11/11/2025
🌿 “When the world finally exhales…” 🌿
We were deeply moved by this reflection from Laura Finch, a participant in the LoveYourBrain Community Retreat hosted here at C.O.D. Ranch this fall. Her words capture the essence of what this desert sanctuary is all about — healing, grounding, and rediscovering peace in nature.
If you’ve ever wondered what a healing retreat truly feels like, take a few minutes to read her words below — and watch this short reel for a glimpse of the experience:
👉 https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQwqsXlABuo/?igsh=NHRoeTc4d2FqcWJs
Then, breathe it in — the beauty, the stillness, and the reminder that healing isn’t linear, but it is possible.
—
"Today I arrived in the desert and it felt like the world exhaled. The sky stretched endlessly over soft rose and gold hills, and the air carried that warm, earthy scent unique to the Southwest — sagebrush, dust, sunlight. We ended up at the Historic COD Ranch instead of the other camp, and it feels like such a gift — real beds, soft sheets, and the comfort of our own room. After all the worry, this space feels gentle, safe, and deeply healing.
"The land itself is alive — tall cacti standing like sentinels, silver-green agave fanning out in the sun, quiet breezes rustling through mesquite trees. There’s something ancient and grounding here, a kind of silence that feels like being held. I’m proud of myself for coming. For not giving up when I was anxious. For letting myself receive this rest, this care, this peace. I arrived not quite knowing what to expect, only that I needed this.
"The retreat is tucked into the desert at a place called COD Ranch — a handful of small, sweet houses under wide skies. Everything here feels simple and warm, like a quiet exhale I didn’t realize I’d been holding. it felt like the world exhaled. The sky stretched endlessly over soft rose and gold hills, and the air carried that warm, earthy scent unique to the Southwest — sagebrush, dust, sunlight. .The wildlife feels like a gift — I’ve seen lizards darting across the path, a calm rattlesnake resting in the night , and buzzards circling gracefully overhead. Each creature reminds me that life continues, adapting, moving, watching, alive in its own rhythm.
"At night, the full moon rises over the hills, painting everything in silver light. It feels ancient, steady, and healing. Each day has been filled with things that feed my mind and soul — mindfulness, yoga, yoga nidra, art, writing, and journaling. I’ve learned new ways to listen to my body and quiet my thoughts, to be kinder to myself when I struggle. I’ve met amazing people, each carrying their own story of resilience. Together, we share something unspoken — a quiet understanding that healing isn’t linear, but it is possible. The food is nourishing and made with care; even that feels like part of the therapy.
"And the land itself… it feels like it’s teaching me to slow down and notice beauty again. I feel grateful — for the chance to be here, for my body’s strength to make it, for the people who held space for me, and for the small desert creatures that reminded me: life keeps finding its way toward the light."
- Laura Finch, Community Retreat Participant, Love Your Brain Retreat, COD Ranch, Oracle Arizona (Oct 6–10, 2025)
—
💚
