ways to embrace this seasonal shift—through stillness practices that calm the mind, creative projects that spark joy, and rituals that nurture our connections with ourselves and others. Let the colors, textures, and rhythms of autumn guide you as we settle into this beautiful, reflective time of year.

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Hope you'll join us at The Kitchen Table on Friday, September 12th. This month at the Kitchen Table, we’ll lean into the theme Leaves Falling, Autumn Calling—a gentle reminder of the beauty in letting go and the richness found in gathering what remains.

Together, we’ll share stories, reflect on seasonal transitions, and nurture connection in the cozy spirit of autumn. Our creative practice will give you a tangible way to hold onto inspiration: we’ll begin crafting a Gathering Notebook, a place to collect ideas, reflections, and treasures throughout the season ahead.

Light a candle, bring a warm drink, and an open heart—this Kitchen Table is where connection, creativity, and stillness weave together, no matter the distance.

Hope you can join us!