After a long winter of wondering what global warming actually means and what the weather would be like otherwise, the first daffodils are in bloom this month at Brookhaven Retreat making me sure that spring is nearly upon us.
Daffodils, the national flower of Wales, hold mystery different from any other flower. In fact, the earliest known references to daffodils reach back to the 6th century A.D. in the writings of the Prophet Mohammed. Strangely enough, the botanical name for these yellow and white beauties is Narcissus, associated with a variety of themes in different cultures such as death and good fortune, as well as spring, and is often used as the symbol of cancer charities in many countries.
Perhaps most interesting is the fact that the name also refers to narcissism---the disorder characterized by a distorted self-image---originated in the Greek myth where Narcissus, the hunter, falls in love with his own reflection. Yet, daffodils are often thought of as a symbol of winter’s end, which often creates the space for new beginnings.
Both references apply to Brookhaven Retreat for the fact that narcissism is often an underlying symptom of depression, borderline personality disorder and addiction issues. New beginnings are set in motion every day at the women-only residential treatment facility that helps women recover from mental health illnesses and/or substance abuse issues. The notion of spring is ongoing as women affected by psychiatric disorders and/or chemical dependency begin the program and complete it with a fresh outlook they may not have thought possible.
Well-appointed with the comforts of home, full housekeeping, market fresh spa cuisine and activities to help women realign their lives for meaning, reason and stability, Brookhaven Retreat is a chance for greater self-awareness, self-love and a new vocabulary, and perhaps even a new self-image.
For women who lose hope, give up, feel exhausted and helpless, depressed and anxious and don’t know how to make a change, there is a place to uncover the best part of yourself and gently find your way back to a better place where spring comes every 90 days.
