Immersion

by Jason Samatas

MenLiving offers the community so much; places for connection, small batches, specialty programs and meetings, and immersive weekends and Advances.  I’ve attended and led many MenLiving weekends over the years. I’ve also attended immersive men’s weekends outside of MenLiving.  As someone who has participated in both, I can tell you that there is no better value in what MenLiving offers in terms of Weekend Advances. I have not found one reputable place that offers three days and nights of robust programming with the aim of going deep into men’s work, allowing time for connection, and with plentiful opportunities for relaxation and meditation, lodging, food and an overall incredible experience for well under $1000. It’s literally one of the best bargains you will find.

A few months ago I was named the MenLiving Weekend Coordinator. This job entails essentially planning and coordinating all of our weekend getaways. In 2024, we’ve had three Weekend Advances (the first time in ML history we’ve had three in one calendar year) and also a meditation retreat. In 2025, we’re planning for four Advances and at least one or two other meditational retreats. Each weekend is special in its own right, with different leaders, different participants, different sites, and varying programs and processes.  That’s what it love about the weekends; they all take on their own personality based on the people involved and no one weekend is ever the same, even if the leadership team is similar and/or it’s being held in the same location.

The ability to disconnect from the “real world” and really dig into yourself was always tremendously appealing to me. Many of us are so used to the grind that many times we lose sight of ourselves and our real struggles. Therefore, these immersive weekends can be quite therapeutic and beneficial. The weekends are what you make of them; if you’re just looking to connect, relax, and enjoy some of the finest men around, then we have that for you. If you’re having difficulty in certain aspects of your life and need some support, we have that for you, too. Like the old saying goes, you get out of a weekend what you put in.

All that said, I’d like to personally invite ALL of you to join us on a weekend in 2025. I don’t care if you’ve been to multiple Advances or never been to one, this is your time and this is your opportunity. Now, you’re probably thinking, well Jason, when is the next Advance? You are in luck! Esteemed leaders Frank Naugo and Erik Treese are leading the Midwest Advance, held in East Troy, Wisconsin, starting on Thursday night, January 16^th through Sunday, January 19^th. After that, Mike Patterson is planning another Advance in May to be held in a location in the Southeast (details shortly forthcoming), and then I’ll be leading the Western Advance 2025 in Scottsdale in early November. I promise you will walk away from a weekend feeling some sort of change in your being. So I urge you to join us, and immerse!