Cheryl Richardson's Blog, page 49

Week 46 – Signs of life after death

It’s Saturday morning and I’m sitting in my hotel room getting ready for the second day of our Speak, Write, & Promote workshop. We have a wonderful group of people and I’m grateful to have their loving support as I teach while hosting my grief.

This morning I’m feeling a bit more at peace.

Yesterday, before the workshop, I decided to get my hair done. As I walked through a busy shopping mall here in downtown Boston heading for the salon, I gazed at all the people milling about. Just before r...

Week 45 – Honoring my father

He gave me life.
He taught me to give to those less fortunate than me.
He made me promise to always remember where I came from.
And his generous spirit touched the lives of so many.

I carry his blood, his genes, his strength and resilience. And I am blessed beyond measure because of it.

This weekend I said goodbye to my father – at least in his physical form. And while my heart breaks, my soul rejoices, knowing he has been released from pain and suffering.

Thank you for taking this journey wi...

Week 44 – What to do when affirmations don’t work

There are some days when I feel like a fraud. I catch myself teaching one thing and practicing another. I forget what I know to be true, get scared or knocked off track, and fall into old habits that don’t work.

We all do.
That’s life.
The trick is to catch yourself when it’s happening and get back on track.

Here’s an everyday example of what I mean.

For the last three months, I’ve been complaining about not seeing deer in our backyard. Now, if you’ve been with me for a while, you know I’m cr...

Week 43 – Here’s what the better side of humanity looks like

I drove to Brigham and Women’s hospital early this morning to visit my dad who was admitted on Friday with an infection in his foot. He’s doing much better.

I pulled up to the valet stand where a young man dressed in a bright red jacket and matching cap stood ready to open my door. I said a little prayer that he’d agree to park my car because the hospital frequently restricts the valet services for those dropping off or picking up patients.

I was tired and feeling sensitive and didn’t want to...

Week 42 – Feeling resentful? Do this.

Last week, while listening to a program about self-care coping strategies, I heard a therapist talk about what she recommends to clients who feel chronically resentful – a harmful, debilitating state of mind.

She offers this prescription:

“The next time you feel resentful, do something pleasurable as soon as possible.”

Such great advice, I thought to myself, especially for people who have a habit of doing for others at the expense of themselves.

Not that I know anything about that .

These day...

Week 41 – Wisdom from Louise Hay

I’m writing from San Diego, CA, after spending yesterday celebrating Louise Hay’s 90th birthday.

It was a very special experience and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to join with others to honor her important contribution to the world.

This week, I thought I’d share some of my favorite one-liners from Louise. Sometimes one message is all you need to dramatically shift your perspective.

Notice which one speaks to you most today…

You will be with you longer than anyone else on the plan...

Week 40 – Here’s what happens when you send a kid in to do a woman’s job

I pulled into the car wash, waiting for the flashing red light to announce when I’d arrived at the appropriate spot to put the car in neutral. My windshield filled with squiggly lines of soap turning the glass before me into a colorful abstract painting. I closed my eyes and relaxed while the brushes outside whipped and turned, working to make my car look shiny and new.

When finished, I pulled out of the car wash and turned on the wipers to clear the front window of the remaining water. That’...

Week 39 – Is it time to prune your life?

It’s tree-pruning time in New England and I recently spent an afternoon withJim, our gardener, learning about how to support the trees we’ve planted in our yard. As it turns out, the care and nurturing of trees can teach us a few things about the care and nurturing of our lives.

When Jim and I began our work together, he explained that to assist the growth and health of a tree, he’d use a three-stage pruning process.

First, he would remove any dead branches.

Second, he would focus on the inte...

Week 38 – Things are always working out for me.

In July I did something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I hopped in the car with my friend, Julie, and drove two hours to a beach in southern Mass to ride waves.

I love body surfing. It’s one of the few things that puts an ear-to-ear smile across my face and makes me giggle like a little girl. I can spend hours in the water and I always have to force myself out because I’m waiting for “just one more good ride!”

But that’s not what this blog is about.

On the day Julie and I drove to the bea...

Week 37 – Remembering the victims and their families on 9/11

As I spend today remembering the souls who lost their lives on September 11th, fifteen years ago, as well as the families who suffered such pain, I invite you to consider this…

Who were you on September 12th and what mattered most to you that day?

Are you honoring those priorities in your life now?

If not, what might you do this week to get back on track?

Cheryl

Video of the Week

I love videos like this – simple ways to raise people’s spirits. God bless this young man and his friends. Check...