What Happens

When we insist on rowing
with just one oar, we go
around in circles.

This is what happens
when we insist that
we are right.

When we refuse to walk
with some form of light,
we bump around
in the dark.

This is what happens
when we react
without listening.

When we cling, our
hands stay closed and
we can hold nothing.

This is what happens
when we are defensive.

It seems a modern condition:
to row in circles in the dark
while clinging to what we
think we know.

A Question to Walk With: Describe your struggle with being defensive and hidden.

This is from my book of poems in progress, This Slow Quick Dance.

Mark will be offering retreats, free events, and a few special journeys in 2024. Here’s the list of what’s coming up! 

June 28-30: Falling Down and Getting Up: Discovering Your Inner Resilience and Strength, weekend retreat at the Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY For more information or to register, click here. 

July 21, 28, & Aug 4, 2024 | Finding Inner Courage: Our Walk in the World
A 3-Session Online Webinar with Mark Nepo To register visit Live.MarkNepo.com

July 31 6pm ET:  FREE EVENT You Don’t Have to Do It Alone: The Net of Friendship, reading and conversation followed by 45 minute river walk at the Kalamazoo Nature Center. Free event. Please register in advance here.   

Aug 16-18: You Don’t Have to Do It Alone: The Net of Friendship, weekend retreat, at Mercy By the Sea, 167 Neck Rd, Madison, CT.  For more information or to register, click here. 

Sept 8 11am PT/2pm ET – FREE ONLINE EVENT You Don’t Have to Do It Alone: The Power of Friendship, Join Mark Nepo with Joel Fotinos in Conversation, hosted by Banyen Books & Sound. Register for this free event here.  

Sept 16–21: You Don’t Have to Do It Alone You Don’t Have to Do It Alone: The Power of Friendship, a Mastery Week Retreat at the Modern Elder Academy in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Click here to get information and to register.

Sept 29 1pm PT/4pm ET: You Don’t Have to Do It Alone with Mark Nepo in Conversation with Brooke Warner, this online ticketed event is hosted by Book Passage. Register here for the zoom link. 

Nov 1-3:, You Don’t Have to Do It Alone: The Net of Friendship weekend retreat at Harmony Hill Retreat Center, Union WA. Click here for information on registering 

Dec 8–14: This retreat is being rescheduled for 2025. Date to be determined
Saying Yes to Life: The One Life We’re Given, a weeklong retreat in Costa Rica, hosted by Global Journeys. Stay tuned! Info will be updated here.