A Summer Retreat That Became Part of Our Family Journey

There are places we visit, and there are places that quietly become part of our heart.

For me, the German Summer Retreat at the European Institute of Applied Buddhism (EIAB) in Germany is one of those places.

My journey with the retreat began in 2012. It was my very first time there, and it was also a very special season in my life: I was pregnant with my first child.

I arrived carrying a little life inside of me, surrounded by mindfulness, peaceful practice, beautiful teachings, and a loving community. Looking back now, it feels very touching to know that my journey as a mother and my connection with the retreat began together.

After that first retreat, life became full with motherhood, and for some years I did not return.

Then my second child was born.

And a new chapter began.

Since she was little, I have been going to the Summer Retreat with her. Over the years, it has become something very precious for us.

The Joy of the Children

One of the things I love most is the children's program.

I love hearing the children's songs. I love seeing the children come together, learning simple practices of mindfulness, kindness, love, and connection.

Children become so enthusiastic!

Their joy is alive and natural. They sing, play, learn, laugh, and open their hearts.

There is something deeply beautiful about seeing children experience spiritual practice not as something difficult or serious, but as something joyful.

A song.

A smile.

A mindful breath.

A moment together.

These simple things can plant beautiful seeds in a child's heart.

As a mother, this means so much to me.

Our children are growing in a very fast world. There is so much noise around them. At the retreat, they are invited to slow down, breathe, connect with nature, connect with other children, and experience a community built around peace and loving-kindness.

These are gifts they can carry with them for life.

Walking Together as Mother and Child

Going to the retreat with my daughter has also become part of my own spiritual journey.

I am not only bringing her somewhere.

We are experiencing it together.

We are both learning.

We are both growing.

We are both being reminded to return to the present moment.

Sometimes we think we must teach our children everything. But children are also wonderful teachers.

They remind us to play.

They remind us to wonder.

They remind us how quickly a heart can open.

And sometimes, through their happiness, they bring us back to our own happiness.

My Gratitude

My heart feels so much gratitude for Thich Nhat Hanh, whose teachings have touched so many lives around the world.

His simple invitation to come home to our breath and to the present moment continues to live through the community he helped create.

I also feel deep gratitude for all the nuns and monks who dedicate their lives to practice and to sharing these teachings.

And I am grateful for the many volunteers who give their time, energy, hands, and hearts to make the Summer Retreat possible.

Behind every children's activity, every meal, every peaceful space, every song, and every gathering are people offering their care.

Thank you.

Thank you for welcoming families.

Thank you for creating space for children.

Thank you for planting seeds of mindfulness, compassion, peace, and love in the next generation.

And thank you for giving parents a place where we can also breathe, reconnect, and remember what truly matters.

Seeds That Continue to Grow

When I think back to that first retreat in 2012, when I was pregnant with my first child, I could not have known how this place would become part of my family's story.

Now, many years later, I can see the little steps.

One retreat.

One song.

One mindful breath.

One child smiling.

One mother finding a little more peace.

Life is often made beautiful through these small moments.

And they deserve to be celebrated.

I celebrate the young mother I was in 2012.

I celebrate the mother I am today.

I celebrate my children and every beautiful seed that has been planted along our journey.

And I appreciate the simple blessing of being able to return.

May the seeds of peace we plant in ourselves and our children continue to grow.

May our homes become places of understanding.

May our words carry kindness.

May our children know that peace is something they can find inside themselves.

And may we remember that every mindful breath is already a small homecoming.

I can create more peace in my life.

I am capable of bringing love and mindfulness into my family.

I can appreciate the small, beautiful moments.

I am grateful for every step of this journey.

And with love, I celebrate how far we have already come.