Empowerment in Vermont: My Transformative Weekend with 25 Powerful Men of Color
Have you ever been surrounded by 20 or more men who made you feel empowered and valuable? I have! This past weekend, I attended a men’s wellness retreat in Vermont with 25 powerful men of color. The ages and stories were amazing, tragic, resilient, and worthy of absorbing. There were multiple moments during this retreat where I encountered joy so overwhelming it brought tears of happiness to my cheeks. Every person I spoke to was as clear as my aunt’s glass windows. There were no signs of masks or hidden agendas. I am not exaggerating when I say everyone I encountered was fully open and engaged.
As a man of color, it is unfortunate that we do not feel this way among each other more frequently. If I could use a word to describe what every man felt around each other, I would use “safe” or “secure.”
The goal of this weekend getaway was to rest, recover, and be our true selves. What was expected and what took place were totally different. I watched men open up about what they were going through and how they were dealing with it. The masks of everyday life were removed. It was group therapy without an appointment or a mandate. We were there because we wanted to be, and as time went by, you could feel the group getting closer and closer.
There was a leader of this group, but if you did not know who the leader was, you would be challenged to discover him by watching us move and interact. Everyone there led, learned, and grew socially, emotionally, and spiritually in less than 24 hours.
How do we keep this type of energy going and growing moving forward? That is a good question! The answer is simple and challenging. We must all keep our promises to reach out and stay engaged with each other when we reenter the real world. For 48 hours, we men were among each other without all of the responsibilities we have in our day-to-day lives. There were no wives or significant others, no children, or jobs to clock into. It was easier to be fully engaged. I challenge all the men in this group and those who want the pleasure we encountered this week to take 0.5 percent of your day to check in with your male friends. Create a system of reaching out and checking in with your friends. This is much needed in the world.
How I plan on doing this is to text two people per day and call one person a day. 0.5 percent of your day is about 7.5 minutes. Instead of scrolling on social media, I am going to scroll through my friends list and make that my new social media. This strategy may change over time; however, I want to start doing something immediately so I do not lose the momentum!
I am blessed to have the opportunity to walk with, lean on, influence, and critically think with incredible men.
This group of men answered my three essential questions that I have incorporated into my life, which I learned from author John Maxwell. Do they care about me? Yes, without question, as if I were their firstborn! Can they help me? They have already helped and continue to help me. Can you trust them? Sometimes I trust them more than I trust myself in certain situations. If you are in need of a group of men to inspire, network, and relate to, feel free to reach out. We will surely help you find an organization, if not ours, that could help you become a better version of yourself!
Thanks for reading,
Your friend,
Wakime Hauser