Quiet Rebellion: The Art of Achieving Your Dreams in Midlife
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.
Stacy Peralta
Award-winning filmmaker, artist, and former pro skateboarder
What if the most rebellious thing you could do was to go after your dreams and create a life that makes you truly, deeply happy?
When did you start choosing certainty over your dreams? It probably wasn't a single moment. More like a gradual trade: practical decisions that made sense at the time, responsibilities that couldn't wait, loved ones relying on you, a life that needed building. You did what you had to do and you showed up for what mattered – and you should be proud of everything you accomplished in the process.
But lately you’ve felt a growing longing inside you. A pull to do something different. Something unexpected.
Something that makes you feel alive again.
The voice in your head says: Be realistic. Don't rock the boat. You should be grateful for what you have.
But that voice isn't protecting you – it's keeping you small. Your dreams didn't disappear.
They're waiting for you to be ready to bring them to life.
Maybe you're worried that pursuing that longing means blowing up everything you've built.
Or you’re worried that you've waited too long – and that the opportunity of realizing your dreams has long since passed you by.
But what if the real risk is spending the next decade wondering what might have been?
That longing for something better isn't a distraction from your real life. It's pointing you toward what comes next.
Are you ready to discover where it leads?
Listen to Chip and Stacy Peralta on the Midlife Chrysalis podcast:
From Skateboarding Icon to Modern Elder: Stacy Peralta
You don't need to blow up your life. You need a guide to who understands the art of reinvention and can help you make your dreams a reality.
This summer at our beautiful Baja campus, one of our most popular guest faculty, Stacy Peralta returns with fresh new content exploring the art of reinvention, the importance of developing a beginner’s mind, how to reacquaint yourself with your dreams, and the pathways to achieve them.
A legendary skateboarder, entrepreneur, award-winning filmmaker, and now a well-respected painter, Stacy Peralta has spent his entire life reinventing himself in full view of the world, often long before “reinvention” became a buzzword.
His creative path has never been linear: it’s been intuitive, instinct-driven, and guided by a willingness to follow the thread of what feels alive, even when it means letting go of a previous identity. From shaping modern skate culture to telling stories that changed how we see youth, rebellion, and artistry, to now expressing himself through paint, Stacy embodies a truth many of us forget in midlife: dreams don’t fade.
They transform. They mature. They ask different things of us.
And sometimes the most important dreams are the ones we only become ready for later.
Together with Teddi Dean, MEA’s Head of Mindfulness & Movement, Stacy will share his proven techniques for personal reinvention, as well as the mindset, risks, missteps, and awakenings that have shaped a lifetime of creative evolution.
Five days to reconnect with your dreams and learn how to pursue them
During your five days in an intimate small-group setting with Stacy and Teddi, you will;
enough to hear the subtle pull of what wants to come next
the foundation of real reinvention
and outdated identities
with steadiness rather than fear
that support purposeful change
that feels true, grounded, and alive
who are also stepping into the unknown with intention
Stacy offers a rare, candid look at what it means to keep moving forward when the world thinks it already knows who you are – and how to reclaim authorship of your next chapter with courage, humor, and heart.
This Workshop
Is For You If…
Meet Your Faculty
Staying open and vulnerable is key to remaining in touch with our dreams yet being open and vulnerable becomes challenging as an adult. As we get older we start wanting certainty over dreams and guarantees over unknowing. The week-long class in Baja is a refresher course in getting us back in touch with ourselves and our dreams so that we can move forward with enthusiasm and purpose.
~ Stacy Peralta ~
Stacy Peralta
Legendary Z-Boys Skateboarder | Award-Winning Documentary Filmmaker | Artist and Creative Reinventor
Stacy Peralta didn't just ride the wave of skateboarding culture _ he helped create it. As a founding member of the legendary Z-Boys in the 1970s, he revolutionized skateboarding by bringing a surfer's fluid style to concrete, transforming the sport from a pastime into an art form. Later, as founder of the Bones Brigade, he mentored the next generation of skateboarding legends and built one of the most influential teams in the sport's history.
When he could have stayed comfortable in skateboarding, Stacy walked away to tell stories. His films – including the critically acclaimed Dogtown and Z-Boys and Riding Giants – earned him a Directors Guild nomination and changed how we understand youth culture, rebellion, and the creative impulse. He brought the same instinct-driven approach to filmmaking that he'd brought to skating: follow what feels alive, even when you don't know where it leads.
Now in his sixties, Stacy has taken up painting – not as a hobby, but as a serious artistic practice. His work has been exhibited and collected, proving once again that reinvention isn't about starting over. It's about staying curious enough to let the next thing emerge. He holds a space that blends creativity with presence, instinct with insight, movement with reflection.Supported By the MEA Team
Teddi Dean
MEA's Head of Mindfulness & Movement | Former Bone Brigade team member
Teddi Dean is the Head of Mindfulness and Movement here at MEA. He offers a fun, accessible and wisdom filled approach to both meditation and yoga. Teddi loves working with beginners and has a gift in showing that each and every one of us is capable of dropping into stillness. Te ...
