Building Adult Friendships: BOTP Retreat Recap
Building friendships as an adult can be challenging! Putting yourself out there and being vulnerable and seen isn’t for the faint of heart. But it is worth it.
When I found out that Back of the Pack was hosting a retreat near where I am in Arkansas, I ran to sign up. And that was the decision of the summer. We hiked, we ate, we laughed, we chatted books, and hopefully so many long lasting friendships came out of it.
Over the past several years, I have been to many “retreats” or hiking trips with strangers. One was a complete dud (other than the AMAZING Patagonia views), the other had its challenges, but two of my favorite friends came out of that trip (hi Olivia and Rachel). Building friendships, especially those who like to do similar outdoor activities at the same pace as you, can be particularly daunting. However, going on a “retreat” or hiking trip or meditation retreat (insert anything that interests you here).
One of the reasons I was extremely excited to go on a BOTP retreat was because I didn’t have to worry about my fitness level or being deemed a “B team” member. They are so inclusive and we actually got to make the itinerary as a group. Laura and Danyell were amazing hosts and they even cooked all the meals. My line from the weekend was “I love home cooked meals that I don’t have to make myself” and I truly mean that with my entire heart. Basically it was the best weekend ever.
We did two great hikes. Pigeon Roost Trail at about 10 miles (8.3mi on All Trails, plus some back tracking) and Centerpoint to Goat Trail (6mi). Goat Trail had an insane view at the end. It was so dang magical to eat lunch overlooking the river (see pics below). We went to the Bentonville Art Museum, which was so cool and a must do. Other than that we laughed, we read, we ate, and did it all over again.
This is in no way sponsored, but you should totally go on a BOTP retreat and meet some new friends! If you’re looking to build friendships, go out and try something you have always wanted to do and meet new people while doing it (we can totally be friends)..
