EP. 381 Getting Up on the Balcony

Hey Friend, I just got back from Texas, where I had the joy of speaking to an incredible group of women at a church in Waco. And some of what I shared with them is newer content I’ve been working on. A little bit of that is woven into today’s conversation. 

But first, I want to talk about something I’ve been saying for years: getting up on the balcony. 

Here’s what I believe: you cannot see your own life clearly when you’re standing in the middle of it. You’re too close. When you’re at ground level, all you can see is the next thing in front of you. Getting up on the balcony means stepping away — intentionally, seasonally — to get a wider view of your life. It’s one of the most necessary and most neglected rhythms I know. 

About fifteen years ago, I started driving to Chicago every three months for a retreat. I didn’t love the drive, but arriving at that retreat center changed something in me. That rhythm of stepping away became foundational to my own personal and professional growth — and I’ve never regretted a single trip. 

It doesn’t have to be far. It doesn’t have to be long. But it does have to be away. A weekly Sabbath does some of this work — and it’s valuable — but there’s something about a seasonal reset, a 24 to 48-hour step outside your ordinary routine, that reaches a different layer.

After six years of offering retreats like this to our certified coaches, Farmer Dale and I are finally opening the farm to you. Small groups, intentional time, home-cooked meals, and the beauty and simplicity of life on a fourth-generation family farm in South Central Illinois. 

Our first retreat is September 17–19, 2026. Only six seats. Registration is open now, and there’s already a waitlist forming — so don’t sit on this too long. If you’re in a season of transition, longing for clarity, or just overdue for a real rest and reset, this might be exactly what you need.

🌿 FALL FARM RETREAT: A small, intimate gathering here on the farm — limited to 6–8 people. https://therealifeprocess.com/farm

🌿 LINKS & RESOURCES: 

• Farm Registration: https://therealifeprocess.com/farm

• The Springs Retreat Center, Southern Indiana: https://www.thespringsindiana.org/

• All REALIFE Process® Resources - https://therealifeprocess.com