Chip Conley

After two years of being cooped-up, it’s time to fly. We hope you’ll consider joining us in Baja for an MEA workshop this spring.

“It seems to me that the basic facts of the psyche undergo a very marked alteration in the course of life, so much so that we could almost speak of a psychology of life’s morning and a psychology of its afternoon."

Two years ago today, MEA had to shut down due to the announcement of a global pandemic. What an anxiety-producing time! A year later, I wrote this blog post about all of the pandemic pivots we made.

What a complicated time we are living in. Just as we come out of two years of social distancing, it’s time to “duck and cover” with nuclear war being part of the public discourse. It’s certainly a reminder to enjoy each day and be in the moment, isn’t it?

Philosophers and psychologists have long debated the tradeoff between a life seeking happiness and one searching for meaning. While research has shown that having and raising kids gives you long-term meaning, there can often be a short-term happiness deficit. Similarly, living a life full of pleasure and fun can offer you short-term enjoyment but not a lot of long-term sustenance.

As someone who started a hotel company based upon the premise of “joie de vivre,” I’m intrigued by my fellow joy entrepreneurs (like MEA alum Jack Abbott who created Made for Joy five years ago). And ever since Ingrid Fetell Lee’s bestselling book “Joyful” came out, I’ve been following her as well.

While I did appreciate Carrie Bradshaw’s wordsmithing wisdom and ability to turn a phrase, I was never a big-time Sex and the City evangelist. So, I’m curious how some of you are vibing with the show’s new "And Just Like That" comedy-drama series, 17 years after their last reunion?

Who’s ready for another round of MEA Lingo? Today’s words: Andragogy (it’s not what you think it is).

Occasionally, someone enjoys a week at MEA in Baja and says it was life-changing, but in the next sentence, they say, “But, how do we change the workplace to embrace the need for modern elders?”

1975 was quite the year. I was nervous about starting high school in the inner city, where I became the "curious white boy." And the country was having a passing fancy with sticks (Styx and Space Food Sticks) and stones (Pet Rocks and Mood Rings).