View BioBarbara Tint
Content Facilitator
Barbara Tint, PhD, is a social/political psychologist, university professor, global trainer and published author. She has lived all around the world, bringing a deep international and intercultural lens to all that she does. She is a trained improviser and award winning storytell ...
View BioDaniel Weinzveg
Experience Facilitator
Daniel holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Development, and is a certified breath coach and yoga instructor. For over 10 years, he has supported diverse individuals, teams and organizations to create positive changes – improving communication, collaboration, and ...
View BioWhat you'll gain
Clarity on what you actually want
Not the dream that sounds impressive or makes sense to others, but the one that won't leave you alone. You'll learn to distinguish between inherited expectations and genuine calling, so you can move forward with confidence instead of second-guessing.
Permission to start without having it all figured out
Beginner's mind isn't about being naive—it's about being spacious enough to let something new emerge. You'll learn how to take meaningful action even when you don't have all the answers, trusting instinct and intuition to guide you forward.
A framework for creative reinvention
Stacy will share the mindset and practical tools he's used across decades of transformation—from skateboarding to filmmaking to painting. You'll leave with approaches you can apply immediately, not abstract concepts that sound good but go nowhere.
A community of fellow rebels
You'll spend five days with people who also feel that pull toward something different. These connections often become the support system that helps you actually follow through when you get home and real life kicks back in.
Our Agenda at a Glance
Monday:
4:00 PM: Arrival / Check-In
5:30 PM: Welcome Reception & Dinner
7:00 PM: Orientation Session
Tuesday:
7:30 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:
7:30 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
Thursday:
7:30 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
Friday:
7:30 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
6:00 PM: Celebration Dinner
Saturday:
7:00 AM: Breakfast
11:00 AM: Checkout / Departure
Sunday:
*Please note that not all "classroom time" activities take place in the actual classroom.
*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 on Baja’s sun-soaked shores
El Pescadero Resort | Baja, Mexico
A stunning oceanfront property offering all of the luxuries and amenities of a luxury hotel with beautiful beaches perfect for swimming or surfing. Located on the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, just a short drive from Todos Santos, the Pueblo Magico .
PLUS: Gourmet from-scratch meals, snacks, and drinks featuring locally sourced ingredients from our organic garden, made by our in-house chefs.
Your workshop also includes:
It’s not about burning it all down. It's about finally building what makes you come alive.
You've spent long enough playing it safe and choosing guarantees over the unknown. But deep down, you know that longing to follow your dreams to see where they might lead you isn't going away. And the reality is, waiting for the perfect moment to come along doesn’t make anything easier. It just means staying stuck and dealing with more of the same while life keeps passing you by.
Five days in Baja with Stacy Peralta and Teddi Dean gives you what you actually need to move forward:
You don't need more time. You don't need more certainty. You need to start.
Your dreams didn't disappear—they've been waiting for you to be ready.
Book your spot today
Quiet Rebellion: The Art of Achieving Your Dreams in Midlife
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this workshop for?
This workshop is for anyone who’s built a successful life but feels a growing pull toward something different – a creative project, a dream you’ve shelved, or a version of yourself that got buried along the way. You don’t need to be in crisis. Many participants are doing well by most measures but feel like they’re going through the motions and want to reclaim that sense of being alive.
Do I need to have a specific dream or project in mind to attend?
Not at all. Some people arrive with a clear creative pursuit they want to explore. Others just know they want something different but can’t name it yet. The workshop helps you reconnect with what’s actually calling you – whether that’s rediscovering an old passion or recognizing something entirely new.
Do I need to be "creative" or artistic to benefit from this workshop?
No. While Stacy’s journey has included skateboarding, filmmaking, and painting, this workshop is about the art of reinvention and living authentically – not about becoming an artist. The creative tools and mindset Stacy teaches apply to any dream or direction, whether it’s entrepreneurial, personal, professional, or creative.
What if I'm worried this means I have to quit my job or upend my life?
This workshop isn’t about blowing everything up. It’s about finding ways to honor what’s calling you without abandoning what you’ve built. Stacy’s approach is about following what feels alive – sometimes that means a dramatic shift, but often it means bringing more creativity, purpose, and aliveness into the life you already have.
Do I need to know about skateboarding or Stacy's films to participate?
Not at all. Stacy uses his experiences as examples and teaching tools, but you don’t need any background knowledge. What matters is your willingness to explore your own path to reinvention with curiosity and openness.
What's included in the tuition?
Your tuition includes all programming, five nights of accommodations at our beautiful Baja campus, chef-prepared meals, snacks, drinks, and access to all workshop activities and amenities. The only additional costs are transportation to Baja and any personal incidentals.
How do I know if I qualify for a partial scholarship?
We offer partial scholarships on a needs-aware basis. Our goal is to make MEA accessible to those who may face financial barriers to attending. If you’re experiencing financial stress that could prevent your participation, we encourage you to apply for assistance.
What if I'm not sure if this workshop is right for me?
We’re happy to help. Book a free call with our team, and we can help you decide based on your current situation, what you’re hoping to explore, and whether this is the right timing for you.
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
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!