Jum'ah Journal--'Itikaaf

For some personal reasons I have not been able to start this "retreat" experience this year although I had set my mind on it.
'Itikaaf (Retreat--loosly translated) has its own rewards ( I am talking about the ones you get for yourself and of course Allah gives you many rewards also).
Kind of self-purification process, you sit and think while praying and making supplications reciting Qur'an or contemplating on some aya etc. there is so much to reflect upon. It is performed for Allah and one must be adult Muslim and have an intention to do it. The time spent in these supplications etc. is recommended but no worldly or loose talk is allowed in the masjid during 'itikaaf.
There are other religions that have some "retreat" programs though may not be as "specific" as in Islam. Islam makes it only "suggested" sunnah, not mandatory although the prophet Muhammad PBUH performed it every year as a "duty". The "mandatory 'Itikaaf"" is the one that someone makes it upon himself as an "offering" (Nadzar) or devotion--then it MUST be performed for the number of days that the person "mandated" it for himself. Generally it is optional and can be performed any time during Ramadhan or any other time and for any number of days (because it is OPTIONAL) although recommended for the last 10 days of Ramadhan. (the manner of the prophet PBUH)
Men perform it (and must do it ) in a mosque specially the one where all 5 prayers are held. For women it is preferable in her own home where she has her own nitch for prayers.
I enjoyed the time with extra prayers, tafseer study, some memorization of ayat etc. but the closeness to Allah is somewhat like that in Arafaat during Hajj (To tell you the truth, nothing really equals that feeling, you have to be in Arafaat to experience it).