Seasons of Life: Finding Grace and Beauty in Change
Is a partial scholarship for you?
We believe in making personal growth and education accessible to everyone, which is why we offer partial scholarships on a needs-aware basis for many of our programs.
These scholarships support individuals facing financial challenges, including — but not limited to — members of underrepresented communities. If financial stress might prevent you from attending a workshop, we encourage you to apply.
Partial scholarships, provided through the Association for Growth and Education, are limited to 2–3 seats per workshop and reviewed in the order received. We recommend applying as soon as possible, as scholarship decisions are typically confirmed 90–120 days before the workshop date.
Pico Iyer
Acclaimed Essayist and 5-time TED Speaker
Chip Conley
MEA Founder, Hotelier + Hospitality Entrepreneur, Bestselling Author
Hold onto peace, perspective, and purpose in a world that won’t stop spinning.
The world is moving at such a pace that it’s hard to sift what’s trivial from what’s essential.
Every day brings more noise, urgency, distraction – and less time to notice what really gives life meaning. Small problems consume us, while the things that matter most fade into the background, leaving us feeling unmoored and oddly hollow inside.
When life moves this quickly, it’s easy to forget that we’re meant to live in rhythm, not in rush.
The natural world still turns through its seasons – spring into summer, autumn into winter – but most of us have lost touch with those cycles in ourselves.
We expect constant growth, constant motion, constant output. And when change comes – when one season of life gives way to another – it can feel like failure instead of evolution.
This is where Pico Iyer and Chip Conley offer a different way of seeing.
Drawing on timeless wisdom and lived experience, they’ll help you rediscover the grace and beauty of your own unfolding – to see midlife not as a decline, but as a ripening.
Pico Iyer – beloved author of The Art of Stillness, Autumn Light, and The Half Known Life – has spent decades exploring how we can stay calm, clear, and awake in a turbulent world. His reflections on impermanence, presence, and beauty have inspired millions to slow down and notice what truly matters.
Chip Conley, bestselling author and founder of MEA, brings his own deep understanding of midlife transformation – how to turn the questions of “What’s next?” and “What really matters?” into a renewed sense of meaning, joy, and contribution.
Together at MEA’s luxury retreat center in the Santa Fe high desert, they’ll guide you to slow the pace, realign with your inner seasons, and recover the calm, perspective, and purpose that make life meaningful.
During your four days with Pico and Chip, you will…
Reframe midlife as renewal – see each season of life as part of a natural, evolving rhythm
Restore calm and clarity – create space to slow down and see what truly matters.
Rekindle meaning and wonder – notice beauty again in the ordinary moments of daily life.
Strengthen your inner foundation – build reserves of calm, perspective, and resilience.
Practice the 3% Rule – simple, daily stillness that shifts how you move through the world.
Experience true sanctuary – reflection, connection, and beauty in an intimate community setting.
This workshop
is for you if…
Meet your faculty
“Connection isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity.”
~ Allison Gilbert ~
Pico Iyer
Acclaimed essayist and 5-time TED Speaker | Author of The Art of Stillness, Autumn Light, and The Half Known Life
For more than four decades, Pico Iyer has been one of the world’s most beloved guides to the inner journey. A global traveler who has lived in Japan for more than 30 years, he explores in his writing how we can cultivate calm, clarity, and meaning amid the noise and speed of modern life.
His essays and books – translated into 23 languages – have earned him a devoted international readership and frequent invitations to speak on stages from TED to the World Economic Forum. Through his explorations of stillness, impermanence, and the search for home, Pico helps people reconnect with what truly sustains them when the world feels uncertain.
Chip Conley
MEA Co-Founder and Author of Learning to Love Midlife: 12 Reasons Why Life Gets Better with Age
A three-time TED speaker on the big stage, Chip Conley is one of the world's leading experts at the intersection of business innovation, psychology and spirituality.
As one of the creators of the boutique hotel movement and the "modern elder" to the young Airbnb founders, Chip's been a disruptor and expert on entrepreneurship and business leadership. He’s a globally-recognized thought leader on the future of work and the competitive advantages of a multi-generational workplace.
Inspired by his experience of intergenerational mentoring as a “modern elder” at Airbnb – where his guidance was instrumental to the company’s extraordinary success – Chip founded MEA and has since dedicated his midlife years to reframing the concept of aging and helping people navigate midlife with a renewed sense of purpose and possibility.
Supported By the MEA Team
Lee Johnson
MEA’s Head of Land, Livestock, and Mindfulness in Santa Fe
Lee likes to say that he’s as ordinary as dirt but as complex as soil. A former Course Director for the Colorado Outward Bound School and Certified Holistic Management Teacher, he has managed ranches in Nebraska and Tennessee as well as several ranches here in New Mexico. As ...
