www.cellrejuvenationspa.com www.groundedjoywellness.org “You’re exactly where you need to be.” The words were carved into a worn bench that greeted me each morning at 6:55 a.m. as I walked toward the meditation hall during a recent seven-day silent meditation retreat. No talking. No phone. No reading. No writing. Could you do it? Would you want to? Do you need it? Although this was my fifth silent retreat, I arrived without knowing the answers. Our days unfolded beneath tall pines, their bark carrying an unexpected scent of butterscotch. The world around me was quiet, but the world within me was not. Without the familiar rhythm of obligations, conversations and constant stimulation, I began noticing parts of myself I had been too busy to hear. I noticed how easily I move past discomfort, only to replace it with being busy or seeking comfort. I realized how much my body prefers to move slowly, even when my mind tells me to hurry. And how much simple joy can be found in feeling the cool mountain air while looking up at a night sky filled with stars. We were invited to meet whatever arose with non-judgment, compassion, patience and curiosity. During meditation, we practiced a traditional body scan, slowly bringing awareness to 32 parts of the body. My mind, naturally, had other plans. Sometimes I fell asleep sitting upright or became completely lost in thought. Then, suddenly, I would notice I was no longer present. That awareness became the invitation to return—to my breath, my body, this present moment. Although my body has been with me every moment of my life, I realized how rarely I actually inhabit it—live with it, from it and embody it. Our bodies are constantly communicating: tired, hungry, joyful, sad, afraid, irritated, safe. Yet how often do we override these messages? Ignore them? Mistake them for something else? What might change if we created the conditions to listen instead? Perhaps a different decision, conversation, boundary, behavior, more sleep—or even the direction of a life. There is a particular kind of wisdom that becomes available when we slow down enough to notice. The body knows things the busy mind can overlook. For me, the retreat was not about becoming someone new; it was about rediscovering someone I had been moving too quickly to hear. The gift of silence was not what I gained. It was a reminder of what I can leave behind: the constant need to be doing, the pressure to know what comes next, the belief that every thought deserves my attention. I remembered the simple work of being here, in my body—breathing, walking, feeling, listening and truly living. I trust that is why the words on the bench stayed with me: “You’re exactly where you need to be.” Not because everything is figured out. But because the moment we are in is the only place from which we can truly listen. Sometimes wisdom isn’t louder. Sometimes we simply have to become quiet enough to hear it. Christy Curtis is a transformational health and well-being coach and founder of Grounded Joy Wellness. Through curated experiences, retreats, workshops and coaching, she helps others reconnect with themselves, create sustainable healthy change, and build the awareness and accountability to live healthier, more connected and joyful lives. Learn more at www.groundedjoywellness.org. www.DesertHealthNews.com September/October 2026 Natural Options The Valley's Leading Resource for Health and Wellness 10 Simply breathing, walking, feeling and listening can be truly living. 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Christy Curtis 949.303.8256 christycurtiswellness@gmail.com groundedjoywellness.org Transformational Wellbeing Coach HCI Certified Health + Life Coach Mindfulness Training Wellness Education | Yoga Workshops & Specialty Retreats Silent Retreat: Wisdom Beneath the Noise By Christy Curtis You have heard of painting by numbers, but what about dreaming by numbers? What might dream numbers mean? Although dream interpretation can be very personal, numbers and mathematics are a universal language. Dreams use signs, symbols and numbers to communicate health information. An example of a number dream that saved millions from starvation and illness can be found in the Bible. Genesis 41:17-36 recounts the Egyptian pharaoh’s number dream deciphered by Joseph: a dream in which seven fat, healthy cows are followed by seven thin, sickly cows. To ensure the pharaoh got the message, the dream repeats with seven heads of healthy grain stalks followed by seven sickly stalks. The dream foretold seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine. By understanding the numbers in the pharaoh's dream, Joseph managed Egypt’s food supply and saved the people from famine-related illness and death. Although our dreams are abstract, most numbers represent logical concepts. Some numbers have both abstract and concrete meanings. The number eight, for example, may mean eight objects, or when lying on its side, it can symbolize infinity; upright, it may represent infinity standing strong. Number one can be the loneliest number, reflecting isolation, a new beginning or a message that you are the best (#1). Multiples of the same number can multiply the powerful message. The spiritual number 11:11 may imply strong synchronicity. Zero might symbolize nothingness, completion and the circle of life, depending on the context of the dream. Here are three tips to help decipher the number messages in your dreams: 1.Keep a dream journal. A recurrent or repeating dream like the pharaoh’s can contain an important, missed message. The dream will recur until the message is understood. Elusive dream messages can be revisited in a journal. 2. Decide if the number presented in the context of your dream is part of a problem, solution or both. Problem-solving reduces stress and may promote healing. 3.Underline all the dream’s numbers, colors and images and define what they mean to you because the message is always yours. All dream numbers have powerful messages. Patterns or number sequences in dreams may reflect an analytical or problem-solving left-brain mindset. By combining the abstract dream language of signs and symbols with logical number concepts, dreams can paint a picture that speaks to our current and future health and well-being. Kathleen O'Keefe-Kanavos of Rancho Mirage is a dream expert, cancer survivor, author, speaker and TV/radio host/producer. She has been featured on Dr. Oz, The Doctors and The UnXplained. For more information, visit www.KathleenOkeefeKanavos.com. Sources: 1) Burk, L., and O’Keefe-Kavanos, K. (2018). Dreams That Can Save Your Life: Early Warning Signs of Cancer and Other Diseases; Findhorn Press; 2) The Holy Bible, New International Version, Genesis 41:17–36. Dreaming by Numbers By Kathleen O’Keefe-Kanavos
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