Join Me in Celebrating My 64th Birthday:
A Journey of Reflection and Renewal

Dear Friends and Family,

I’m excited to invite you to a special celebration of my 64th birthday at MEA’s new Rising Circle Ranch in Galisteo, New Mexico which was just featured on TIME magazine’s list of the 100 Greatest Places in the World. This gathering holds deep significance as it marks a return to the rituals we’ve cherished over the past 34 years and a celebration that had to be postponed in 2020 due to the pandemic. It’s been a busy year filled with milestones, all while navigating the health challenges of stage-3 cancer. This makes our reunion even more meaningful, and I am deeply grateful for your unwavering support through these times.

The Journey Continues: Pill. Grim. Age.

These words may seem daunting individually, but together, they capture the spirit of our “pilgrimage,” a ritual we’ve embraced every five years. Life’s transitions are doorways, and our gatherings have been the keys unlocking these moments, creating memories that last a lifetime. We have been companions and mutual witnesses as we’ve journeyed through all these years, from aspiring to be hip to ensuring we don’t break one.

Since I turned 30, we’ve celebrated my birthdays by traveling to “thin places,” as the Celtic Christians called them—places where the veil between worlds is almost transparent (although I would say my 40th b’day in Vegas was a “thick place”).

Destination 64: Embracing the Wisdom of Age

This year, as I turn 64, we’ll transition from the lively Baja Sur to the serene beauty of New Mexico. We’ll gather from Wednesday, October 30th, to Sunday, November 3rd, at the Rising Circle Ranch, where we’ll explore the pro-aging theme of the “midlife chrysalis.” This hybrid weekend retreat and celebration will feature a talented group of MEA partners, magic-makers, and friends, offering an opportunity for reflection, renewal, and of course, fun!

Just as some of you never imagined attending Burning Man for my 50th, I suspect some may have wondered if they’d ever witness the breathtaking beauty of New Mexico’s Galisteo Basin. And, for some of you, you’ve never experienced a personal growth workshop (yep, that’s you I’m talking about). Don’t fear, you can come to the celebration without participating in the experiential education activities in the classroom, kitchen, in the horse stables, and in nature – which will represent about three hours per day for those who want to partake. There’s ample hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, swimming, and all kinds of other ways to take advantage of this 2,566-acre ranch.

Reflecting on the Journey

As we transition from sowing wild oats to growing sage, we ponder life’s bigger questions: Is aging negotiable? How do we move from ego to soul? How do we shift from attaining to attuning? What are we truly in service to? Does life shrink as we age, or does it become more curated? And how do we face the inevitable changes in our bodies with grace, gratitude, and humor?

Given that this experience will partially mirror an MEA workshop, we’re going to keep it small: no more than 30-40 people. While our normal all-inclusive cost for an MEA workshop is $4,500-$6,000 per person (unless someone is on financial aid), MEA won’t be charging you anything, but as your birthday gift, I would ask that you make a tax-deductible donation to our 501(c)3 non-profit AGE to support MEA’s scholarships. If you’re coming by yourself, we ask that you make a minimum donation of $2,000 and if you’re coming as a couple or sharing a room, it would be $1,500 a piece ($3,000). If that’s impossible for you, feel free to email me directly. Your only cost is getting to the Ranch – we take care of everything which will include some time in Santa Fe as well as evening on the Sky Railway.

I am eager to share this new chapter of my life with you at our Rising Circle Ranch, a place dedicated to celebrating life’s transitions and moments of reflection in midlife. Your presence has always been my greatest gift, and I look forward to creating more cherished memories with you.

Please join me for this meaningful celebration.

SAVE THE DATE

Event: Chip’s 64th Birthday Retreat
Location: MEA’s Rising Circle Ranch
77 Saddleback Ranch Road, Galisteo, NM 87540
Dates: October 30th – November 3rd, 2024

Agenda:

Arrival: Oct 30, 2024 (please arrive prior to dinner at 7:30pm MT)
Departure: Nov 3, 2024

Please RSVP and send any question/preferences to Lilly at lilly@chipconley.com by August 30th. If your partner/spouse did not receive this invitation, please share it with them.

We will send you more details soon, including travel tips, Santa Fe activities, and information about our beloved Rising Circle Ranch.