The Resort- a mystery that showcases the biggest value of travel: getting unstuck
The Resort follows Emma and Noah, a couple on a trip to a resort on the Riviera Maya in celebration of their 10th anniversary. During their marriage, the couple suffered the loss of a child and each one processed the tragedy in their own way. This miniseries is a mystery that sprinkles dark comedy and science fiction along the way.
The show goes back and forth between Noah and Emma’s present-day adventures, finding clues that bring us back to where the mystery first began, with Sam and Violet's disappearance, 2 teens who’ve gone missing after a big hurricane 15 years prior.
Travel Provides Opportunites For Personal Growth
Ever notice that films and tv shows set during travel always include characters searching for something? Emma seems to be on a journey to feel something exciting again or gain some kind of understanding about her life in the wake of postpartum loss.
Violet is on a journey to explore what she believes to be a clue left by her late mother, hoping she will find more answers about her mother’s existence. I don’t think that’s a coincidence. The act of traveling often provides opportunities for people to engage in that leads to moments of personal growth, and at times, become the turning point of their lives.
My Travel Experience
For me, that was studying abroad in Barcelona. During my time in college, I became pretty depressed. Coming to terms with the immense amount of debt I was accruing for the chance to leave my childhood home was really starting to settle in (and there was no amount of weed I could consume to get me through those long, cold Vermont winters). By my sophomore year, I found a temporary out and went on a study abroad program in Spain.
All I thought I was looking for was a way to dodge another New England winter and practice some Spanish. In hindsight, I realized I was looking for so much more. I was continuing my journey of leaving my parent’s nest and really coming into my own, away from familial pressures and the brand of American whiteness I had been chasing my entire life.
While watching The Resort, I recognized many of the therapeutic benefits of travel within the characters which also served as a reminder of my own growth. Here are some of those benefits.
Benefits of Traveling With a Women’s Retreat
A reminder there is a world bigger than your own
It was in Europe when I walked into a women’s gym locker room to find that all women were naked and completely comfortable with other naked women. This blew my mind and gave me the permission I needed to accept my body in the state it was in. Nobody stared, nobody made comments, I never lived in a world where it was ok to be a fat black woman naked. Most people around me were fatphobic, I grew up mastering the art of changing clothes in the girl’s locker room by simultaneously taking off a shirt and putting on another.
Violet and Emma are both functioning in a state of hope. They see their adventure as a portal into an unknown that they wouldn’t have otherwise accessed in their world. To them, knowing there’s more out there is invigorating; and the hope they keep alive through all the ups and downs.
Travel entices you to try new things
Travel gives you the power of anonymity. Because you’re not in your regular surroundings, you get to experiment in ways you might not normally do because of the scrutiny you might get from others. When you travel, you kind of have a clean slate. You can be whoever you want to be without risking some bruise on your reputation! You’re trying to incorporate hats into your style? Great! Do you show a little side boob now? Wonderful! You treat yourself to quiet mornings and stretch every day. I love it! Perhaps you’re more adventurous when you travel. Your YOLO mentality sets in and you’re tempted by all the beauty and opportunity that surrounds you.
You see this in Emma and how she encourages Noah to join her on her mystery adventure. She reminds him of the fun of their honeymoon state, encouraging him to be more like the people they used to be: curious and full of passion and direction. And what’s really exciting about that is, you might even take these new habits back home…
Detox from toxic patterns
Sometimes, you don’t know how bad something is until you leave and get a bird’s eye view. It seems antithetical to fight on vacation but we’ve all been there. Whether it’s with family, friends, or a romantic partner, issues in your relationship dynamics have a way of peaking to the surface on vacation. That makes complete sense to me. At home, you’re around all your comforts.
The many things that pacify you and help avoid all the uncomfortable things you don’t feel like dealing with just yet. But on vacation, those pacifiers are gone and you have to deal with the issue that comes up in a way that doesn’t jeopardize your trip. This forces you to practice all those healthy coping mechanisms your therapist and friends have been encouraging you to practice like deep breathing, journaling your thoughts, active listening, empathetic problem-solving, identifying your needs, and advocating for yourself.
How Emma & Noah Detox
You see this play out with Emma and Noah. She needed a vehicle to access her emotions. She's been numb since the death of her daughter and has not processed her grief, isolating her husband along the way. You can see their distance so clearly at the beginning of the show. You know they are on a 10th anniversary trip but they have one of those most honest and direct arguments they’ve had in a long time on this trip.
They were likely pacified in their home life where work takes up most of their day and spend most of their time together watching a show and social media interchangeably from opposite sides of the couch until bedtime. Staying in the same place causes us to pacify ourselves. All the comforts around you keep you from getting too uncomfortable. But sometimes, that just leads to feeling stuck in toxic patterns that don't serve you.
Build new memories
The characters on this show have been stuck in a state of grief they can’t seem to avoid. Something else they have in common is their curiosity and excitement in learning about new people. The act of meeting each other, by default, propels them forward. They now have the opportunity to create new memories and engage with different perspectives, all to understand more of themselves and the world around them.
Why Go On a Women’s Retreat
One of the reasons I began offering women’s retreats is because I noticed so many people feeling stuck in a state of isolation after the global pandemic. They find it harder to make new friends and their lack of confidence keeps them from putting themselves out there, even romantically. Out of the many benefits of travel, one of the most therapeutic advantages of retreats is that it creates shared experiences with other people. Having a shared activity takes the pressure off of performing to impress others and lets others pick up on your energy as you engage with something inspiring. I still keep in touch with the friends I made abroad. They witnessed me at a time when I was really coming into my own and felt like they know my authentic self more than some of the people I grew up with.
Whether it’s an international trip, backpacking, a women’s retreat, or a weekend getaway, travel is one of the most useful tools we can use for self-discovery. It’s a chance to level up your self-awareness and make the changes to be the version of yourself you want to be.
You can stream The Resort on Peacock
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OTHER THERAPY SERVICES OFFERED AT RESTORITY SPACE
I understand that you may have more challenges that traveling may not be able to address. So, in addition to Women’s Retreats, Restority Space offers a range of therapy services to help you through whatever it is that you are experiencing. I’m committed to providing the care women may need when it comes to their mental health online in both New York and New Jersey. Other therapy services I offer include Trauma Therapy, Break Up Therapy, Individual Therapy, Group Therapy, and a New Mom Support Group. No matter what challenge you are facing, I am here to help.