GUATEMALA! Was the retreat what I hoped for?
- Katrina Blocker
- Mar 14, 2024
- 12 min read
Updated: Mar 15, 2024
What it was like to book Mycah Bain's business/wellness retreat and travel to Guatemala for the first time! My overall review of this experience. Would I do it all again?
I went into this retreat experience trying to focus on one overarching intention; "Expect nothing, appreciate everything".
One thing I've been becoming aware of about myself is that I overly anticipate and live out experiences in my head about how I "think" they need to go, and then if things don't go that way it is disappointment that challenges me during the actual event. So I've been trying hard to change this mental habit and live into my experiences as they happen, free of expectation and an ability to just enjoy.
Anything can be a risky investment and when I was searching and considering retreat opportunities I had already learned to be aware of this as a general bit of wisdom, but that still didn't stop the fear I felt deciding to do it. Spending money can be something I fear as I am sure this fear is common, and one that can hold me back and create a spiral of thoughts when trying to decide if an investment is the best thing to do. Since my dad died in March 2022, challenging this fear and thinking "bigger" in the sense that we are not promised tomorrow and life is meant to be lived, and adopting mindsets that encourage a full/adventurous life has been a priority. So often it is ourselves that holds us back from enjoying life and all its possibilities. More often people feel controlled by their lives! The truth is, we create our lives whether we believe that or not. Our choices and free will shape our lives and then it is OURSELVES who prioritize the thoughts that narrate our realities.
So, why not do a retreat? Especially if I know it aligns with my values. I make lots of sacrifices and have established a lifestyle that I am proud of, I save money, I think before I act, and I make choices that are wise and of value. So why not? Learning more about what I want to do in life has outnumbered my fears and has been guiding me to be more ready to do the things that I value and invest in experiences that will increase my quality of life!
Something about THIS retreat spoke to me in a comforting way when I first read the details Mycah was planning. Something inside (intuition) or maybe my guarding angels were telling me this was the one. This retreat opportunity aligned with a lot of what I practice/value (gratitude, journaling, planning, healthy habits, intention, quality conversation, travel, business) and I knew deep down that if I didn't do this I could be setting myself up for feelings of regret. It also was a way for me to try and meet new like-minded people (from Minnesota) which is something I've been praying about.
Of course, decisions like this come with levels of practical and smart decision-making and I am in a season of my life where I am fortunate that this is an option for me. I've been leaning into the idea of, "If not now, then when?" and, "What are you scared of?", and "Would it be life-giving?", challenging my own limiting beliefs that hold me back. I choose to believe that ideas, dreams, and desires that I have, especially those that could bring new inspiration, bring joy, and provide me with an experience the soul craves, is important!
I've come to think the way to overcome depression or feelings of hopelessness is to accept that I am meant to live and experience my life and I want to believe that even though it can be hard (this life), it can also be very beautiful if we begin to chase what we value and want. Part of reaching goals and bringing a dream to life is to challenge yourself and dive into being uncomfortable. These goals can be tangible, materialistic, or also personality, mental, and spiritual.
I am a living example of somebody who is determined to create a beautiful life. Guatemala is one thing I decided to do to prove this to myself!
WHY GUATEMALA? BE CAREFUL
When I began sharing with others that I would be going to Guatemala, I noticed that there was a conceived idea that Guatemala is unsafe. I get this a lot when we bring up that we travel to Mexico every year too. This is an example of fear integrating itself into society and doing what it does best; provoking anxiety and offering an excuse not to travel. I learned that just like when you travel to places in Minnesota or the USA you need to be aware of your surroundings. After listening to lots of YouTube travel influencers and content creators, I became more aware that it can be unsafe anywhere you go but it shouldn't prevent you from exploring the world. This world is meant to be seen. Guatemala was in a civil war for many years and this increased the fear of traveling here. This is something Guatemala is still recovering from but I am here to confirm that Guatemala is worth visiting! Antigua and Lake Atitlan are known travel destinations and they are stunning. We had no troubles while we were here but, we had a hostess who had trusted connections and we were mindful of being safe and aware. Especially as a group of women.
My first impression of Guatemala was fascination. I am always in awe of how different some places around the world can be and yes this comes with a fear of it. Fear is unavoidable when you are doing something that feels brave. If you didn't experience fear, it wouldn't be brave. Guatemala City is where the airport is and where we first met our driver, Marvin. Not knowing much about who Mycah is and just meeting my new travel friends, I will admit that my mind did think about the what-if/catastrophe scenarios, and thankfully nothing like this happened. Walking into a parking garage, to get in a van with a strange man, who spoke Spanish as a first language, in Guatemala City was a bit unsettling for a small-town country girl from Embarrass MN but it was all OK. Guatemala City is a fast-paced, BIG city in Central America and it felt like it as we drove through to get to the smaller city of Antigua where we would be meeting our hostess, Mycah, and checking in to our first Airbnb.
