Kayaking provides a healing respite from grief
Understanding how hard it is to cope with grief led Sherry and Joe Anicich of the Purple Project to partner with Mary Anne Smrz and the staff of the Red Kayak Institute.
Along with counselors in other fields, the Purple Project provided a healing retreat for grieving individuals. The weekend event, held July 21-24, at the Portiuncula Center for Prayer in Frankfort, Illinois, offered a peaceful environment and a supportive place for people of all faiths and from all walks of life, to navigate journeys through grief.
The three-day event was a thoughtful blend of sharing and wellness sessions, including a morning of kayaking on the Monee Reservoir. Paddling on the water provided deeper connections with nature and inspiring lessons on life. When kayakers shared the experience with others facing the same difficulties, it became a memorable event.
Mary Anne Smrz and the staff of RKI asked individuals dealing with grief to leave all nonessentials behind, paddle in silence and write down words that expressed their feelings. Even if participants never kayaked before, the serenity of nature allowed them to benefit from the healing effects of the water. After paddling, one participant said, "I feel like I will be able to take back some of my life that I've lost." Other paddlers echoed similar, hopeful sentiments.
Joe and Sherry Anicich, hosts for the retreat, began their own grief journey Aug. 19, 2012, when they lost their daughter, Alisha, and unborn granddaughter, Ava Lucille. In response, they created the Purple Project, in part, to provide affordable support for other parents on a similar journey.
More information on the nonprofit Purple Project can be found at purpleproject.org/commun.htm.
To learn about the Red Kayak Institute, contacted them at P.O. Box 98, Westmont, IL 60557, Phone (844) 733-5295, Visit www.redkayakinstitute.org.