Daryl Wood's Blog

I have loved music and singing my whole life. Since Doug died I haven’t listened to music because it stirs so much emotion. Recently I found myself singing out loud as I walked the quiet country roads and sometimes around the house. And yesterday, I did something new.

Sitting at my craft table to distract myself I popped in a cd called Retreat Playlist. On the final day of my Women’s Wisdom Retreats my guests dove into an activity with music in the background. The pieces were carefully selected to inspire and encourage. As I cut up paper and glued pieces together I listened and I paused and I listened more. The first four songs made me sit up, sit back and sigh. Give Yourself to Love, by Kate Wolf, Flying on Your Own, by Rita MacNeil, I Hope You Dance, by Leann Womack and Hero by Mariah Carey.

That’s as far as I got. I remembered the uplifting feeling on those Friday mornings when so much hard work was over and there was a hopeful optimism about what might be possible. And yesterday, I heard that message from the words of these women who sang what was in my heart, my mind and all around me. Indeed, give myself to the incredible love that has been offered to me these many months. I am flying on my own and I do know the wings I ride will keep me in the sky. I hope I can still find places to dance in life and feel humbled by the ocean. And a hero lying in me? Well, I have done some pretty daring things these past two years.

And so I honour and salute every woman, wherever she is in the world, who travelled to Tobermory, relinquished her phone, books, time pieces and outside communication to search her soul for peace and possibility. You inspired me every single time with what worked, what didn’t work, where we succeeded and where we failed. You gave me the opportunity to learn and grow with you and yesterday you reminded me to take inspiration from music and songs that wrap around my heart. Thank you.