Reeling and Healing Midwest Blog

Peace before us,

Peace after us,

Peace under our feet,

Peace within us,

Peace over us,

Let all around us

Be peace.

There is a Life Stream that flows to you, and this is a Stream of clarity,

a Stream of wellness, a Stream of abundance…and in any moment, you are

allowing it or not.  What someone else does with the Stream, or not, does

not have anything to do with how much of it will be left for you.  This

Stream is as abundant as your ideas allow it to be.  -Abraham

Because of RHM I have new friendships outside my comfort zone.  Also, I have learned to become one with the river.  Not to count the number of fish caught, but to think like a trout and present a fly that might be somewhat natural for the liking of one finicky trout.  Aside from fishing, I think about all the wonderful memories we share on and off the water.  Can’t wait to get together again!  Life is short,  but I’m thankful for the powers that be that brought RHM into my life.  Fish On Always!  Love ya, Linda

For weeks now I wanted to drop you a note but could not put into words what the retreat meant to me.  So here they are…Nature, Love, Laughter (lots of it), Awkwardness at first…Water, Fishing firsts, Bread, Life, Wally, Volunteers, Guides, Caring, Stories, Roomies, Sharing, Meds, Future, Knots, Hard Work, Food, Tired, Brookies, Joy…and Fish On!  Love, Joan

My thanks are slow in coming, but its never too late to say “THANK YOU”!. Your organization is wonderful. I met such wonderful people at the retreat. It was also two of the most carefree days I’ve ever had. Keep up the awesome work. Thank you and Fish On! Kim – Participant 2009

So many thanks for the opportunity to attend a Reeling & Healing Midwest retreat in July 2009. It was a truly renewing expierience and I enjoy every aspect of it. It was so great to see a very diverse group of women come together and in just a short time share & laugh & cry & hug together.Â

I learned so much – not just about fly fishing. I was humbled by the kindness and generosity of so many. All the volunteers who come were so pleasant and helpful and did indulge me in a way that I’m not used to. It felt good and was great for me to be able to relax.Â

Thanks so much for all you do to make these retreats possible. May you be blessed with all the energy you need to continue on. Most sincere thanks and Fish On! Rose – Participant 2009

This was truly a very positive retreat experience. I not only learned many things about fly fishing, but also about taking time to rejuvenate myself! I enjoyed all the volunteers and the wonderful fishers AND their kind and caring ways. I felt indulged and it felt good. I enjoyed the area, the river and all the beauty there. It was a very healing experience. Many thanks to all.

SurvivorCare
The Lance Armstrong Foundation’s mission is to empower and inspire those affected by cancer. In addition to their grassroots efforts, the LAF also offers professional support services to people affected by cancer, their loved ones and friends though their LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare program. The following are examples of where they provide help:

• Emotional support
• Individual counseling
• Financial assistance
• Assistance with legal and/or insurance issues
• Help with matching cancer patients to clinical trials

If you would like more information and/or assistance with the services listed above or know someone that could benefit from one-on-one support, please contact LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare toll free at 1-866-235-7205, or complete the form provided at www.livestrong.org/survivorcare. Professional Case Managers and Licensed Oncology Social Workers help navigate patients and their families through the maze of resources and to help assist in decisions. The program is available M-F, 9-5 EST.

Check out the article by Patricia Montemurri in August 10, 2008 The Detroit Free Press. Our own Carmen, Lauren, Tanya, Ermora, Kelley and Mark are quoted. Here’s the link: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008808100355

I’ll admit, I was intimidated. The idea of spending three days introducing 15 women to the sport of fly fishing was a little much. In addition these women were from different backgrounds, different ages, in different degrees of health and in different stages of a shared disease. And finally, and the piece-de-resistance, I would be one of the only males. What’s a guy to do?

During the preceding weeks, and all the way up until the first participant arrived, I was running scenario after scenario through my head. What do i do in case this happens, or this, or, god forbid, that?! I have taught dozens and dozens of people how to fly fish, often times in groups, but this was a whole new ballgame. As I said, I was intimidated.

So, how did it turn out you may be wondering? In short, it was a very special experience. The biggest part of it was not the fishing. It was being there. Yes, the fishing was fun and the chance to pass along knowledge and experiences to potential new devotees of a sport I love was enjoyable enough alone. The chance to spend some time on a lovely piece of trout water was also great. It all pales in comparison to the people. Those same people whom I spent hours and hours worrying about. How is that for irony?

Of course I did my share of carrying things from here to there, getting water, keeping track of equipment and other sorts of things. All the volunteers did. Those types of tasks are rewarding on their own. But it was being in the water with the participants – that’s where real special things happened. Women who normally have difficulty walking, relishing the river pushing against their legs. Or women who would cast their fly and actually see a trout rise – only to forget to set the hook because they turned to share a smile that a trout was “out there.” I watched their faces light up as the river worked its magic.

Out of the river, listening to them laugh and cry while talking with others, was…educational. Even I blushed a few times overhearing a few things (you know who you are).

I have done as much thinking about that time and those women since as before. Now I run things that happened over and over in my mind and it brings a smile. I am just as anxious as before. Anxious to do it again.

-DGM, Volunteer & River Guide