“It is never too late to turn on the light. Your ability to break an unhealthy habit or turn off an old tape doesn’t depend on how long it has been running; a shift in perspective doesn’t depend on how long you’ve held on to the old view.

When you flip the switch in that attic, it doesn’t matter whether its been dark for ten minutes, ten years or ten decades.

The light still illuminates the room and banishes the murkiness, letting you see the things you couldn’t see before.

Its never too late to take a moment to look.”

― Sharon Salzberg, Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation

Tangled in the wireless web? Enmeshed in the ethernet?

If even the Rolling Stones can go unplugged, perhaps it’s time for a little break from our i-Phoned, lap-topped, Twitterfied and Instagrammed whirl.

The list of health and psychological benefits gained through mindfulness meditation grows daily. The mind-quieting experience of making the internal nattering stop cannot be overstated. Science is unequivocal in its support for the healing effects of deep silence and the subsequent stretchy toffee-time that meditation delivers.

Since I’m feeling the need to retreat, I thought there might be others who are looking for the same thing. I’m not sure if I’m going to actually do any of this or if I should just fall face first on the sofa and have a nap for a few weeks.

But the thing is…once you finally decide to quiet your mind, how do you find a retreat that doesn’t require checking your brain at the door, strapping on fresh white sneakers and imbibing purple Kool-aid?

Fear not. I bring you good news.

I’ve done a little research and found a few places. No one wants to convert you, and judging by the rates, they’re not out to make money either. It almost seems…yes, it’s true… that these places just want to help you find yourself and silence the endless chatter of your monkey mind.

And if you need proof of further benefits, check out the Botox-like smoothness that is the dear Dalai Lama’s forehead.

In no particular order:

Vipassana in Merritt is a non-profit open to people of all backgrounds. I did their ten-day silent retreat many years ago. Quite frankly, it changed my life. Here’s a link to read my story called Breathing Silence.

At the Sea to Sky Retreat Centre near Garibaldi Lake, people “regardless of their faith” are welcomed to rest in a quiet place in nature.

The Global Retreat Centre in the U.K. offers weekend retreats by donation.

Shaved head anyone? You could really dive in deep by signing up for a year-long retreat at Gampo Abbey in Nova Scotia.  Founded by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche in 1983, they also, mercifully, have shorter stays.

Fresh Start Health Retreat is not really a retreat, and it’s certainly not cheap, but for people who want to feel like they’re ‘doing something’, it might be the ticket. It’s actually more like a serious hardcore detox. I don’t actually believe we’re toxic, but I did a short stay and somehow survived all those shots of wheatgrass. And, I definitely felt better for the experience. You can read a little more about it here.

For an almost-endless list of retreats around the world, go to: www.retreatsonline.com