Testimonial

Alicia Thornborrow
2021 Recipient of The Quinn Alexandra Scholarship

It feels strange, as a writer, to not be able to find the right words. It is, however, what I’ve struggled with in writing this piece. The fear of not doing the retreat justice, with my words. I am, however, going to try. 

I came to the retreat with a tired heart; a heavy backpack, literally(!) I brought way too many books; eyes joyful, looking forward to what this week would bring; and a mind open, ready to take in everything. Take it in I did, I left with my heart full of love, rejuvenated; a much lighter backpack, and I’m not talking about the physical one this time; eyes filled with tears, warm tears, good tears, my cheeks wet with feelings of connection; and a mind bubbling, no, boiling, with inspiration. Grateful! I am so damn grateful to the women who brought me here. Because I really needed a break, a proper break, I needed to spend time on me, and the Quinn Alexander Scholarship/WOW Tuscany Retreat gave me that, and so much more. It gave me things that I hadn’t even realised I needed. If it hadn’t been for the Council of Elders, I wouldn’t have been able to make it to this retreat and I wouldn’t be who I am now. 

The retreat brought me connection and community. I think, at times, we all struggle. As writers, as artists, as creatives, as weirdos, as humans… with feeling truly connected to others; and in finding our places and our people. Especially with the rush of everyday life, social media, work work work, and well, you know, the grind… In Tuscany, time slowed down, in Tuscany we lived like Goddesses. Each of whom brought their own specific magic to the table. I felt home at that table, I felt safe, welcome and wanted. 

The retreat brought me peace, in body and in mind. My early morning dips in the pool, followed by Nancy’s yoga, those amazing breakfast buffets and oh(!) how I loved the mornings’ silence. I have never in my life had such perfect mornings. A morning ritual fit for the heavens. Nancy’s yoga was a gift, those sessions in the olive grove were magical, for both body and soul, I’ve not felt such a connection to my body in a long time, if ever, and some other stuff came loose too, which I was able to let go. And who’d have known? Spending a week writing your heart out seems to bring a lot of peace as well. 

The retreat brought me confidence, in who I am as a person, as a woman, and as a writer. I felt one hundred percent accepted as I am. I felt seen and heard, loved and respected. I left feeling less silly about this thing I do, writing, this occupation I give myself, writer. I felt like my voice matters and that there are people out there who want to hear it. 

I was reminded of how much I love and need structure. How much I need to tend to myself before I tend to others. How important writing is in my life; and how important movement is for my mind; and how important my mind is to my writing. The bats reminded me that change is okay, even if you have to switch rooms in the middle of the night. 

I haven’t even properly mentioned the food, I seriously felt like royalty and don’t know where the Michelin man has been hanging out but he needs to go find some of those stars to hand out. The workshops, the writing, what can I say… It felt like a privilege to sit and write and then read and listen, all of it, beautiful women, beautiful words… Such good company. The love and the laughs, the hugs and the tears. All of it! All if it is stored in me forever as one of the best experiences of my life. 

The scholarship and the retreat were exactly what I needed at this moment in my life and they have helped me to take myself, my dreams and my writing more seriously. To keep on looking inside and keep on being vulnerable. To keep on this path I am on, this path on which WOW and their retreats are most certainly in my future again. Because, hey, I have found my people!