Reeling and Healing Midwest Blog

What it means to me to be a Reeling and Healing Volunteer?  It means giving freely with no expectation of return, it is FUN, it is ALWAYS a learning experience, it gives me freedom to be and do more, and because I can never get enough. I loved being a participant, love continuing my fly fishing education and adore volunteering and giving back.  By BG – First retreat in 2001.

Dear Reeling & Healing Midwest,

So many thanks for the opportunity to attend a Reeling & Healing retreat.  it was a truly renewing experience and I enjoyed 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 and laugh and cry together.  I learned so much, not just about fly fishing in those few days.  i was truly humbled by the kindness and generosity of so many.  all the volunteers who come to help were so pleasant and helpful and did indulge me in a way that I’m not used to receiving.  It felt good and was great for me to be able to relax.  Thanks so much for all you do to make these retreats possible.  may you be blessed with ALL the energy you need and be able to find time to rest and restore yourself.  My most sincere thanks, Rose Dugale

I heard a conversation the other day on Oprah (yes I TiVo her).  A therapist asked the patient if she ever cried.  The patient state that she didn’t really cry/sob – she’d try to tough it out and be stoic for her family, friends, others, and that she didn’t want to be a burden.  She added that she always wanted others to believe she was OK.

Her answers sound like so many of us in the world.

With that the therapist said, “Do you know that most people only cry when they feel safe and comforted?”  That comment hit home for me – especially when it comes to volunteering and participating at the fly fishing wellness retreats.  One of the goals shared with the volunteers is that each of our participants must feel safe.  Another is that they depart the retreat with a “higher than a kite” feeling – that they are treated as royalty – queens, and that they’ve enjoyed themselves so much they don’t want to go home.   We never fail to achieve these goals.  At the end of each retreat, there are hugs, smiles, laughter and tears.  Tears of new found hope, renewal, acknowledgment of achievement, of trust in themselves and the world, of enlightenment and comfort.

In looking at it now, I believe those tears come to fruition from the community of loving care, support and safety we create – not just from the fly fishing.  And you know what?  It is really cool to be part of it, to watch it manifest, to feel the energy.

Come share your gifts with Reeling & Healing Midwest.  Consider volunteering.  Or share our programs with a woman battling or surviving cancer and tell them to attend.  No matter what, you have an awesome experience.

Fish On!

It’s called “Reeling and Healing”, a retreat for women whose lives have been touched by cancer, but you’d never know it.  Cancer is certainly not on the agenda here – knot tying, casting a fly rod, identifying trout, walking in a pristine stream in waders with your own personal guide, fly fishing for trout – that’s what this retreat is all about.  What does trout fishing have to do with healing?  EVERYTHING.

It was our first day on the Au Sable.  I was on shore, still in my waders, taking a break and doing some photography.  As I watched pairs of fishermen in this incredibly scenic setting, I was struck by an emotion so powerful I was moved to tears.  Try as I might, I could not put a name to it – still can’t.  Perhaps one day it will come to me – perhaps not.  I think it’s way beyond descriptors I know.  I do know that the first time I entered my room I walked straight through the other door.  Before me was the river.  The first thought that came to my mind was “This IS the peace of God which passes all understanding”.

So, you take a group of women and an equal number of fly fishermen, team up, and start fishing.  The healing – well, that just sort of happens.  Two people in the stream, on fly fishing rod, a few instructions and the novice, guided by the experienced, is joyously engaged in the art of fly fishing.  Up and down the stream – pairs of people, both of them giving and receiving, and the healing begins.  Sitting on shore you can see it, you are moved by it – the privilege of observing healing occurring right before your eyes.  How cool is that?

I would like to thank you for the best experience of my life and all the women I met, but the best was my time on the river.  Being on the river made me realize I can make it through this fight with cancer.  These memories will last me a lifetime.  You are all the best.  Love, Pat K.

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

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

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

A great new article has been published talking about Reeling & Healing Midwest and how it helps survivors on their healing journey. Our own Ruthanne T. is quoted.
Read the full article here.