What If You Didn’t Have to Earn Rest?

Thoughts on burnout, belonging, and the retreat I almost didn’t plan

Hi friends,

I’ve heard from so many of you that you’re just depleted.

• You’ve done everything “right” (job, routines, family, check!) and yet... something still feels wrong.

• You want to meet truth-seekers and self-healers, but making new friends as an adult is hard.

• You want some f*cking inspiration! And maybe even joy!

With my newsletter, my coaching program, everything I create—I’m always trying to help us “be the change.” But this year? It felt like we needed something more. Something bigger.

And so, my glow-tastic, lily-buying, self-healing community: I’ve decided to host my very first retreat. Ever. 🎉

And while yes, I’d love for you to come (obvi), even if you’re not retreat-curious right now, I hope you’ll keep reading. Because what I really want to talk about is something deeper—something I think we’re all craving: rest and belonging.

Why host a retreat?

Let me tell you a story.

A few years ago, I went to Esalen, the OG self-actualization retreat center tucked into the cliffs of Big Sur because I had heard friends like

Dr. Jennifer Freed

talk about it as one of the most magical and restorative places in the world. Tbh: I DIDN’T WANT TO GO. It was expensive. It ate up too much of my schedule. And didn’t I already have enough self-care rituals? Couldn’t I just do a DIY retreat in my living room?

I went to Esalen with the mindset of, “Let me just go so people stop telling me to go.”

yours truly at esalen!

And of course—you know what happened. From the moment I arrived, I knew I had made one of the best decisions of my life.

I was in a stunning place, removed from life enough to remember the miracle of my life, learning new tools to help me flourish. But more than that, I was surrounded by people who were there for the same reason I was: to grow, to heal, and to remember who they were outside of the grind.

I cried tears of gratitude. I journaled deeper than I had in years. I soaked in hot springs with strangers under a star-soaked sky. I had conversations that cracked me open in the best way.

Six months later, I was still feeling the ripple effect: more grounded, more joyful, more me. And most importantly—I’d made new friends with shared values who would continue growing with me far after the retreat.

Ever since then, I started wondering...

What if I could create something like that—but for us?

And so, this year, because the world feels heavier than ever (at least to me), I decided it was time for my first-ever retreat.

To be real with you: retreats are a WILD thing to take on, especially if you’re essentially a one woman band like me. Every business coach I talked to said, “Don’t do it.” Too expensive. Too logistically complex. Too hard to make profitable.

But I couldn’t shake the feeling that what we need is to heal, grow, and GLOW together.

This retreat is my small, defiant act of hope.

A place to rest. To laugh. To cry the good tears. To remember how to belong—to ourselves and to each other.

If you're wondering whether any of this actually matters - yes, yes it does.

There’s science behind it.

Studies show that meaningful social connection, rest, and joy aren't luxuries - they’re requirements for physical and emotional health. (Pleasure Activism author Adrienne Maree Brown calls this “choosing to feel good as a radical act.”)

In a culture that tells us we’re too much, or not enough, or need to keep grinding - we’re saying:

Nope. Not today. We choose glow.

✨ The Glow Up Retreat ✨

just think - this could be us!!

A long weekend of rest, renewal, and real talk in Santa Fe, New Mexico November 6-9th.

This retreat is for high-achieving, woman-identifying hustlers (sorry dudes and other peeps - I hope to have something for you soon!) who are so good at doing it all, but secretly wondering:

• I’ve done everything “right,” so why does my life still feel... wrong?

• Who would I be if I wasn’t constantly trying to earn rest? Or earn love?

• Have I been so busy taking care of everyone else that I forgot how to take care of myself?

If any of that hits... I made this for you.

The Glow Up Retreat is an extension of my signature coaching program, The Coven, where I help perfectionists unhook from overachieving and build lives rooted in self-trust and joy.

But this retreat is open to anyone ready to soften, rest, and maybe—finally—feel like themselves again.

It’s a weekend to glow in the f*cking dark.

i can already feel myself relaxing in this Casita King Room.

Here's what to expect:

✅ 3 nights of luxe accommodations at Ojo Santa Fe
✅ Daily workshops + circles led by yours truly
✅ Yoga, hikes, and time in nature (without anyone forcing you to “optimize” it)
✅ Soaking in hot springs (I’M A BATHER. IT’S A THING.)
✅ Curated dinner parties with the best conversations
✅ Guided evening downloads that feel like soul campfires
✅ Joyful memories. Deep replenishment. ACTUAL connection.

i mean… 🤩

🤩 Early Bird Pricing through July 25!

FULL DISCLOSURE: I’m a small business, and I want to keep this retreat lux but accessible. So I worked out a deal with the hotel to lock in lower pricing—but only if you sign up by July 25th.

And just so you know: Spaces are genuinely limited. (Not in a fake “act now!” kind of way. In a real way.)

Why? Because I opened this to my coaching group, The Coven, first—more than half of the spots are already taken.

Honestly? That’s also great news—because it means you’re guaranteed to meet amazing people. The Coven crew is thoughtful, kind, and BAD ASS.

What questions do you have? What can I answer for you?

Did you get the “ick” when I said taking care of yourself is an act of resistance?
Or were you like, “HELL YES”?

Either way—I’d love to hear what landed. About the retreat, sure—but also about this idea that we are worth taking care of.

With love—and a suitcase full of inspiration (and snacks),
Tara