In order to get the very most out of your Beginning Experience weekend, it is important to come with an open mind and few preconceived ideas. Past participants appreciate and honor the rule that “What happens at Beginning Experience stays at Beginning Experience.” With that in mind, the following testimonials are from men and women sharing their words without divulging details of the weekend – not an easy task! The testimonials were provided with the understanding that we treat them with the utmost confidentiality, so names and other identifying information are not provided.

 

Our hope is that you will be encouraged to come with a fresh perspective and no set expectations.

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Here is what the men have to say:

 

• A friend recommended Beginning Experience to me after a breakup with a woman I really loved. The pain and suffering I was going through was so bad I thought to myself , "If Beginning Experience can save me some time in healing and help me  become more healthy, I am all for it."

 

• I was not the kind of man who was into retreats, weekends, etc. I have to say Beginning Experience was one of the nicest things I have done for myself and my well being. It was soothing to hear of others who had been through similar circumstances and how they are doing much better now. It was helpful to be in the company of others who were also hurting. The support, although I typically would have resisted it, was healing. The fact the weekend had a vein of faith in it was also personally gratifying for me. 

 

• For anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one through death, divorce or the breakup of a serious relationship, I would encourage you to take a leap of faith and participate in a Beginning Experience weekend. Let it help shape your future as it did for me.

 

 

• Beginning Experience has given me many gifts over the last 3 1⁄2 years since I made my first weekend - the gifts of healing, forgiveness, and most importantly of all, the gift of so many good people who have become my friends…forever.

 

 

• Two years after my wife passed away from cancer I still felt empty, lost and lonely. I did not know how to move forward with my life. I attended a Beginning Experience weekend, and at that weekend I came to understand that I needed to fully accept the reality of my wife's death and to start living my life anew as a single person. After the weekend I even gave myself permission to start dating again after the sad end of a long and happy marriage.

 

• Having a Protestant background, and not considering myself all that “religious,” I initially had reservations about spending an entire weekend attending a faith-based program associated with the Catholic church. Once I was at the weekend my concerns evaporated and I soon became comfortable with the program. It is truly non-denominational. In fact I have since learned that about 40% of Beginning Experience participants, overall, are not Catholic. As for it’s faith-based orientation, you only need to participate to a level that you feel comfortable with. I highly recommend this program, no matter where you are in your spiritual journey.

 

 

•   As a practicing therapist, who has counseled couples for years, I was skeptical at first about what a Beginning Experience weekend could offer me. Luckily, I took the plunge. The weekend was a wonderful, informative, healing experience! I heartily recommend it, and do so at every opportunity. 

 

 

• How do I begin with what  Beginning Experience did for me? I went to the Beginning Experience weekend 3 1/2 years after the death of my wife. I did not seem to be able to move forward in the grief process. At the end of the weekend my whole life changed. I realized things I wanted to do but kept putting off were going to be done. I also felt the need to come back and be a part of Beginning Experience and do another weekend on the team. I felt I could now reach out and maybe help others who were at similar stages as I had been.

 

   Here is what the women have to say:

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• My Beginning Experience was amazing. I didn't know what to expect at all that weekend, yet I was pleasantly surprised from the moment I showed up. The people were so nice, caring and thoughtful. It's very surprising how there are so many people out there who are sharing the same feelings. It was a weekend never to forget. Since then I feel so much better and really appreciate my many new friends.

 

 

• If you are bitter, angry, sad, mad, lost, confused, hurt, guilt ridden, defiant, crushed, rationalizing, traumatized and just plain sick and tired of any or all of the above, I recommend you give Beginning Experience a try. The weekend won't solve your problems or reconcile the past, but it will give you a map, some awesome fellow travelers and a point in the right direction.

 

 

• After my divorce I felt so alone - all of my friends were couples. By chance I heard of swing dancing lessons at the 400 Club. Little did I know it was put on by Beginning Experience. Naturally, they all encouraged me to experience a weekend and my life has never been the same. After hearing others' stories I did not feel so alone. Most importantly, I now have a network of friends that all went through the same experience and who are always ready to be there if I need to talk, go dancing or to just listen. 

    My mission now is introducing others to the renewed life that I have experienced. Everyone I send comes back to thank me again and again. . .

 

 

• One year after my divorce, I wasn't sure if I needed to attend a Beginning Experience weekend because I thought I was doing just fine, yet I had heard about the program from a friend who highly encouraged me to go. I am SO glad I went! That weekend changed my life. I discovered I still harbored anger and resentment, both controlling my ability to really go forward. Because of Beginning Experience, I truly have forgiven my former spouse and moved on. I highly recommend attending a Beginning Experience weekend! Trust the process!

 

 

• I wanted to let you know that I am back to the real world again, but still glowing from the profound weekend  just spent with all of you. It was truly life changing for me and I am so glad I attended.

 

• Yesterday getting ready for work God gave me a visual of a weed being pulled out. I grew up on a farm and remember often pulling weeds from either the garden or a field. I realized that that was what I had experienced last weekend. I had a large firmly established painful weed in my garden (my soul). It was buried deep and blended in so well, that it was not noticed by others - much less myself. But it was always there. Well on Sunday it felt like I grabbed that weed at the base and pulled with my whole heart. It came out roots and all!  It’s hard to explain, but I feel such a peace and well-being that I have never felt before. I feel renewed and excited for what God has in store for me on the rest of my journey.

 

 

• It had been 8 years since my husband died of cancer. I was sure I was just fine and I had moved on with my life. I was busy living. I'm not sure why I responded to our church bulletin notice of the upcoming Beginning Experience weekend, yet it was the best thing I could have done for myself. I discovered that I had not really grieved the death of my husband. Instead of going through the grieving process, I went over it. Beginning Experience taught me to trust myself and God. The love and support I gained from that weekend have given me a new perspective and a lot of joy. I highly recommend Beginning Experience.

 

• I made my Beginning Experience weekend in 2005. Since then I have been on team 4 times. My involvement with Beginning Experience has taken me on a journey of self discovery. I began as a disillusioned, angry, bitter and resentful person, who felt unlovable, afraid to love and saw no way to change that. I felt I was not good enough to be loved and I had nothing worthwhile to offer anyone. I was afraid to reach out to anyone. Through Beginning Experience, I was able to feel God's love over and over again. I learned that I was still capable of caring for others and being cared for. Because of Beginning Experience, I am no longer the disillusioned, angry, bitter and resentful person who felt worthless. I have gained a renewed sense of connectedness with others, with God, and with myself. Because of Beginning Experience I am able to love and be loved. Joy has returned to my life.