13th Annual Weekend Retreat
Hello Bellis Community!
Our 13th annual Bellis Weekend Retreat is just around the corner! We are looking forward to gathering with 10 of our participants from Minnesota and beyond at the Mount Olivet Retreat Center in Farmington, MN the weekend of November 6th-8th.
Support from our Bellis community makes programs like this possible. Make a gift today to help more people find connection, understanding, and support.
This year’s theme is I Choose Me: From Self-Abandonment to Self-Care. Discussion will center around how sacrificing our own needs for the benefit of others often leaves us exhausted, resentful and overwhelmed – a detriment to our own well-being. We are hopeful that this weekend will give renewed clarity to our individual needs and a reminder that in caring for ourselves we are also caring for others. We cannot give what we do not have.
We asked this year’s retreat participants what they are hoping to gain from this experience:
“I’m hoping for peace, clarity, and renewal. I want meaningful conversations, quiet moments, and tools that help me move into my next chapter.”
“This retreat feels like an act of self-compassion where I get to be on the receiving side of support with the intention/goal to soon return to the role of supporter once again.”
“I’m coming to Bellis because I’m in a season of rebuilding and grounding. I want a calm space to reflect, reset, and connect with people who understand real-life healing.”
These hopes reflect what we consistently hear from our group participants. 90% report that participating in Bellis groups helps them feel less alone. This connection and sense of belonging are made possible because of the generosity of those who support Bellis.
The weekend retreat builds on the connections formed in our online groups, giving participants more time together to share their experiences, reflect, and receive compassion and understanding in a safe, supportive space. We hope they leave with a renewed sense of connection and the reminder that they don't have to navigate their healing journey alone.
“When I first joined Bellis, I was often saying to myself and even out loud, ‘I don't think I can do this anymore.’ I was exhausted, defeated, and felt powerless and had run out of hope. After just one meeting, I was revitalized enough to say, ‘I have to keep going, but first I must rest.’ After several meetings, I was saying, ‘I have to keep going, but now I must find joy.”
“Thank you for making this retreat possible. Your support creates a space where people can heal, grow, and feel less alone. It truly matters.”
We are thrilled to be able to provide experiences like this to our Bellis participants free of charge as we know that cost should not be a barrier to healing. Your support is what continues to make experiences like this possible, and for that we are so very grateful.
We know how meaningful this retreat is to our entire Bellis community. We appreciate your contribution in honor of the experiences of our participants. Thank you so very much for your consideration and generosity.
Wishing you all a peaceful fall!
Kelly Tronstad
Executive Director
M.Ed. and Licensed Parent Educator
