Time for an echo... Time for a break.

Testimony of Milène

Milène lors du stage sculpter son chemin

During the school holidays, I intended to take some time for myself. As a young, full-time mother, executive, and athlete at heart, it takes time to juggle these three roles throughout the weeks.

An idea was running through my head: to give myself a break, a moment just for me. No phone, no pressure, no strings attached, no constraints, with the sole aim of taking some time and giving myself a moment of respite.

With a helping hand from François, I decided to sign up for the week-long Sculpting Your Way course starting in Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert. I didn't know much, except that there would be four of us, accompanied by François and Marc, who would guide us for a week along a section of the Camino de Santiago.

I wanted myself to be free of all information so that my mind and body would be open to this experience.

My choice was to let myself go from the start of the adventure in order to give free rein to the process and to what could happen, without having any preconceived ideas or even expectations.

So, off I went on this adventure, when I discovered the theme of the week: "transition." What a surprise! I absolutely didn't see how I was going to be able to develop on this theme throughout the week. Luckily, I only learned it at the last minute. This saved me from thinking, and from telling myself in advance that I wouldn't know what to say.

So, once on the trail, we might as well walk on... Let's go!

I gradually discovered my companions within the "bubbles" of sharing designed by François and Marc. These moments of sharing and listening while walking were an opportunity to create unique and special moments, in pairs or threes depending on the configuration. The emotion, the discovery, the attentive listening, and the honest speaking were a powerful and significant experience for me.

I realized that I had probably never really listened.

Listening to answer yes, but simply listening, without speaking, just listening and opening your heart wide, is still another dimension. I said to myself "what a waste so far" and I quickly said to myself "fortunately you learned and tested this listening which will probably save you from situations later". It is better that I have realized it now and that I can begin to experience it on a daily basis. So discovery of a "key" on my Path. A possibility in me that I did not really know and that I felt a lot of pleasure in discovering.

Another experience and another discovery awaited me: that of the group.

I was, like some of those I accompanied according to their own words, in a cocoon where kindness and trust were the order of the day. There is a rather marked modesty within me that simply prevents me from sharing. This group freed me from this burden, I was able to speak and be listened to (and not simply heard) for a week and I found this experience extremely powerful: sharing my experiences, my feelings, my emotions with other people! Which remains quite rare in my daily life.

The sharing and echoes of some nourish the reflection of others. I was thus able to nourish myself by listening to certain phrases spoken that resonated directly with me. It was an unexpected discovery and enrichment. All these elements add stones to my personal edifice. It's incredible to see how much human beings can enrich each other when they listen to each other.

The support was provided with particular attention to each person's well-being, sensitivity, and the time allowed during the discussions. What struck me most and what brought me the most was the time I had to reflect, talk, listen, share, pause, observe, exchange, feel, and experience. A moment outside of space and time. What a luxury!

Since I have been blessed with this luxury, I now pay special attention to giving myself moments of daily rest.

Sculpter mon Chemin has been for me an opening to others and a discovery of myself.

Milène