What Has Italy Taught Me? Women's Italy Retreats
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I write you this note from the balcony of our adorable AirBnB in the tiny Amalfi town of Minori, on the Italian Riviera (words I can't believe I get to type!).
It's our last day in Italy, which of course makes me sad. This place, especially the Amalfi Coast, feels more like home to me than any place I've ever been in my entire life. It's hard to explain, but it's a feeling of soul connection, and I guess it makes sense considering my ancestors come from these hills.
This trip planted a new dream in my heart that will be showing up on my upcoming #Futureboards I'm gonna buy an apartment in this town one day soon, with a view of the sea, so I can bring my kids and future grandchildren back to this place, year after year. Just putting those words out there!
God, so where to begin? What has Italy taught me this time?
At my women's retreat last week in Tuscany (watch our REEL here), we started and ended each day talking about the lessons we were learning on the trip, and what those tangible lessons might mean in the broader scope of our lives. We found that each of us had been given a physical lesson (like being outside our comfort zone or losing luggage), that translated to deeper meaning.
My lesson on this trip has been patience. It's a lesson I am forever working on and a big personal fault of mine, so Italy has thrown many little "patience lessons" at me to test my ability to show up differently. I'm not getting it down perfectly, that's for sure, but I am getting it.
Italy always teaches me the value of life. It reminds me what joy actually FEELS like. What happiness tastes like. It slows me down and I notice EVERYTHING, the red fishing boat bobbing in the harbor, the old man sitting on the chair outside the barber shop, the old women sewing on the balcony eves-dropping on all the conversations below.
It reminds me that TRUST exists in an entire culture, not just in a person. Italians are so trusting, they trust you to tell them accurately what you ordered at the restaurant when it comes time to pay the bill, because they probably didn't keep track. They trust that you'll come back and pay them after you've been using their canoe all afternoon. They trust fellow beach goers to leave their Gucci bags and personal effects alone while they spend the day in the sea. They trust. They give. They share. They aren't worried about a thing!
Travel, and Italy in particular, has taught me so much.
Where would I be in my life at this point had I not done the most scary thing imaginable in 2016 and booked our first flights to Italy? I can't imagine. I know for a fact that I would not be here, in this moment, that's for sure. I would not have met nine amazing women here last week for the trip of a lifetime. Their trip has forever changed them too, now they will pass it on, which fills my cup to overflowing.
Which brings me to a few questions I have for YOU...
When was the last time you did something for YOU? Something you've dreamed of doing for years, maybe all your life?
When was the last time you took a chance and stepped WAY outside your comfort zone?
When was the last time you tested your limits? PROVEN to yourself how strong you are.
Met new life-long friends?
Spent 5 days with your mentor?
When is the last time you let go of control, and allowed yourself to be OPEN to what the Universe was trying to teach you?
When was the last time you felt loved and accepted by total strangers?
When was the last time you felt UTTER JOY?
When's the last time you INVESTED IN YOU?
I challenge you to make TODAY that day. If you've been watching my social media stories, then you've seen my Italy retreat last week on my Facebook and Instagram. You've seen me this week in Amalfi living my soul's joy with my daughters, and you're about to watch us do the same in France in a few days...
So I ask you...
Why do you keep thinking..."Good for her, but I could never do that!"?
What is your reasoning?
Because I can promise you, you will NOT ever remember it AFTER you take a trip with me! You'll only remember the transformation, the joy, the once-in-a-lifetime moments, the friendships, and the pride you feel in yourself.
I encourage you to take the opportunity to JOIN ME in 2024 in Greece!
There are ONLY 8 TOTAL SPOTS in my 2024 retreat. That means if you don't act now to reserve your spot, you'll be putting off this dream, this transformation, this trip of a lifetime for another year.
Manifesting most often comes in the form of an opportunity.... and here is yours!
I've set up affordable payment plans which require no credit, you can reserve your spot now via the payment plan.
Learn more about my retreats below...
Fun details about my retreats:
I stay with you at the villa, this means you get unparalleled access to me. There will be many casual moments where you'll get coaching through our conversations, allowing us to connect in a very personal and intimate way, something I don't offer anywhere else. There will be late-night tipsy chats with ruckus laughter, and a totally unfiltered, "nothing off limits," chance to get to know me!
I'll cook for you! I love to cook and entertain, so it's important that I get the chance to cook you one of my family's favorite meals, I'll ask for your help in the kitchen just the way I would if you were coming to my house for dinner. Then I'll share the recipes with you.
My daughters and I will wait on you! I love traveling with my twin teenage daughters, and they LOVE being little waiters, so between them, me, and the villa staff we've got your every wish covered!
You'll have plenty of free time. My retreats are designed to feel comfortable, connected, and like a girl's trip with your favorite people. For that reason there is a loosely structured agenda each day, with built-in flexibility, allowing for you to make decisions along the way. We'll have breakfast, then workshops, then lunch, free time, happy hour, and dinner together every day, but they are not rigidly structured, so be prepared to let go of control and allow me to curate a magical, once-in-a-lifetime experience for you, done my unique way :)
I'll provide you with all the info you'll need to book your trip, including recommendations of where to go before and after, how to get the best deals, how to get around, and all my travel tips to make sure you feel confident in your entire trip planning process. You'll be able to ask questions in our live Zoom beforehand and I'll even do a private 30-minute call with you 2 weeks before to make sure all your questions are answered. I'll hold your hand a bit, but remember this is YOU doing the planning to get there, it's an important part of building travel confidence.
You'll get all kinds of unexpected lessons! We'll likely do a daily photo shoot so that you'll leave the trip with some incredible lifestyle photos of you living your dream! I'll teach you some of my photography and Instagram tips. I'll probably throw in a cooking lesson, or other life lessons from my new book All The Things I Wish I Knew, so just know... you'll be learning fun stuff all day every day!
You'll be able to explore surrounding areas, relax and enjoy the amenities during free time. We'll even do one "off campus" day together.
I'll add you to a group chat on What's App the week before we leave, so you can get even more connected with the ladies and give us your travel updates before and after the trip. This has been such a special thing to watch the ladies bond in group chat. This means you are NEVER ALONE!
So what are you waiting for?
Ready to take your life, career, goals, and yourself to the next level? Check out my life coaching options or take my online life coaching courses to get the results you DESERVE!
Sarah Centrella is a #1 best-selling author of several self-help books, a motivational keynote speaker, master life coach, Founder of VIVIAMO and podcast host.