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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>Dear Marilyn and Joe,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It is almost three weeks now since Carol Fleischman delivered “Cycles of Life Legacy Retreat” here in Santa Fe. We are sorry that you could not come as you had hoped, but here is a brief report. I am sending this to you on dialogue believing others Who know Carol may also be interested.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We had a very engaging retreat that provided a formal setting for Carol to beta test the construct which she has done as living room gatherings or for church groups before. Carol was pleased with the results. Elise and I were very excited for ourselves for the opportunity to take stock and reassess our lives. We were even more excited for the other participants (22 friends and colleagues with whom we have worked). The 4-hour process-driven format was done in one day, 9:30Am – 4:00 PM with lunch. It enabled each of us to find and give voice to a deeper and alternative perspective of our lives looking through the 7 year cycles rather than the usual decades or open timeline of broader phases we have lived. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The format was crisp and tightly timed. Carol has produced a small participant journal booklet with a beautiful artistic and contemplative picture -- <i>moon over reflecting water</i> on the cover and in half tone on the inner pages. There is one page for each 7 year cycle (0-7-14-21-28-35-42-49-56-63-70-77-84-98 ---). The structure is to pass 4 times through the 7 year cycles, personalized ahead of time with each of our specific dates in the booklet, 1) for memories, 2) for doing and being experiences, 3 ) for a summary narrative (with a partner), and 4) for a declaration of effects and influences on the world (with same partner). The fifth brief exercise is to intuitively declare the incompletes to date and the intents for the future. Some did next steps, some did affirmations. Some did their “being plan” (vs an “action plan”).<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>WOW!!! --- All in 4 + hours. I would say “wow” was the response of all or most the group – an amazement and appreciation for a process and direction which would allow going beyond the usual paradigm of youth and education, work and career, and ultimately retirement. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Three things became very apparent. <b>First</b>, the governing of time and the focus on the cycles as the point of reference allowed us to cover our whole life rather than just the parts to which we tend to go (successes or crisis). <b>Second</b>, The work with the partner is essential to get beyond our subjective prejudice (prejudice?, subjective?, who me?) It was unbelievable how much I had or was ready to dismiss and edit out as transitory that my partner responded to with amazement as we crafted our declarations. <b>Third</b>, while we all would have loved a two or three day retreat, the one day and the 4 + hours made it possible for many to participate who wouldn’t have been able to invest a longer time. If we would have done two days, my guess is we would have had 6-7 of the 22 and maybe none. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Though many expressed the desire to go back and spend more time on particular cycles and tease out additional themes it was clear that desire was a good basis for a new decision to invest solitary time or to meet with another member to engage in further work. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>So, we are now planning some cluster follow-up with these participants and probably a second staging of the retreat itself for a date yet to be confirmed. So let me know if you are still interested and I will send the flyer as soon as we have it. We will have accommodations for 5-6 in colleague housing and also access to the cheap hotels. We will be using the recommendations of the first participants to follow up for the next retreat. We strongly sense that it still needs to be one day, but with another 45 minutes to occasion more reflection. Carol is even designing a little reflection booklet for in between each exercise.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You may have already heard directly from Carol, but I have to say it was an experience of great value for Elise and I and for all our participants.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sincerely, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>George and K. Elise Packard<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Bridging Futures LLC, Santa Fe<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>505-660-7070<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>