Exploring Antigua was amazing, the sound of cobblestone roads, the flowers, and the colorful city architecture. The history. The views of the Volcano. It felt smaller than I expected and more safe. Our AirBB was fantastic and had an abundance of character that magnified the beauty of this unique experience. The high ceilings and large wood doors, the greenery, and the outside features that were indoors provided an environment that felt comfortable and full of history, culture, and charm.
Lake Atitlan was our second destination. It took nearly a full day to travel there and the ride was wild but because it is such a different world down there it was fun to see small bits of life as it is during the drive. I found it respectable to see people out and together and working with their hands. Planting, harvesting, interacting, playing. Our airBB in Santa Cruz La Laguna was STUNNING! Truly luxurious! We arrived by boat and our stay was near the lake. THANK GOODNESS because I soon learned that everything beyond that was a steep uphill climb.
At both places, we had kind, beautiful women who cooked 2 or more authentic, fresh meals for us each day. In addition, we were treated to highly recommended restaurants for evening meals in Antiqua. In Lake Atitlan, we experienced a fantastic cooking class (view included), with Alfredo one night. The food was so delicious and truly a highlight of the grand experience.
Any extras were on us and it was nice that there was time set aside to just explore and enjoy the amazing areas we were in.
INSECURITIES & CHOOSING TO LOVE MYSELF
You are beautiful just the way you are is something I have written in my journal many times to help me through the insecurities that arose during this trip. I knew they would come up because it has been a pattern for me as far back as I can remember, and I knew this would be an experience of personal discovery. I intended it to be, but knowing and living are two different things and my challenges were very real. I proved to myself though that I could use my tools and new habits to overcome my struggles and I did, that is what I want to share and encourage anybody wanting to try something that scares them for fear of fitting in or "not being enough" to do, too.
Needless to say at this point, I struggle with feelings of insecurity and the voice in my head that believes I am not enough or I don't fit in, this began to creep in as early as day 2 of the retreat.
I promised myself that I was going to try hard to recognize my personal and emotional needs while on this retreat and try to rise above them.
When I struggle I want to hide. I feel very safe when I am with myself which has been part of the reasons why I isolate as much as I do. This is not a bad thing but it can be when battling depression, anxiety, and invasive negative thoughts. As humans, it is a fact that we need other humans. There is power in numbers, in community. It's essential for wellness, mental well-being, and overall fulfillment! We are evolving into a culture that is more and more disconnected because of the pressure and fears of not leading a version of "perfect" that is so wrongly desired. We also are evolving into a culture that is becoming more aware of mental struggles and rather than the mindset of overcoming these obstacles, they are used as an excuse for why we "can't" do things. People hide from their imperfections because they evoke uncomfortable feelings and judgment. The truth is that they are part of our natural process of living. We are literally ALL, in present-day Northern America, at risk of becoming victims to our weaknesses, our mental struggles, and our fears of imperfection.
The mind is powerful. On day two I was convinced I did not fit in, that everybody was better than I was, I didn't connect with the language and acronyms everybody was using because I was from a different area of Minnesota than everybody else. I felt that nobody liked me and that I was too emotional and had too heavy of baggage to comfortably share. That I wasn't professional enough, trendy enough, funny enough, pretty enough, modern enough, friendly/fun enough, timely enough, I didn't have the best gear or confidence, and that I was the outcast. This was a lie of course and the heaviness I felt was uncomfortable and challenging, but, changeable. With support from my husband and the actions I took to care for my own needs, I was able to overcome this and view things from new angles. Here are 5 things I did to care for myself, change my negative thought patterns, and step back into the beauty I was surrounded by and out of my spiraling mind:
I took time to feel my feelings and be by myself. During this time I let myself cry and call my husband. I relaxed in a beautiful setting.
I journaled every morning and held on to my morning routine! I got up early, made my positive energy tea, found a quiet comfortable location, and continued my gratitude practice and positive affirmation. The leading affirmation for me became "I am beautiful just the way I am". I also took time to journal more, to write about the beautiful surroundings, my feelings, and my goals for the trips, and to share my truths and my experiences. This helped me question my insecurities and shine a light on where they were coming from, then start to change them. I began to see a bigger picture and more of the wonderful positive things that were surrounding me. I could see the lies I was telling myself and then find compassion for what others might also be experiencing. I changed the narrative in my mind. I adjusted my focus!
I took deep breaths and admired my surroundings. Mycah led each of her discussions with deep breathing. I loved that she incorporated this powerful skill into her service, her courage to lead with these skills she values inspired me to more readily do the same. Breathing is a powerful simple act that can be done at any time to help combat tension, anxiety, panic and so much more. I consciously took more breaths and just appreciated where I was by looking around, smelling the smell, touching things, and paying attention to the beauty that was all around me, the sounds.
