Three days. 

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Seventeen hours of meditation. 

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No speaking. 

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No screens. 

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Just me.

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My fellow retreatees.

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A small mountain village tucked away in Liguria, Italy.

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And a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions I’d been struggling to make sense of for months. 

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It sounds intense—and it was—but in ways I didn’t expect.

Before arriving at the retreat, I felt like I was drowning in my own busyness.

My days were a blur of going through the motions, ticking off endless tasks that didn’t bring me any real fulfillment combined with procrastination which led me to feel more powerless. 

Anxiety, overwhelm, and the creeping edge of burnout bordering on depression had started to manifest in my life. 

I knew I needed a change, and this retreat turned out to be the best gift I could have given myself.

Vipassana meditation, especially Anapana, was at the heart of this 3-day silent retreat.

It’s a simple yet profound practice of focusing on your breath for an hour, starting with big breaths, gradually narrowing your focus to the breath in your nose, and eventually centering on a single point just in front of it.

While there’s much more to Vipassana, even a short 3-day retreat offers a glimpse into what is often referred to as “the art of living,” drawing on Buddhist teachings (without any specific religious intent).

Here is what happened:

Arrival Night and Day One: Silence Brings It All to the Surface

I arrived the evening before, unsure of what to expect.

After dinner, we had our first meditation, accompanied by some brief instructions, and then the silence began.

That first session felt both strange and powerful.

The silence was heavy yet light, oppressive yet freeing, all at once.

My mind wandered constantly, drifting in and out of focus. It’s not easy to sit with yourself and concentrate on just your breath for an hour.

Everything about that evening felt deliberate—unpacking my belongings, eating mindfully, even noticing my breath.

Without the distractions of conversations or electronics, time slowed down.

Tasks that normally felt automatic took on new meaning.

The silence forced me inward, and while it was uncomfortable at times, I could feel something inside me stirring.

Then, without warning, two major decisions I’d been wrestling with for months became crystal clear.

These were the kind of decisions I had overanalyzed, procrastinated on, and agonized over instead of just.

But here, they simply appeared—calm, certain, resolved.

Thanks to a kind word of advice from a well meaning person (thank you, Joseph!), I let go of any expectations and allowed clarity to emerge without force.

Day Two: A Walk to Clarity

The next morning, after our 6:30 a.m. meditation, I set off on a three-hour hike to Mount Ceppo.

The woods were still, the mountains majestic in the morning light.

As I walked, childhood memories came flooding back, sparked by the sight of a silver thistle on the path.

Emotions I hadn’t felt in years—joy, wonder, and a sense of freedom—rose to the surface.

At one point, I hugged an ancient tree, touched its roots, and felt an overwhelming sense of connection. It was a reminder that everything is interconnected, a vast ecosystem of support and balance. In that moment, I felt truly present.

The hike also brought a profound realization: I was exhausted from trying to control everything in my life. I’d been obsessing over outcomes, clinging to goals, and completely missing the joy of simply living.

Right then, I decided that simplicity would be my guiding theme for the year ahead.

With that realization, the weight of anxiety lifted, replaced by a feeling of lightness and freedom.

That day, like the others, included six meditations.

The silent meals were another revelation.

At first, eating without speaking felt odd, but soon I found beauty in the quiet gestures—a smile, a nod.

These small acts of connection carried a depth I hadn’t experienced before. It taught me how much we can communicate just by being present.

Day Three: A Sunrise of New Possibilities

On the final morning, I woke before dawn and climbed the mountain to watch the sunrise.

The stillness, the vastness, and the quiet beauty of that moment took my breath away.

I felt deeply connected to everything around me, and within that connection, I realized something profound: this quiet, expansive space inside me was something I wanted to nurture every day.

I had done all kinds of meditations daily for years, but Vipassana felt different—pure, focused, transformative. I knew I wanted to make it a daily practice.

Leaving the retreat, I committed to meditating for an hour every morning and 30 minutes every night.

3 weeks later, I am still hitting a streak.

Since returning home, I’ve seen the difference.

I’m more focused.

I procrastinate less.

I feel aligned with what truly matters.

This retreat gave me not just clarity but a tangible way forward.

I’m simplifying my life, living more intentionally, and finding a peace I haven’t felt in years.

Insights for Anyone Needing a Reset

1. Embrace the Power of Letting Go: Ask yourself, What am I clinging to that no longer serves me? Sometimes, freedom lies in releasing control. Write down three things you’re ready to let go of and take small steps to release them.

2. Create Space for Silence: Silence has a way of surfacing what we often suppress. Try dedicating one day each weekend to being screen-free and quiet. Or implement a regular meditation practice (start with 5 minutes and work your way up). If you’ve been meditating regularly, consider attending a silent retreat—it’s life-changing.

3. Find Your Guiding Word: For me, it’s “simplicity.” What value or feeling resonates with you? Write it down and let it guide your choices and actions this year.

4. Reconnect with Nature: Nature has an unparalleled ability to ground us. Walk barefoot, touch the trees, or simply sit and observe. These small moments remind us of what truly matters.

5. Shift from Doing to Being: If you’re caught in the endless grind of productivity, slow down. Focus on one task at a time, noticing your breath and presence. Life isn’t a race—it’s meant to be lived fully.

For anyone feeling lost, overwhelmed, or stuck, I can’t recommend a silent retreat enough.

It gave me back a sense of myself and helped me realign with what truly matters.

Sometimes, pausing is the most powerful thing we can do.

My next goal is to attend a 10-day Vipassana retreat. I’ve already found a few options and am eagerly awaiting a spot to open (the waitlist is long!). I’m excited to dive deeper and discover even more about myself.