I’m excited to let you know that our next “Self Care by the Sea” retreat in October is now open for registration!  You can read all about it, here.  I hope to celebrate autumn in New England with you – it’s so beautiful here.

Today is Father’s Day and I’m still getting used to not having my dad with us.  It’s so strange to spend decades thinking about this day, planning when to see him, considering what to buy as a gift, and then not being able to do any of that.

But I do have memories, and this week’s newsletter, inspired by my sister, Lisa, brings me special comfort today.  My dad loved the way we celebrated him years ago.  Here’s what happened:

In honor of Father’s Day, my sister, Lisa, had a great idea. At her suggestion, we all piled into a car one afternoon, went to pick up my dad, and took him on a surprise trip down memory lane. We visited the neighborhood where we grew up, saw the home we lived in, and reminisced about the things we did, the neighbors we spent time with, and even the trouble we got into as kids.

It was a wonderful experience and the trip gave me a chance to learn things about my dad and my siblings that I hadn’t known before.

Once we left the neighborhood, we drove around town remembering other childhood landmarks – fields where we played ball, candy stores visited, summer beaches and friends’ homes. Then we had dinner at our favorite family restaurant – The Red Wing – a seafood and pizza restaurant where my mom and dad were able to feed all nine of us for less than $20! Ah, the good old days…

Later in the evening, when I arrived home after our trip, I thought about the old neighborhood and how our perspective shifts over time. The first hill I ever road a bike down, for instance, seemed like a ski slope back then. In reality, it’s a small, gentle incline. Our family home felt roomy as a little girl even though it was a small three-bedroom ranch where I shared a bedroom with three sisters.

During our visit, I also found clues to the things I would feel passionate about later in life.  Hours upon hours spent with friends in the neighborhood would become a passion for community building.  Summers at the beach would lead me to look for inspiration when writing by going to the ocean.  Or, playing outside all day, every day, would help me cultivate a deep connection to animals, trees, birds and flowers as an adult woman.  I even remembered planting a vegetable garden when I was eight years old – something I started doing again a few years ago.

My dad had so much fun that day and it’s a memory my siblings and I cherish even more now that he’s gone.

Yes, we have the opportunity to make memories every day – something good to remember.

Happy Father’s Day!

xo Cheryl

PS – The annual Enneagram Global Summit will be held on June 24^th – June 28^thand I’m happy to be a part of this special event.  If you’re interested in learning more about the Enneagram, don’t miss this free series.  It’s filled with experts (including Russ Hudson!) who share valuable information. You can register here.

PPS – I’ll be on Facebook Live this Wednesday, June 19^th at 6pm EST/3pm PST. You can also view past shows on my YouTube channel at CherylRichardsonTV here.

Need a little Divine Direction? Use the “Touch of Grace” button on our homepage here.

 

Photo by Seth Fogelman on Unsplash