View BioWhat You'll Gain
Our Agenda at a Glance
Sunday:
4:00 PM: Check-In / Welcome
5:30 PM: Welcome Reception & Dinner
7:00 PM: Orientation Session
Monday:
7:00 AM: Mind + Body
8:30 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM: Classroom Time
1:15 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM: Free Time
3:00 PM: Classroom Time
5:30 PM: Free Time
6:30 PM: Dinner
8:00 PM: Evening Gathering
Tuesday:
7:00 AM: Mind + Body
8:30 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM: Classroom Time
1:15 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM: Free Time
3:00 PM: Classroom Time
5:30 PM: Free Time
6:30 PM: Dinner
8:00 PM: Evening Gathering
Wednesday:
7:00 AM: Mind + Body
8:30 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM: Classroom Time
1:15 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM: Free Time
3:00 PM: Classroom Time
5:30 PM: Graduation
6:30 PM: Celebration Dinner
Thursday:
7:00 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM: Checkout / Departure
Friday:
Saturday:
*Please note all times are estimates as some activities go longer or shorter depending on the group. This agenda is meant to give you an idea of the general flow of activities.
Step into transformation in the high desert
Rising Circle Ranch | Santa Fe, USA.
Our spectacular Santa Fe campus is located on an upscale regenerative ranch featuring traditional Pueblo architecture and nearly 2,600 acres of wildlife, hiking trails in the arroyo, and awe-inspiring beauty. Close to historic Santa Fe, an artisan’s mecca.
PLUS: Gourmet from-scratch meals, snacks, and drinks featuring locally sourced ingredients, made by our in-house chefs
Explore the ranch
on horseback
Our Rising Circle Ranch spans 2,600 acres of New Mexico high desert, offering guided horseback riding for all experience levels through diverse terrains under the vast Southwest sky
You’ll experience highlights like:
Horseback riding is an optional add-on activity you can book once you arrive on the ranch. Whether you’re seasoned or brand new to horseback adventures, this guided experience lets you discover the ranch’s natural wonders alongside our gentle horses.
Your Workshop Includes:
Come home to what truly matters.
The world isn’t slowing down – but you can.
If you’ve been moving too fast for too long, this is your chance to step out of the noise and return to what really matters. Over four transformative days in Santa Fe, Pico Iyer and Chip Conley will help you find your footing, calm your mind, and rediscover the quiet beauty of your own unfolding.
You’ll leave with:
Join Pico and Chip to step into the next season of your life with clarity and grace.
Book your spot today
Seasons of Life: Finding Grace and Beauty in Change
Is a partial scholarship for you?
We believe in making personal growth and education accessible to everyone, which is why we offer partial scholarships on a needs-aware basis for many of our programs.
These scholarships support individuals facing financial challenges, including — but not limited to — members of underrepresented communities. If financial stress might prevent you from attending a workshop, we encourage you to apply.
Partial scholarships, provided through the Association for Growth and Education, are limited to 2–3 seats per workshop and reviewed in the order received. We recommend applying as soon as possible, as scholarship decisions are typically confirmed 90–120 days before the workshop date.
The program was spectacular. It really surpassed my expectations. I was really surprised about how the course was curated. There was such a warm intensity and personal touch to it.
I experienced MEA as a newly diagnosed multiple myeloma cancer patient, and as a result of the things I’ve learned - I’ve banished the anxiety of being a cancer victim, am in remission, and living with a newfound energy and purpose.
Just know how grateful I am for the joy fuel you all put in my rocket ship. When I want to feel loved or just need a good smile I can think of my time at MEA, which came at the perfect time to encourage me on my journey. Thank you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this workshop for?
This experience is for anyone in midlwho feels the world’s pace has left them running on autopilot. Many participants are in midlife — a stage rich with change — and are seeking calm, clarity, and a deeper connection to what truly matters.
Do I need to be in a major life transition to attend?
No. This experience isn’t about changing your outer circumstances – it’s about changing how you move through them. Whether you’re in a time of upheaval or simply feeling stretched thin by the pace of life, this workshop will help you slow down, regain perspective, and reconnect with what truly matters.
Is this workshop religious or spiritual?
No. Seasons of Life welcomes people of all backgrounds and beliefs. The experience is reflective rather than religious – inviting you to explore presence, meaning, and beauty in a way that feels authentic to you.
What if I’m not planning a major life change?
You don’t need to be making any big external shifts to benefit. Many guests come simply to restore balance, find peace, and realign their lives with a more natural rhythm. You’ll leave with practical ways to bring stillness and clarity into everyday life.
What’s included in the tuition?
Your tuition includes all workshop sessions with Pico Iyer and Chip Conley, four nights of accommodations at MEA’s Rising Circle Ranch in Santa Fe, chef-prepared meals, snacks, beverages, and full use of our beautiful campus amenities. The only additional costs are travel to the venue and any personal purchases.
How do I know if I qualify for a scholarship?
MEA offers scholarships on a needs-aware basis. If cost is a barrier to attending, we encourage you to apply. Our goal is to make this experience accessible to those who would benefit most.
What if I’m not sure this workshop is right for me?
We’d love to help you decide. Schedule a free call with our team of MEA alumni advisors – they’ve attended our programs themselves and can share what to expect, answer your questions, and help you determine if Seasons of Life is the right fit for where you are now.
Still deciding or have questions?
Connect with our helpful team of Advisors
Our Advisors are all MEA alumni who can offer genuine insights into our programs. They’re passionate about helping you finding the right fit to make your next chapter the best one.
Daniel Booz
Lucas Erie
Leslie Bartlett