Cheryl Richardson's Blog, page 4

The poetry of less

In my next life, I would like to be a poet charged with the task of observing life with such precision and amusement that I easily capture its essence in words that pierce the heart.

Mary Oliver is one who has this assignment this time around, and I was reminded of her gift when a member of our community sent me her poem about the things we hold onto (see below).

If you’re lucky, as you age, you begin to loathe clutter and covet space. That’s because the soul knows that less is more, that fewer...

Clearing space for a new season in life

I glanced at the armoire in my office and thought, “I’ve got to clean that thing out.” It’s a tall, three-door cabinet I used to convert my traditional office into a warm and inviting living room. In it, I stored all my work-related items – office supplies, files, computer, etc., so the room would be cozy for both myself and my guests.

Over time, I stashed more and more stuff in this cabinet to the point where it became nearly impossible to fit anything else in. Although the clutter was out of s...

The birth that follows goodbye

The note was simple, yet weighty. Words so potent I had to catch my breath.

“I’m very sorry for the loss of your Mother,” she wrote in the kind of cursive handwriting that betrays age. “When I lost my own Mother many years ago, someone sent me this quote and I’ve held onto it ever since. I hope it speaks to you.”

I turned the page and found this:

“Your mother gives birth to you twice – once when you are born and again when she dies.”

As I reread the words, I felt the truth of its message seep in...

Slowing down to the speed of life

It’s another rainy weekend here in the Northeast, the third in a row, with a mini snowstorm that blew through yesterday morning leaving spring buds coated in fluffy white flakes. I took full advantage of the invitation to hunker down, enjoying an afternoon nap, a good book, and the chance to deepen my relationship with a new love – an air fryer. Who knew a kitchen gadget could become a good friend 😀.

Yesterday, as I took my time preparing a meal, I had one of those ah-ha moments when I realized ...

Stop winding yourself up

I sat down to eat breakfast when I suddenly realized I’d missed a dear friend’s birthday. In an instant, my cheeks flushed, my breath grew shallow, and my mind immediately started crafting stories about how disappointed my friend must have been not to hear from me. What began as a good day quickly turned stressful until I saw what was happening through the lens of the nervous system.

I put down my fork, placed my hand on my chest, and said, “Sweetheart, it’s ok. An old program just kicked in and...

Slow down, you move too fast

Spring is doing her best to emerge from winter here in New England. The red-winged blackbirds are back battling for food at the feeder. The fields are covered in patches of pale green. And, when I look closely, I can see buds bursting at the ends of tree branches lying against today’s gray sky.

Walking around the house, doing morning chores, I find myself humming the first verse of an old Simon & Garfunkel tune called, The 59th Street Bridge Song. It’s been stuck in my head all week. The lyrics ...

Slow down, you move to fast

Spring is doing her best to emerge from winter here in New England. The red-winged blackbirds are back battling for food at the feeder. The fields are covered in patches of pale green. And, when I look closely, I can see buds bursting at the ends of tree branches lying against today’s gray sky.

Walking around the house, doing morning chores, I find myself humming the first verse of an old Simon & Garfunkel tune called, The 59th Street Bridge Song. It’s been stuck in my head all week. The lyrics ...

Learning to be gentle, one toothbrush at a time

I’ve returned from a trip to NYC and am recovering from a cold, so I’m rerunning a blog with an appropriate message. I have no doubt we could all use a little more gentleness.

~*~

I shuffled into the bathroom and looked at my sleepy self in the mirror. I immediately thought of Louise Hay and her commitment to the practice of “mirror work” – the habit of saying “I love you. I really, really love you,” each time you look in a mirror. As I smiled at her memory and said the words to myself, I grabbe...

Will you marry me?

It’s a gray day—the kind of day that makes me want to crawl back into bed. But when I look out the window, I’m captivated by the beauty in our backyard. Lazy fog drifts across the fields toward the water below and when it touches the icy surface of the lake, ethereal angels emerge from the swirling mist. I watch them dance until the skies brighten just enough to vanish them into the light.

As I bid farewell to the last whirling dervish, I debate going back to bed or starting the day. I suddenly ...

The journey from ego to soul

Last week, I held a Zoom gathering where I conducted a live coaching session with a courageous woman named Jen. We talked about transitioning from working full-time to semi-retirement, the temptation to fill the calendar with new forms of busyness, and the need to reign in a thirsty ego on the lookout for a new project to swallow. Soon enough, the conversation ventured into deeper territory.

Who am I if I’m not accomplishing something every day? What do I tell people who ask what I’m up to? How ...