Coincidence

This past week I was privileged to be able to participate in an amazing women’s adventure retreat.   Colleen Cannon, founder of Women’s Quest, is an athlete with a spiritual side. Colleen shares her passions for activities which engage mind, body, and soul with everyone who comes her way, but her speciality is leading groups of women to explore possibility and see their strengths. I knew Colleen through my job and in previous years she had invited me to join her group for cycling, but I’d never been able to ride due to work. This year I contacted Colleen shortly before I left my job to let her know that I would be able to meet up with her group to ride, and to tell her about my trip plans. Colleen told me I was welcome to ride and hang out with the group, so I planned to ride with them a few days. I didn’t realize it before the week started, but the seeming coincidence of joining this group was no coincidence at all. 

I’ve never been on a retreat of any kind. I didn’t even go to summer camp. I didn’t have any preconceived notions of what it would be like spending time with a group of 10 women. I figured we’d go for some rides, maybe I’d hang out and have dinner and wine with them afterward. And yeah, we did that. But there was so much *more*. There is something great that happens as a group starts to form – different backgrounds, ages, experiences, cultures all start to weave and form a kind of mesh. I loved how this group came together and shared experiences and empathy to create a web of support and empowerment. And this web included me as Colleen shared my story of leaving my job and taking a big bike trip. I was of course uncomfortable with the public acknowledgement, but as I drove home that first night digesting the questions and comments from the group, I knew I couldn’t be any luckier. I knew I was where I was supposed to be, connecting with these women and hearing a validating message of respect and support for doing something unusual. It wasn’t a coincidence that I hooked up with Colleen and her group. It was the first waypoint along my route. What a great start!