A Taste of the Rich Life

Everywhere you look, Cheryl's ME POWER has kept her looking and feeling young, vibrant, and healthy. Join me in celebrating another year of Cheryl Rich's life!

Happy Birthday, Cheryl!

Today, I am sharing a little bit about the dynamic and determined Cheryl Rich.

Who is Cheryl Rich?

I call her Auntie. She is one of the most real people I know—always being herself in every setting, regardless of what others think. There is no pretense. No facade. No small talk.

According to her website, Cheryl answers the question as follows:

“Pregnant at 11 years old, incarcerated by 25, and burying her only child at 30. As a clinical psychologist, Cheryl has dedicated her life to helping others discover their power and overcome unthinkable odds. Pain does not discriminate, therefore whether she is conducting therapy for at-risk youth or white-collar housewives, Cheryl has the uncanny ability to provide much-needed hope to the hopeless. As an Executive Producer and Co-Host of the talk show series ‘The House’ on FOX Soul, she lives to inspire.”

Listen to a 28-second clip of Cheryl’s interview on the benefits of Me Power, where aspects of her story are highlighted in “The Power of Knowing Who You Are” (Chapter 3).

How did we meet?

After several months of writing the first draft of Me Power, I found myself searching for ways to turn multiple disjointed sections into one cohesive idea. I was a bit unclear as to how I would succinctly discuss the messy idea of empowerment. The word itself is broad and vague, easily abused, and can be interpreted in many different ways. It was difficult for me to put a finger on what it actually meant. “Empowerment” has become a catch-all term for self-improvement and positivity, but there are so many different ideas about what it entails.

I joined Clubhouse in late December 2020, an audio-only mobile application released during the pandemic, and started a group to discuss The New York Times article, “Black LinkedIn Is Thriving. Does LinkedIn Have a Problem With That?” While on Clubhouse listening to a discussion about the writing process in another room, I heard Cheryl speaking about her efforts to publish her first book.

Within one minute, I could hear how powerful her voice was; even through the tears she beautifully wept, explaining her struggles with writing and publishing. All at once, all of the ideas that had been swimming around in my mind and early ramblings to friends (Aleen & Micah Jendian, Cherida Boyles, Dave Foss, India Nixon, Jennifer Olin, and Jill Laing, thank you) came together to form a complete picture. I could SEE Cheryl, an example of what it means to be comfortable in your own skin, confident in your own abilities, and unapologetic about who you are and what you stand for. My first Me Power Moment, where with a snap of my fingers, everything clicked and felt right within.

I requested to connect with Cheryl off Clubhouse, and she graciously accepted. We met on Zoom while I was nursing Donovan, my youngest son, who had just turned eight months. Even though I was not yet able to write about Me Power as clearly as I wanted at the time, Cheryl understood me perfectly. Her lived experience was an embodied illustration of my research, linguistic analysis, and redefinition of “empower.” Talk about a Me Power Moment!

In June 2021, I was in Los Angeles to lay my grandfather to rest at Inglewood Park Cemetery. For the first time, Cheryl and I met in person!

Cheryl Rich and Dr. LaNysha Adams at LAX in June 2021

Three ⚡️ in 31 Seconds

⚡️When was your last Me Power Moment? Said another way, when was the last time you experienced “mutual empowerment” and how did it happen?

⚡️ As Cheryl says in the clip above, “Your birthright of peace of mind is when you understand you have Me Power” (see also, page 77 of Me Power). Knowledge of Self + Principled Action (Embrace Your Barriers, Focus on Your Strengths, Speak for Your Life, Choose Your Guide(s), and Ritualize Your Reflection) = Me Power.

⚡️ See Cheryl’s interview with co-hosts Claudia, Al, and Funky, where she talks about her award-winning television show on FOX Soul, “The House,” and shares a bit about her journey of being a young mother, and her encounter with substance abuse.