Where to enjoy a winter getaway in Texas.

Getaway House/Piney Woods, Texas

All the ghosts materialized in the weeks leading up to my forty-fifth birthday — first, burnout and breakdown, followed by memories best left alone. Lord knows I needed a getaway.

It had been years since I'd gone on a retreat where I spent an entire day fasting in a field in Oklahoma. Long story short, I was scared to death, but I returned home feeling something new and wholly sacred. I felt satisfied.

I wanted to recreate a similar experience but without the drive. Thanks to Instagram, I found a wilderness getaway just outside of Dallas. The small outpost of tiny cabins became the perfect place to find hope once more.

At first, I felt totally alone and somewhat exposed. Spooked but not really scared. But once I settled in by the fire, I felt safe. I'd simply forgotten what it felt like to inhabit my own body, soul, and spirit without carrying along all of the cares and concerns of the world. Most of all, I'd forgotten to trust myself and to remember Aloha ke Akua, God is love.

In the morning, I broke my fast by sipping on a cup of homemade chicken broth made with love by my best friend, Emma. She also packed me a dainty pie inspired by my dad's favorite dessert, Okinawan Sweet Potato Pie. Best of all, she sent love letters for each day in the wilderness.

I savored the solitude and walking trails. And later in the day, a grove of tender young pines offered kinship, even rest. The saplings seemed exposed like me, yet covered, too. So I rested among them until the sun gave way to the stars. There I listened to the wind rustle pine needles, and through each tiny blade, I heard the roar of ocean waves.