Discovering My Sanctuary in the Season of Empty Nesting
This past year, I stepped into a new chapter: empty-nesting, solo, while also navigating the exhilarating (and sometimes overwhelming) early years of building my own business. Knowing myself, I understood I’d need something extra to ground me.
Not just for me, but for my work. As someone who holds space for others, I know how important it is to create a clean, uncluttered inner space. That means tending to my own emotions, griefs, and growing edges. If I don’t do my own inner work, I can’t authentically support my clients. I take this commitment seriously - practicing what I preach isn’t optional, it’s foundational.
In the past, my reset button was retreats: places like Miraval or Canyon Ranch that gave me healing, perspective, and new tools. But this time felt different. I wasn’t searching for the next training or a traditional getaway. Something else was calling, though I didn’t yet know what. So, I did what I often recommend to others: I set the question down gently, and opened myself to what might unexpectedly arrive.
And arrive it did, in the most serendipitous way.
A Chance Turn Becomes a Turning Point
It began so simply. I was clearing out closets filled with my children’s homeschool books and supplies (so many…enough to open a small school!) and took a drive to a curriculum sale. On my way home, I stopped for a walk at one of my favorite trails, a hidden gem an hour from home. Afterward, hunger set in, but my GPS stopped working. Rather than panic, I leaned into the uncertainty.
I told myself: this is an adventure.
That’s when I spotted a small, easy-to-miss sign for The Mayflower Inn, a boutique inn I’d heard of but never knew the location of. Something nudged me to pull in. Not only did they have a restaurant, they had a spa. A warm welcome, a spontaneous tour, and a brochure later - I found myself staring at something I didn’t know I desperately needed: a community membership at The Retreat.
Twelve visits a year. Accessible. Grounded. Nourishing.
I signed up.
After dropping off my younger son and sending my older son back to school, I made my first visit. It was exactly what I’d been craving.
A Place to Feel, Not Push Away
From the start, it wasn’t about distraction or “pretending everything is okay.” This was about creating space to feel it all: the pride of watching my sons thrive, the joy of seeing them embrace life, the sadness of missing their presence in my daily rhythms, and the quieter fear that everything would be different from here on out.
At The Mayflower Inn and Spa, I found a place to hold all of that. A place surrounded by mature trees, gardens, water, soft light, and silence when I needed it. Every detail, from the resting areas to the locker spaces, was exquisitely maintained. Nothing felt overlooked. Someone cared enough to make the environment healing in itself.
Beyond the tranquil setting, The Retreat truly stands out for its diverse wellness offerings. Whether grounding myself in a yoga class or sound bowl meditation, building strength through weight training or energizing aqua fitness sessions, relaxing in the jacuzzi and saunas, I found there was something to nurture every aspect of my wellbeing.
What added to the joy of returning again and again was experiencing The Retreat throughout the seasons: admiring snow piled softly on the boxwoods in winter, or delighting in the blossoms that adorned the trees in spring and the blue heron at the pond. Each element became an anchor, supporting me through transitions and helping me reconnect with both body and spirit.
It became my sanctuary.
More Than a Place, It’s the People
Perhaps the most surprising gift has been the people. The staff are always one step ahead, and all the spa providers are truly exceptional. Together, they create an atmosphere of kindness and ease among all the members and guests.
I’ve had meaningful conversations here, but also moments of quiet companionship, sitting beside strangers in silence that feels sacred rather than awkward. I’ve visited with friends and I’ve come alone, and each time I leave restored in ways I didn’t expect.
This is more than a physical retreat, it’s a reminder that true connection is possible. Even in transition, even in uncertainty, even when life feels unfamiliar.
Alignment, Gratitude, and Renewal
Looking back as I approach my one-year anniversary with The Retreat, I can see the imprint it’s left on me. Friends have noticed it, perhaps even more so knowing the year I’ve had. Through the shifts of empty nesting and building my business, they’ve seen a steadiness, a lightness, and a more nourished version of myself. My older son visited with me once and, without hesitation, said, “Mom, this place was built for you.”
In many ways, he was right. And yet, it’s not just mine, The Mayflower Inn and Spa is place where anyone can retreat, restore, and revive.
Sometimes, life answers our questions not with what we think we need, but with something far greater than we could have imagined. This place has been exactly that for me.
And in this season of empty nesting, of entrepreneurship, of rediscovering who I am becoming, The Retreat has been a soft landing, a reset button, and a reminder that when we stay open, the right things always find their way to us.
✨ Closing thought: If you’re walking through a transition of your own, consider what sanctuary might look like for you. It may not be a spa or a retreat: it could be a daily walk, a creative practice, or a supportive community. What matters most is staying open to receiving what’s waiting for you.
