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Now What?
Life After Cancer
by Laura Davis

Behind the Scenes: Getting Ready for a Writing Retreat: Overplan, Then Let Go

Over the past two weeks, Evelyn and I have sat and talked through the different phases of our upcoming retreat. We’ve reviewed the three sections of the retreat that I first developed with my friend and colleague Nancy London: Grieving, Uncertainty, and Transformation, the rough stages involved in integrating major life changes. During the first […]

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Commonweal

Behind the Scenes: Getting Ready for a Writing Retreat: Building the Container

One of the most important things about creating a powerful, transformative retreat is building a safe environment in which the work of the retreat can unfold. That’s why for an intensive writing retreat—one whose goal is deep writing and internal work—the setting is so important. It’s one of the reasons I love teaching at the

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Writing as a Pathway Retreat

Behind the Scenes: Getting Ready for a Writing Retreat: Introducing Writing as a Pathway

Friday marks the start of my first “Writing as a Pathway Through Grief, Loss, Transition and Change” retreat since before the pandemic. This is a retreat I created with my colleague Nancy London and co-taught with Nancy and David Colin Carr for several years. I was inspired to create it after my mother died in

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The New Abnormal

In my WRITING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC class last week, I talked about this weird in-between period we’re in–getting vaccinated (or not), hoping for herd immunity, but being told it probably won’t happen, watching infections rates soar around the world and variants grow as the vaccinated begin to venture out into our own communities more. I

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The Courage to Heal

Written Sunday morning, the day after: We won. My side won. I don’t think it would be hyperbole to say democracy won. Decency won. I was out on my daily walk behind Simpkin’s Swim Center when I heard the news, drinking in the chlorophyll of all those trees, my eyes sweeping over Schwan Lake and

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Who Are These People?

“We must criticize without wounding and debate without dehumanizing our opponents. Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” –Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Written Friday afternoon, the day before Biden’s victory was announced: Sometime during my slog through this endless election night, after

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Summer Musings Lead to Change

It’s the end of August and I’m already gearing up for the start of my fall classes (how did that happen?). How can it be that summer’s almost over? Let’s see, what did I do on my summer “vacation?” I spent almost five weeks in Indonesia—scuba diving, on my own private writing retreat in Bali,

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A Final Adventure on the Danube

Last week, during my first full day in Serbia, while Dusica and I were strolling along the Danube talking about the history of Incest Resources, she had us go into a little restaurant with colorful light fixtures on the tables and walls covered of bright, cheerful paintings. She was making a reservation for a meeting

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Last Night Celebration

We had dinner and wine and live local music for our last night–and a tour of the winery. There was a lot of singing and dancing to the local music, especially as the night went on in the wineglasses emptied. Here’s a taste of the music:

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Time is Relative

Of course, as a responsible teacher, I get to my classroom at least fifteen minutes before we’re supposed to start. I want to have the room set up to welcome the students and I like a little time to ground myself and review what I’m going to do. This morning, when I walked into our

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