Cheryl Richardson's Blog, page 10

Hold on! You got this.

This morning, as I lay in bed thinking about the day ahead, I picked up a book from my nightstand and opened it to a random page for a little inspiration. The book, Facets of Unity by A. H. Almaas, is about the more advanced spiritual teachings of the Enneagram (a powerful spiritual and psychological development tool).

I opened to a page about how we developed trust in ourselves, the world, and a higher power, by how we were held literally and figuratively in our early years of development. In p...

Are we connected?

The day after my friend Ileen died, I was standing by a window that overlooks our backyard comforting one of her friends in London, when a bald eagle flew overhead. Amazed by the sight of such a majestic bird, I shared the experience with her friend and said, If Ileen were to come back as a bird, it would be an eagle. She was that big a presence. We both laughed and decided Ileen must be saying hello.

The next day I received an audio message from my friend Melissa, someone who also knew and love...

Life lessons from a sparrow

Every night, just before the sun dips below the horizon, a tiny sparrow swoops into our veranda, hops along the ceiling ledge, and tucks itself face first into the bottom of the “V” shaped trim lining an archway. It showed up just before our friend Ileen passed away and it’s been here nearly every night since.

I’ve been comforted by this little visitor and grateful for the way nature provides a sense of stability during turbulent times. Each night, as I walked back and forth to and from the kitc...

From Heartbreak to Healing

I sat in the bath staring at my legs resting on the edge of the tub. As I examined my feet, I noticed a small drop of water sliding down the side of my left big toe and I burst into tears.

Even my toe is crying, I thought to myself as I released the pent-up feelings I’d been carrying for days while handling another family crisis. It’s always surprising to me how random things can ignite grief – seeing a shade of blue that matches your loved one’s eyes, a commercial for their favorite television ...

When Great Trees Fall

In this week’s blog, I’m sharing a poem by Maya Angelou given to me by a wise woman who knows the right medicine at the right time.

I lost my friend Ileen yesterday, a woman who embedded herself in our hearts and home for more than thirteen years and has now left a crater-size hole in our lives. Ileen was a force who took on any task worthy of her time with the steely determination to succeed. And she did. Her optimism made even the darkest of times shine bright with possibility. Light returned ...

A Valentine’s Day Mission

I’ve been writing this weekly blog for more than twenty years and this morning, while searching my archives for an old story, I came across a blog I sent in 2011 with a Valentine’s Day idea from a reader, Karen. As soon as I reread her suggestion, I decided to do it again this year and wanted to invite you to join me. Here’s the plan:

Remember the little packages of Valentines you used to get as a kid, the ones you’d fill out and bring to school? Today I’m going to pick up a few boxes. I’m going...

Tiny Little Goodbyes

The email arrived on Monday morning and I immediately marked it as “unread.” I wanted to remember the invitation to donate books to our local library for their annual fundraising event on Saturday.

Over the last few years, I’ve given away hundreds of books but always made a point to leave my favorites behind. Some have been life savers, providing comfort and direction through heartbreak and loss. Others, helpful guides leading me to the next stop on my career path or through distant lands and li...

Press play: Remove the hold button from your life

He sat quietly behind me, arms folded, a Cheshire cat grin on his face. “Let’s hear how you’re doing with Stairway to Heaven,” my teacher instructed. “Take your time and go super slow.”

I adjusted the bench beneath me and placed my fingers on the keyboard. Instantly I felt like an awkward teenager at her first piano recital. After playing a few notes, I stopped.

Ok, I’m going to make mistakes, I admitted feeling silly and shy. I have performance anxiety.

Josh, a young man in his mid-twenties, l...

From Rainstorms to Blue Skies

Bright sunshine, clear skies, and a flock of bluebirds at the feeder offered a lovely start to the day… until my mind stepped in. As soon as I started washing my face and brushing my teeth, I watched my thinking as if I were attending a theater performance. The spotlight of my consciousness moved across the stage, shining on one scene after another. I’m walking outside freezing in the cold wind. I struggle to write this blog. As I let the cats out of their room I discover the heat shut off again...

Look Up: Finding Inspiration on the Dance Floor

I shuffled down the hallway toward the living room as the setting sun cast an amber glow across the hardwood floor. The honey-colored light revealed cat hair, scratches from the unprotected legs of a chair pushed into the room, and a few ladybugs still hanging around after warm weather earlier in the week.

As I took inventory of the floor, feeling the weight of winter, shorter days, and the state of the world, a thought popped into my head.

“Look up, Cheryl! Life is up!”

I smiled at the familiar...