Day 13. April 24. Sunday.

What can I even say? This was simply the best long training I’ve ever been involved with. And just as I feel like I’m getting the hang of doing it right, I’m not doing it anymore because I can’t afford to take the time it takes to do it right, with the kind of personal attention it needs every month. But today was the culmination of everything we had worked on for the last six months.

The presentation these EPT4 [Extended Professional Training] participants gave today was nothing short of brilliant—easily the best presentation given by a group of trainees that I had ever seen. They told their stories of transformation with such feeling that people were automatically drawn in and transfixed.

Everyone was amazing, but Sally ended up stealing the show, talking about how she is no longer an alcoholic after being one for about 30 years. She had almost everyone tears. I couldn’t even give any feedback to them because it would have ruined the mood.

It was really great co-leading this last weekend with Diane McMillen. Diane and I have a wonderful rapport where we complement each other beautifully. Plus she felt so taken in by this group, with love. It was really beautiful.

Then the closing circle that we had together after the new participants left was nothing short of a love fest. Plus I had the idea that we should close the training with the song, “That’s What Friends Are For,” which I had seen used so effectively in the Council for Unity prevention program in Brooklyn, New York. I just thought it might be really appropriate for this group. So I found the song on my iTunes and played it at the end while we stood in a big circle hug, singing along with the chorus. Tears were flowing all over the place. I’ve really never felt so much love in one group before. There was something very very special about it.

At the end of it I was both filled to the brim and unable to go out with any groups for dinner because I simply had to be quiet and be by myself as much as possible.

Of course that didn’t really happen because a small group stayed to eat in the hotel, and Karen and Kay were among them, so we all got to talking as usual. Then Richard ran back because he went out with another group and knew he was in the wrong place. So then the four of us, with Sally, walked down by the sea at night, and the waves and night sky were just what the doctor ordered. Oh, what a trip this has been! And it’s barely even started.