By Jen Pastiloff
*Update! Amy Ferris has added $100 and an anonymous donor has donated the balance so the spot will be 100% paid for. The winner only has to pay for travel expenses (i.e. getting to Stowe.)
Hello from the sky! I am on my way to do a workshop in Chicago.
It’s still novel to me to have wifi in the sky, but I had to share this asap. I just got wind that someone very generous wants to help send someone, who needs the help financially, to attend the writing retreat I am doing with best selling author  Emily Rapp in Stowe, Vermont.
The winner will get a  FULL scholarship from these amazing benefactors.  This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am so touched that she is doing this. Per her request, I will not share her name, except with the winner. This will be our third retreat to Stowe, and we could not be more excited. Submit your essay here.
So, here is the deal. First off, I would rather give this spot away to someone who has never attended my retreat. With that out the way, here goes:
Please write an essay by SEPTEMBER 9th (no more than 1500 words) on any of these topics:
-  The idea of being “enough.” Or, the word “enough.” (I launching a workshop in September for young women called Girl Power: You Are Enough as well as writing the book. For questions or queries on my book, please contact my agent at adriann@wolflit.com.)
- Â Finding your voice
- Â Why you need time to get away
- The notion of female friendship
- Â Body image
- What feminism means to you
. Please tag any friends you think might be interested. My editors on The Manifest-Station will help me pick a winner, as well as Emily Rapp. Submit via submittable here. Â Please do not submit any later than September 9th. The retreat is October 22-25 in Stowe, Vermont. You do not have to be a “good” yogi or an accomplished writer. Just be a human being. That’s all we request. And have a sense of humor and an open heart.
Info on the retreat (hosted by The Travel Yogi) here.
Quaint, picturesque, honest and completely unique; Stowe is better than anything out of Rockwell’s imagination. This is a true New England four-season location. Join us in the beauty of any season and come see what all the fuss is about!
What’s included
Manifestation Yoga® and workshop with Jen Pastiloff
Writing workshop with Emily Rapp
All meals prepared by a local chef
Stowe lodge accommodation
Welcome cheese, appetizers and local Vermont wine
Guided hiking to the waterfall
Natural horsemanship session
Optional mountain biking (weather permitting)
Free wi-fi
What’s Not Included
Transportation to Stowe Retreat Center
Alcohol (outside of welcome reception)
Ski passes & rental equipment (for winter retreats)
Optional excursions
Massage/body work
Travel insurance (recommended)
Souvenirs and items of a personal nature.
What airport do I fly into?
If you are flying to Vermont you’ll want to fly into Burlington (BVT), which is a 40min drive from Stowe. There are car rental companies at the airport or transfer services that can take you to Stowe.
Those that are driving will get directions before departure. Other airport options are Boston (~3.5hrs) and New York (~5.5hrs).
We are looking to be moved. The subtitle of all my workshops is: On Being Human. So real, that is what I am looking for. xoox Love, Jen. ps- please share this. Especially with someone who may not be able to attend without the financial help.
I’m sorry, but I just have to say that, in a quick read of your post, seeing the errors you’ve made with missing words and such, I’m definitely not motivated to read and consider the content and your (questionable) qualifications as a workshop leader. This is the kind of post that makes me tune out thinking, this person has limited literacy skills. I guess, unfortunately, alot of the online writing community is about selling one’s self, and marketing, rather than legitimate qualifications.
Again, sorry. But an A for effort and intent does not always do the trick. Presentation does make a difference, as does the skill/ability to re-read and proofread, and I’m just being honest about my response — to reading, from the get-go, that a $500 scholarship will “make the balance $389” when “the cost of the spot is $589.” OK, nobody’s perfect — but then on, and on. I hope you take this as constructive criticism. You may have a great message, but discerning readers may get turned off before they get to it.
Judging someone’s qualifications based on a hurried post is much like judging someone’s personality based on one posted comment. It’s not appropriate. Truthfully, I have to remind myself that it remains inappropriate to judge someone’s personality based on their follow-up comment. Good coffee and a dose of humility helps.
Jen’s retreats are about setting aside fear and ego to write about what is underneath. She leads them with passion and often partners with critically acclaimed writers who have as much respect for her as she has for them. None of this is faux.
Another theme of these retreats is ‘being human.’ We are fallible. Sometimes we slip up. Sometimes we lash out. Being human is messy; it’s how you react to the mess that speaks volumes.
i love you Jen. I love your enthusiasm & passion & your huge desire to change the world we live in. you are a goddess/badass – a GODDASS! keep on keeping on – changing the world. making it better. bigger. more beautiful. thank you so.
Love the person who is giving the scholarship. Much love to you.
I’ve got a question.
I’ve read some other essays on here where the author is able to remain somewhat anonymous. Is that an option for this essay? I don’t want to use my full name because I’m including some very personal elements of my story in the essay.
Feel free to submit with your name. Because of the personal nature of the contest, we are not publishing the essays, so be as honest as you wish.
Hey there. Cool that you are writing on theme of enough. Have you seen Canadian philosopher’s wonderful and short book entitled…Radical Gratitude by Mary Jo Leddy? Brilliant reflections on “enough”.
The excitement is amazing and I can tell already that I LOVE you Jen! Keep on keeping on. This is such an awesome Act of Random Kindness! I wish I could participate and submit but I have another commitment that weekend. Maybe next year. (HUGS)
I will also say a prayer for the “questionable” integrity of others…
Are you still accepting submissions? As a moderate yogi and a moderate writer who has never been to something like that, I would love to try.