I did not drink alcohol. There is nothing wrong with enjoying a drink but more often than not alcohol hurts my mind and body. It doesn't feel good. It makes things harder. I think I had one beer and maybe a glass of sangria on the trip and that was A-Ok with me. I enjoyed the water and the taste of amazing food. That was enough and my well-being appreciated that.
I went to bed early and honored my needs. Bed before 10. I still honored this and there was another woman who did the same. I struggle to sleep being away from home and sleep is important so I did my best to get the rest I needed or at least as much rest as I could at night to have a better day. I also let myself be vulnerable and shared insights into my feelings which allowed others to help me.
These were special things I did for myself, as a group we did fitness and meditation. Mycah led discussions that encouraged journaling and habit-building. All things I integrate regularly so it was extremely valuable to me to have intentional time with the group to do the things I often do to structure my days and intentionally set goals that serve me when overcoming struggle. I loved the discussions and the activities that this retreat emphasized! I loved where the value and the heart of the experience were focused and the fact that it was in a remarkably beautiful location, with kind-hearted, empowering women was a bonus.
THE GOOD AND NOT SO GOOD
Overall, the good outweighed the bad. I found a lot of value in my experience. I think we as individuals are ultimately responsible for the outcomes of our experiences. I worked hard to have a wonderful time, to challenge my insecurities, and to relax in the opportunity this retreat was offering me.
Mycah did a fantastic job organizing such a BIG, week-long venture. She is a natural hostess and it was obvious that she is passionate and caring about providing a rich and memorable retreat. She is also compassionate and showed me a caring heart ready to accommodate and change course as needed for those investing in her. She went above and beyond to provide all-inclusive amenities and did her best to help balance the language barriers so we could understand what locals were communicating. She was positive and the small group we had offered an intimate and involved combination of beautiful personalities. The experience was personal and professional and I came out of it with new friends and a new confidence in doing something like this again. I also believe I came out of it a better person, ready to heal and continue to be brave in this life.
Integrated into the retreat were opportunities to get professional headshots, styled session wedding content, and a Be Lovely and Free experience with Mycah. Not all of the women were photographers, but most of us were and so this provided a lot of usable business content. I participated in all the options and that included a Be Lovely and Free experience which I was hesitant about. But, "Por Que No" (a Spanish phrase the group adopted during the trip; meaning, why not!). I can say, more confidently, it is something worth investing in if you have never done it. With insecurities, the experience was inevitably hard and uncomfortable, even as a photographer, I am human, and being on the other side of the camera is intimidating, but seeing the photographs has desensitized me in ways I can appreciate when it comes to seeing myself and loving my body and who I am. It is not easy to be vulnerable in any way! I think that is important to note. Also, seeing yourself for the first time brings up feelings, there were some photographs I didn't save and I did struggle with criticizing myself and my imperfections when the photographs were delivered to me but as I looked at them more I became aware of my beauty from another perspective and that is powerful. I think being photographed in general can be a step toward self-respect. Another reason why they can be such a wonderful investment for yourself.
This trip was a BIG step for me, it was very stimulating and I would be lying to you if I said returning from it didn't also come with a rollercoaster of emotions and feelings. It did! I work hard each day to be a better version of myself and change the ways my narratives are doing more damage than good. Each day I take steps and I fight battles that nobody will ever truly know and that is ok. It is part of the human experience.
I WILL NEVER REGRET THIS EXPERIENCE!
I have a decade or more of effort, studying the human experience, anxiety, depression, wellness, the mind, spirituality, and business, and learning how to be aware of my thoughts and behaviors and to integrate intervention strategies into my daily routines. This experience, for me, was something I will never regret because I chose to learn from it, to enjoy it, to accept the challenges, and become better for being brave to go for it. Nobody is perfect and everybody is different. YOU are in charge of how you narrate your story and your experiences. You create the outcome in your mind and it is in your power to take back control of your life and see it from the most beautiful angle; a blessing.
Yes, I would 100% recommend going on a Mycah Retreat if the values align with yours. Yes, I would recommend exploring retreat options and choosing one that you are guided to participate in. Yes, I would recommend planning your own experience, big or small. Then challenge yourself to, "expect nothing, appreciate everything". Yes, I would recommend leaning into your fears and doing things that scare you with an open heart and a deep-rooted trust in the magical ways nature is guiding each one of us to a happy life if only we choose to listen.
Here are some links:
Gratitude Journal https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TFLTJFG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Mycah Bain on Instagram
Antigua, Guatemala AirBB
Lake Atitlan, Santa Cruz La Laguna, Guaremala AirBB
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