10 Life Lessons I Learned in Carmel

 
A few weeks ago, I joined nine other talented food bloggers on our Blogger Refresh Retreat in Carmel, CA. Although the two days flew by in the blink of an eye, quite a few little life lessons permanently etched their places on my heart, teaching me a few more things about myself and reminding me of what I love about blogging.

{More photos at the end of this post!}
 

 
1. Explore.
While we initially began our trip in downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea eating our way through bakeries and chocolate shops, the retreat truly began when we drove through the gates to Holman Ranch, our gracious host throughout our stay. Tucked away in Carmel Valley, Holman Ranch spans countless acres of rolling hills, picturesque vineyards, and pastures.

They generously offered us the use of their guestrooms and event spaces throughout our stay, so before we even dropped off our luggage, Heather, Mindy, and I began exploring. We passed through room after room of rustic décor and cozy armchairs, completely in awe of the generosity of Holman Ranch for giving us free reign of the space… And then we stepped outside, where the vineyards nestled up against the flower-lined courtyard, and I lost all words.

It was beautiful, peaceful, serene—and had we not explored, we probably would’ve spent the weekend gathered in the quaint kitchen instead!
 

 
2. Nature inspires.
Since my food blogging job mostly spans the areas between the kitchen and computer desk, I usually spend more time indoors than I’d like. Wandering around the Holman Ranch grounds, soaking in the rose bushes and grapevines, reminded me to reconnect with the peace of nature, especially when I’m feeling drained and uninspired, and let it rejuvenate myself and my creativity.
 

 
3. Ask, ask, ask.
Although Holman Ranch probably impacted me the most, we didn’t just drive to Carmel to check out the scenery! We spent time talking about different aspects of blogging, and a few of the ladies gave informal yet very helpful presentations: Amy explained artificial lighting, Dorothy taught Lightroom techniques, and Trish demonstrated painting and distressing wooden photography backdrops. In that relaxed setting, none of us were shy, and because we readily asked them questions, we came away ready to put those new tricks to use.

Even more importantly, I was reminded of the importance of asking questions during the quieter moments. With our easygoing and flexible schedule, we had lots of downtime, which meant that some ladies briefly retreated to their rooms while others sat around in the comfy chairs to chat. At different points during the retreat, I found myself in individual conversations with Cathy, Mindy, and Heather, and by asking about their families and life outside of blogging, I learned a lot more about them as people and their inspiring stories.

That served as a great reminder that we don’t have to talk about work and blogging all of the time and that we love to feel appreciated and talk about ourselves—myself included!
 

 
4. Listen, listen, listen.
Not every statement needs a response. Soak in what other people are saying; let their words fully wash over us. This lesson goes hand-in-hand with the next one. Sometimes, the best way to show support or compassion is to let the other person continue talking until they get everything off of their chest, or to simply ask follow-up questions to show that we care and want to learn. It’s really easy to jump in, take control of the conversation, and try to relate what others are saying to our personal lives, but that normally isn’t what the other person needs.

After attending the retreat, I realized I have a lot to learn when it comes to listening, and it’s my goal to listen and ask more questions in my relationships this summer.
 

 
5. Be vulnerable.
As hard as it is to open up, acknowledging our weaknesses can be one of our biggest strengths and the times where we grow the most. After dinner on our second night, the conversation around the conference table evolved to where ladies let down their guard to share their emotions and imperfections. When we opened up to be raw and real, it allowed us to see just how beautiful and talented each of those ladies is, and I felt really blessed that they included me on the retreat.
 

 
6. You aren’t the smartest one in the room… But you’re still the smartest you’ve ever been.
Whether it was during the informal presentations, cooking tacos for lunch with Heather, or going around the conference table sharing our best blog posts, I realized that I’ll never be the smartest person in the room. It’s because everyone has different experiences, different life lessons, and different perspectives. And that’s okay! As long as we’re receptive and open to learning, this present moment—right here, right now—is the smartest we’ve ever been. And if we stay receptive, 5 minutes or 5 days or 5 years from now, we’ll be even smarter and know much more than we could’ve imagined.
 

 
7. Listen to your body.
Although I’m a people person, I’m still a really big introvert, and since I spend 80%+ of my time working from home alone with only my dog as company, I’m used to lots of quiet time. Being around other people and constant conversations for two full days, even people as wonderful and friendly as these lovely ladies, can be over-stimulating for me, so on the second afternoon, I listened to my body begging for alone time and went for a walk around the Holman Ranch grounds and nearby neighborhood. That hour brought me the peace I needed to come back to dinner with a full, happy, and energized heart.

In other words… It’s important to take care of ourselves so we can be fully present in the moment and supportive of our friends and family.
 

 
8. Unplug.
As bloggers, we are constantly using electronic devices: email, social media, texting, typing, editing, talking… And that adds up to take quite a toll! At Holman Ranch with its natural beauty, most of us tried to use our smart phones and laptops a little less, while focusing on the people and surroundings instead. Setting down the devices meant we were less distracted and more present, and that provided the rejuvenation we needed.
 

 
9. Live in gratitude.
I am so lucky to have this food blogging job. Not only do I earn money by baking, but I get to meet lovely ladies, work with amazing brands, and travel too! I still need to pinch myself sometimes and remind myself that this is real life, not just a dream. Living in gratitude and counting my blessings makes me a much happier, healthier, and more peaceful person, and that perspective makes for a much better life.

So in the spirit of gratitude, I’d like to thank each of the ladies for making this Blogger Refresh Retreat so fun! {in the photo above, clockwise from the bottom left} Cathy, Mindy, Dorothy, Lisa, Trish, Hayley, (me,) Amy, Heather, and Glory.

And a humongous thank you to all of the sponsors that made this trip possible! Holman Ranch, Will’s Fargo Restaurant, Jennie-O, Tillamook, Hamilton Beach, OXO, The Tomkat Studio, Crystal Faye, Diamond of California, B. Toffee, Red Star Yeast, Kraft Jet Puffed Marshmallows, STAR, Planet Rice, and Truvia.
 

 
10. Take pictures to remember.
After blogging for so long, I often find myself snapping pictures while thinking, “This would look great on Instagram!” or “Should I share this on Facebook?” Taking photos just to post them shouldn’t be my top priority. Instead, I want to take pictures to remember the moments: the conversations, the laughs, the scenery, the inside jokes, the flavors, the emotions, and the thoughts.

So here are the photos that bring back memories from our Blogger Refresh Retreat in Carmel. And if you’ve stuck with me this long, thank you for reading!