Finding Solace and Strength: How a Wellness Retreat Reshaped One Woman’s Thanksgiving After Loss
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the holiday season can be a notably poignant time for those grappling with grief, but finding new ways to honor loved ones and prioritize self-care can offer a path toward healing. For one woman, a week spent at a wellness resort in Mexico provided an unexpected respite and a renewed sense of hope after years of navigating the holidays following the loss of both parents.
For years, the holidays have been a source of pain rather than joy. “I haven’t been in the holiday spirit as my father died in 2013,and the lack of enthusiasm increased when my mother died in 2023 from glioblastoma,an aggressive brain cancer,” she shares. As an only child, the loss of her mother, with whom she shared a particularly close bond, left her feeling “confused and lost” about how to approach the season. The pressure to maintain family traditions felt hollow, and the holidays became a stark reminder of what was missing.
Rather of succumbing to loneliness, she decided to try something different this Thanksgiving, embarking on a journey of self-discovery at Rancho La Puerta, a fitness and wellness resort in Tecate, Mexico.
A departure from the Routine
The decision to leave behind her typically “jam-packed” schedule in Los Angeles for a week was daunting. Trading her usual attire for workout clothes, she embraced the opportunity to fully immerse herself in wellness. “I knew my time at Rancho La Puerta would be an adjustment for me – no glamour, just myself stripped down,” she explains.
Founded in 1940 by spa pioneers Edmond and Deborah Szekely, Rancho La Puerta has earned its reputation as the original “fitness resort.” The sprawling 4,000-acre property offers a diverse range of activities, from hiking and fitness classes to cooking demonstrations and spa treatments. This retreat proved to be a transformative experience, offering her not just physical rejuvenation but also a profound emotional shift.
She embraced the resort’s offerings with an open mind, discovering unexpected joys and valuable lessons. A poignant lesson given her grief.”Our meditation guide reminded us that ‘Impermanence is the only constant,'” she shares.
She also stepped outside her comfort zone, trying water aerobics despite not being a strong swimmer, and finding joy in the playful energy of the class. A private, farm-to-table cooking class with Chef Alyse Whitney allowed her to connect with the source of her food, handpicking ingredients from the organic garden. She also appreciated the focus on form and posture in the reformer Pilates class, noting that it mirrored her overall journey of self-betterment. A trampoline cardio class proved surprisingly challenging and fun, while a sound healing session finally resonated with her, regulating her nervous system and leaving her feeling refreshed and focused.
A Thanksgiving Redefined
Thanksgiving at Rancho La Puerta was unlike any she had experienced before. Instead of adhering to traditional festivities, she chose to lounge by the pool, enjoy a green juice, and indulge in a mountain sage massage with hot stones. She spent time reflecting on her gratitude, recognizing her “autonomy to live my life the way I want, even if it strays from tradition.” While the ranch offered a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner – featuring fish, soup, pumpkin gnocchi, grilled corn, and pumpkin pie – she found contentment in simply being present with herself.
The Power of Community and Self-Care
Surrounded by others who had also chosen to spend Thanksgiving differently, she felt a sense of belonging and empowerment. “Being surrounded by people who chose differently made me feel less alone and less guilty about not having a traditional thanksgiving,” she explains. “Instead, I felt more empowered to continue exploring, to pick myself through self-care, and to receive the love and support from people who genuinely wish me well.”
The experience at Rancho La Puerta wasn’t about erasing her grief, but about finding a new way to navigate it, to honor her parents’ memory while prioritizing her own well-being. It was a testament to the power of self-care, the importance of community, and the possibility of finding solace and strength even in the midst of profound loss. Because of an open mind, she now has new, aligned lifelong connections.
