Cheryl Richardson's Blog, page 42

Let’s talk about it…

I’ve been enjoying a very different kind of book tour for Waking Up in Winter.  I’m visiting with readers using Facebook and Zoom, appearing on podcasts, and conducting video interviews online.

It’s amazing how technology is changing the way the world works, isn’t it?

While technology opens new doors, I’ve also had meaningful conversations with people at bookstores and at in-person events.  Readers are hungry to talk about the upside of midlife and how to weather change and transition at any...

Last night I had a dream…

Last night I had a dream about Poupon.  In it, I was with my friend John Holland at a conference and after teaching, we decided to enjoy a glass of wine together.  Before going to the restaurant, I told him I needed to stop by my room to check on Poupon.

Strange, I thought, that my cat would be in my hotel room at an event.

When I opened the door, I found two sofas facing each other in the middle of the room.  On one sofa sat a litter box filled with old sticks and dried up, spoiled food.  On...

Drink the good wine first

Yesterday, while loading the dryer, I thought about what to serve for dinner when our good friends, Bob and Melissa, showed up later in the day.  I always enjoy when they visit because we hang out, catch up on our lives, and eventually dive into deep conversations about the things that really matter.

I need to do some shopping, I thought to myself as I removed the wet clothes from the washing machine.  I have to pick up vegetables, some kind of dessert, and I want to remember to get wine.

Tha...

Lingering in Limbo

Over the last few weeks I’ve been visiting bookstores and hosting intimate conversations with readers about what really matters at midlife.  Men and women have joined me to talk about the feelings that accompany change, their desire to navigate transitions with grace and ease, and the freedom that comes with caring less about what others think.

These deeper conversations are exactly what I hoped to have when I published my account of what happened when I reached midlife.

Near the end of each...

Getting to know you in a brand new way

I’m happy to let you know that registration is now open for our next Self Care by the Sea retreat and it’s going to be special.

The intention of this retreat is for you to get to know yourself in a deeper, more meaningful way so you can center your life around who and what matters most.

During the weekend, which is open to men and women, I’ll be joined by Russ Hudson, one of the world’s principal teachers of the Enneagram.

If you’re not familiar with the Enneagram, I’d like to share an excerp...

Little things mean a lot

It was the end of a long, hard workout and I was exhausted. Everyone in the class had finished the routine and I was the last person struggling through a final set of burpees.

In case you’re unfamiliar with a burpee, it’s an insane exercise where you jump back into a plank, do a push-up, jump into a standing position, and clap overhead.

It’s one of my least favorite exercises .

As I pushed myself to finish, the voices in my head were loud and clear: You’re too old for this. Everyone’s stronge...

A new version of the year of firsts

“You’re entering the year of firsts,” my friend Ileen explained as we talked on the phone the week after my dad passed. The first Thanksgiving. The first Christmas. The first birthday – both yours and his.

As I navigated the holidays after my dad died, I’d soon discover there were other types of firsts. The first time I’d publish a new book without him being alive to read it. Or when I reached for my manicure kit and realized I’d never get to care for his nails the way I used to during our vi...

Are you longing for aliveness?

This week I thought I’d share a video blog with you instead of a written one.  I hosted a Facebook Live session last Thursday evening where I offered viewers a new way to think about whether or not their lives are as gratifying and fulfilling as they could be.

One simple (and very different) question is all it takes to begin to evaluate your level of satisfaction and engagement in life.  During this session, I talked about the longing for aliveness, why it’s important to do things that excite...

Brave the elements, find a new life

We had a full house on Friday night and as I looked out over the crowd, I felt so grateful to those who showed up to celebrate the launch of Waking Up in Winter in spite of frigid temperatures.

Just two hours before the event, I wound up stuck in a snow bank trying to get up our driveway.  When I opened the car door to assess the damage, I stepped into thigh-high drifts and wondered if anyone was going to make it to the event – including me! Thank goodness for our plow guy, Mark, who immediat...

Limbo, transitions, and the art of learning to wait.

It’s the last day of the year with a new beginning just around the bend.  It’s always such an interesting time, isn’t it, a strange zone of in-between when we wait for a brand new year to commence.

Honestly, I’m ready to say goodbye to 2017.  Between the passing of Louise Hay, and completing a “year of firsts” after the death of my father only to begin another with the death of our cat, Poupon, I’m ready for a bit of smooth sailing.  And yet I know better.

This past year has taught me an imp...