Carla-Rae Prober, Jan Planit, yours truly and Lauren Aiyana, photographed by Paulo Josepetti
Hi there,
“Young people are high-minded because they have not yet been humbled by life. They think they know everything, and are always quite sure about it.” — Aristotle
It seems generational wars have been happening for at least 2,400 years.
I have always hated the way media weaponizes generational differences and turns them into full-on wars. OK Boomer. Slackers. Snowflakes. Zoomers. Delulu. The Me Generation. The Avocado Toast Generation. These labels are designed to rage-bait us and divide us, to make us roll our eyes at each other across the table and dismiss people we don’t even know just because of the year they were born. Though I’m not immune, I’ve always believed we have so much more to gain from crossing those lines than defending them. Yes, we’ll always have our differences. Young people will always push against older cultural standards — that’s their job, and it’s healthy, and good most of the times. Older people will tend to hold on to the world they created, and why wouldn’t they? But why can’t we do it with a generous dose of mutual respect? This wholesale disdain for an entire generation is, quite frankly, stupid, and while we are busy judging and dismissing younger or older people than us, we are missing out on so much.
This is why I was so taken by WelcomeHaus. A new company founded by Lauren Aiyana, Jan Planit and Carla-Rae Prober, 3 women of different generations supporting women in refining every dimension of their lives through intentional experiences, curated retreats, gatherings, and personalized individual mentorship.
Last Saturday, I attended their retreat in Montauk. The setting was idyllic: after driving and soaking up the Hamptons beauty, I arrived at a gorgeous beachfront house. It was a beautiful sunny day, and the ocean views and the sound of the waves crashing immediately put everyone in the mood for some R&R.
The view, at arrival
Getting saged before meditation / Photo credit Niels Schröder
The day started with a mediation session and reflections about what we are ready to release and let go, followed by an introduction by Jan, a delicious healthy lunch, a discussion with Dr. Donese Worden, a brief yoga session and a sweet offering of kindness and good energy, delivered to the ocean by Lauren. As the day went by, I realized that the best part wasn’t the striking views or the amazing setting. It was the founders, and the community they are building.
The meditation area
Each of WelcomeHaus’ founder brought something the others couldn’t replicate, and together they become larger than the sum of their parts. Lauren is the spiritual and wellness anchor; her meditation and sound bath brought a restorative, healing quality to everything we did. Jan is the builder, the entrepreneur who has spent decades believing in women and their capabilities, and whose work with young models like Cindy Crawford made her fiercely protective of them while deepening her conviction that women, when they truly see themselves, can build extraordinary things. And Carla-Rae is the creative force whose work in fashion and design has taught her that clothes and furniture are mere vehicles for true self-expression and confidence if you choose to engage with them in a more meaningful way.
Taking copious notes / Photo credit Niels Schröder
Yoga with a view / Photo credit Niels Schröder
Carla-Rae closed the retreat with a beautiful speech. She called on all of us to be kinder to other women. She told us that even in her 70s she still encounters “mean girl” behavior, and spoke about how we can show up in the world in a kinder and more supportive way. She shared how much less pain and suffering she would have endured had she had mentors like herself, Lauren and Jan in her life. And she spoke about how we dress, how we move through the world, how we present ourselves — not as performance or concealment, but as full expression of who we are.
Carla-Rae, speaking from the heart
The day also included Dr. Donese Worden, who shared her knowledge and wisdom about women’s health, cancer research, self-advocacy, and the very real ways our current healthcare system fails us. She reminded us that community isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s medicine. She covered A LOT, and it was a masterclass.
Dr. Worden, getting ready to speak
All of them brought their hearts, their life experience, and their full selves to that space, and it was just great to watch women being their true selves, and genuinely building community.
If any of this resonates with you, I encourage you to follow WelcomeHaus and keep an eye on their upcoming Women’s Circle in July. I posted more photos and videos on Instagram, check them out. And below, I asked Lauren, Jan, and Carla-Rae to share their 10 favorite things — scroll and get to know them!
Thank you to WelcomeHaus for having me. It was my first retreat, and absolutely worth every minute of it. ❤️
Sending love,
Patricia
Click HERE If you want to read more about Lauren, HERE about Jan, and HERE about Carla. And follow Welcomehaus HERE.
Lauren, Jan and Carla-Rae’s Favorite Things
Carla-Rae, Lauren and Jan / Photo credit Niels Schröder
Favorite Book
Carla-Rae: Rumi, I like to pick a random page each time and read it, this feeds by soul
Jan: The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. The protagonist champions individualism, integrity, and ego as the source of human progress
Lauren: Essene Gospels of Peace Vol 1-5, so beautiful and heartfelt, they are said to be some of the unpublished teachings of Christ and I really resonated with the message and wisdom there, it incorporates a lot about being in the heart, and our connection with nature as well.
Favorite word
Carla-Rae: Gratitude!
Jan: Kindness. It takes nothing to be kind to others.
Lauren: Catalyst; being able to see challenges as doorways for growth, insight, and higher learning.
Favorite food
Carla-Rae: Chicken.
Jan: Sushi and sashimi.
Lauren: I love sautéd broccolini.
Favorite place besides your own home
Carla-Rae: I love being in Italy, I love the people, the culture, and the food!
Jan: Anywhere with my children and my partner.
Lauren: Definitely the South of France and all the places Mary Magdalene was present. I feel there is a special feeling to where she was.
Favorite part of your personality or trait
Carla-Rae: I can make anyone feel comfortable.
Jan: Non judgemental.
Lauren: I am naturally very compassionate, and empathetic. I also care a lot about the bigger picture and teaching others.
Favorite wellbeing ritual or habit
Carla-Rae: My favorite ritual is talking to my mother every day heart to heart.
Jan: Spending time at the ocean and being alone with my thoughts, and journaling. This allows me to show up for the people I love.
Lauren: I love immersing myself in nature to Meditate or Pray. I’ve learned a lot over the years on how to give back and not only take from the earth and from her spirit. When I am in my heart in nature in a thankful way I feel very replenished and that I’m able to attain a deep connection of love and unity.
Favorite season
Carla-Rae: I love the fall when the leaves change, it is warm in the day and cool at night.
Jan: My favorite season is Spring.
Lauren: Summer time!
Favorite object you own or covet
Carla-Rae: My father’s ring because I feel like it keeps me close to him.
Jan: I actually don’t have a specific answer to this. An object doesn’t define me. With my life experience I have come to realize I am not wired this way. I have deep appreciation for many things that are meaningful to me. I covet clarity.
Lauren: I am in love with my bicycle, my best friend from Switzerland gifted me one, in Europe they don’t use cars as much as us, she encouraged me to take up riding and it’s such a nervous system regulator, being in nature is very rejuvenating for me, and it’s great exercise.
Favorite summer spot in the Hamptons
Carla-Rae: The beach, it grounds me.
Jan: My home on the water, especially during the summer.
Lauren: Anywhere that there is a view of the water, I love hanging out in Southampton at the beaches. I also love Amagansett and Montauk for hiking and seeing friends.
Favorite thing about Welcomehaus
Carla-Rae: I love the sense of community and belonging. I love that we have three different views between us, and I am so proud to be a part of it!
Jan: My favorite thing about WelcomeHaus is our individual personalities, perspectives, different ages, and the diversity this brings to the whole!
Lauren: I would say my favorite thing is being able to make an impact on others lives, if my own growth and collaborations can benefit other people in a positive way that’s what really fulfills me and what it’s all about. It can be very rewarding through an extensive delivery of a new company - when clients or participants come up to you and say they had a breakthrough or a deep moment of connection through something you offered that truly is everything.