Author and creator of 6-Word Memoirs Larry Smith presents...

Tell Me More: Crafting Your Story at Midlife

Jul 7 - Jul 12, 2025 in Santa Fe, USA

Led by: Larry Smith, Darby Rose, Daniel 'DL' Landes

Financial aid is available. Apply Here.

Unlock your ability to tell captivating stories and succinctly communicate your truth

You have a powerful and compelling story inside you.

And it’s during times of reflection, transition, and reinvention – just like those we experience in midlife – that knowing our stories and having confidence in our ability to communicate them effectively is needed most.

But getting clear on exactly what your personal story is and how best to tell it is often easier said than done.

After all, there’s so much you *could* say… how do you clarify the aspects of your story that matter most and communicate them in a way that resonates with others – especially if you’ve never considered yourself as “a writer”?

By using proven tools that can help you tap into your innate creativity and find the courage and the words that will bring your most impactful truths to life in a way that makes people say, “Tell me more.”

In this powerful storytelling workshop co-facilitated with Six-Word Memoirs creator Larry Smith, you’ll be invited on a deep-dive exploration of your life’s stories and gain proven tools that will increase your capacity for self-expression and empower you to envision and articulate the stories of your next exciting chapter.

What you’ll gain

Through fun and powerful activities designed to unlock your creativity, you will:

Reflect on the stories that have defined your past and unlock the stories that guide your future
Explore the gift of efficient, authentic storytelling to connect more deeply with others
Reconnect with the too-often untapped power of “catching” (hearing) and “releasing” (telling) stories
Engage with a community of storytellers in an open, energetic, and safe space for feedback
Cultivate the ability to “flex” your storytelling skills to serve you in many of life’s moments, from a family reunion to a first date, a toast to a eulogy
Gain the courage to tell your stories with confidence and enthusiasm, without fear of judgment.

You will leave this workshop with a deeper understanding of who you are and what matters most – along with powerful tools you can use for the rest of your life to compellingly communicate your stories with others.

Meet your faculty

Larry Smith

Creator of 6-Word Memoirs

Author | Speaker | Editor | Founder of SMITH Magazine

Larry Smith is founder and editor of the personal storytelling community SMITH Magazine and creator of the Six-Word Memoir project, a creative short-form to unlock the essence of who you are and what matters most, along with the bestselling book series based on the project.

An original content innovator, Larry has built his career around inspiring people, young and old, to tell their stories in fresh and enriching ways. Described in Oprah Magazine as “on a quest to spark self-expression in everyone,” his passion is to help people tell stories, individually and in groups, playfully and productively.

Larry is also a contributing editor of ESPN Magazine and has been the articles editor of Men's Journal, executive editor of Yahoo Internet Life, a founding editor of P.O.V., as well an editor at Dave Eggers' Might magazine. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Popular Science, Men's Health, Salon, Slate, and elsewhere.

Meet your MEA facilitators

In addition to the powerful sessions conducted by Larry, you will be guided through the core MEA curriculum by our faculty members:

Darby Rose is a multidisciplinary artist, arts administrator, cook, actor and animal lover, currently living in Santa Fe, NM. Born into a family of travelers in Austin, TX, she’s lived more places than she can count — all over Texas, Boston, Jackson WY, Baltimore and Los Angeles, to name a few; and outside the US in Peru and Italy. After a long stint in Marfa, TX, the vast, mountainous horizons and monsoons of New Mexico captured her. This travelers life has built in Darby a deep curiosity and compassion for others, and a gratitude for the beautiful complexities of the human condition, with its myriad expressions of love, humor, struggle and strength.

Before joining MEA, Daniel “DL” Landes spent decades as a restauranteur, author, and publisher. As the owner of multiple restaurants in Denver, CO – and then a hostel in Mexico – he dedicated himself to creating environments where people could work out their humanity while eating and drinking (which is why he fits in so well at MEA).

Now relocated to Santa Fe, DL says that “living in the Galisteo Basin impresses a unique and humbling perspective. Under the expansive, enchanted New Mexican sky I can feel so small and so big. I made a career of kicking up dust; living in the storm until the storm lived in me. When the dust settled two guideposts appeared: Spend more nights under the stars; provide a service.”

You will appreciate his dedication to creating memorable experiences during your time in Santa Fe.

This workshop is for you if...

You’re looking for a creative and effective way to better understand and express yourself

You want to hone your storytelling skills as a critical tool for connection

You’re letting go of old stories as you enter midlife and are wondering, what’s next?

You’re ready to explore the stories of your next chapter and learn how to compellingly communicate them

You have to tell your story to a new audience – job interviewers or new clients, perhaps? – and want to make sure you capture their attention and interest

You’re eager to gain valuable tools for creativity and self-expression that you will use for the rest of your life

Do this powerful work on our beautiful regenerative ranch in Santa Fe

Santa Fe, USA

Rising Circle Ranch

An upscale regenerative ranch featuring traditional Pueblo architecture and spanning nearly 2,600 acres of wildlife, hiking trails in the arroyo, with ancient petroglyphs, and awe-inspiring beauty. Close to historic Santa Fe, an artisan’s mecca.

Big-sky desert country
Breathtaking nature
Interaction with horses and donkeys
Evenings around the campfire
Star-gazing

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” – Maya Angelou

Our identities are all composed of stories — the tough, the terrific, and the tangled. And it’s by sharing our stories that we are able to cultivate deep empathy and understanding and forge meaningful relationships with others.

This workshop is for anyone who wants to tap into storytelling to better understand and express themselves, while honing a critical tool for connection.

Are you ready to clarify your story and learn how to communicate it powerfully and succinctly?

People come for the workshops,
but they stay for the community

This is truly MEA’s “secret sauce” and something you can only experience in person: the powerful connections you will make, not only with your fellow participants and the incredible MEA faculty, but also the deeper sense of connection you will feel to your own inner self and the natural world around you.

Research into aging shows that your relationships play a HUGE role in your health and wellbeing later in life. At MEA, you will make deep and lasting connections and become part of a larger community that will make your life richer and more meaningful.

Many of our alumni cohorts have stayed in close touch for years after their workshop and we have a growing number of local alumni chapters all over the world. It’s a joy for us to see them continuing to offer each other community, friendship, and support as they create thriving midlives for themselves. So if you have been feeling at all disconnected or isolated on your journey, we would love to have you join us!

Have we mentioned the food?

The MEA experience is designed in part by Chip Conley, a world-renowned boutique hotelier, which means the food is amazing.

All of the ingredients are locally sourced, organic, and made from scratch in our kitchens by hand-picked chefs. The delicious breakfasts, lunches and dinners will leave you feeling nourished inside and out – not to mention the blended drinks made with fresh fruit and other top-shelf ingredients.

Each retreat center has multiple kitchens that always have snacks and beverages available. At MEA, we believe that thriving is delicious!

Your Workshop Includes

5 days and nights of lodging at our boutique luxury retreat center in Baja or Santa Fe with all of your meals, snacks, drinks and other amenities included
Daily sessions and experiential activities to help you connect with your inner self, envision your desired experience, and release what no longer serves you
Meditation covering a range of practices to soothe your nervous system and help you cultivate greater mindfulness and presence in the moment.

Movement to get the energy flowing and build your strength and agility as you chart your course forward to the life you want to live.
Incredible bonding experiences with the most amazing humans you’ll ever meet.
Three delicious, chef-prepared meals plus snacks throughout the day prepared from scratch with the freshest local ingredients.
Festive gatherings to cultivate connection and celebrate the joy and beauty of life.

Tuition starts at $4,000

Ready to start your journey?