Peace by Piece: A Self-Guided Solo Day or Half-Day Retreat

Sometimes finding peace means learning to enjoy the pieces, even when we can’t see the whole picture.

When was the last time you allowed yourself to enjoy something without worrying about finishing it? What if putting together a simple puzzle could teach us something about patience, uncertainty, and life itself?

Whether you come for a full day or just a few hours, this personal puzzle retreat invites you to slow down, enjoy a little creativity, and discover how the simple act of putting pieces together can become an opportunity for reflection and renewal. Life can sometimes feel like a puzzle, with pieces that don’t seem to fit, unexpected challenges, and moments when we struggle to see the bigger picture. This retreat is an invitation to practice patience, enjoy the process, and remember that we don’t always need to have everything figured out.

We’ll provide a custom-designed jigsaw puzzle featuring Olive, our little Peace Dove, exploring the beautiful grounds of St. Mary-on-the-Lake! You’ll have a private space where you can work on your puzzle at your own pace, take breaks whenever you wish, and explore our peaceful 11-acre grounds, including our Peace Path, Meditation Garden, Virgin Mary’s Grotto, Peace Prayer Labyrinth, and dock overlooking Lake Washington.

While no facilitator is present during your time, you will receive a self-guided retreat guide with reflection questions and gentle invitations to explore the connections between putting together a puzzle and navigating everyday life. You can follow the guide, pause to reflect whenever something catches your attention, or simply enjoy the experience of putting the pieces together, one at a time.

Worried you won’t finish your puzzle? That’s perfectly okay! In fact, that’s part of what makes this retreat meaningful. Not everything in life comes together in the time or way we expect, and sometimes we need to learn to be comfortable with things left unfinished. Your retreat guide will help you reflect on patience, letting go of expectations, and finding joy in the process rather than focusing only on the outcome.