Episode 30: True Grit with Cheryl Oreglia

Posted on by Wynne Leon

I’ve been trying to pinpoint the reason that I enjoy Cheryl Oreglia’s writing so much, or at least the top three. Is it because she makes me laugh even when delivering hard truths? Or because her writing sparkles with the delight of someone who loves life? Or because she’s willing to dig deep to find the nuggets of wisdom that lie beneath the everyday experience?

Hard to pick – so let’s say all three. If you haven’t read a copy of her book, Grow Damn It!: The Feeding and Nurturing of Life I highly recommend it. It’s the type of book that will make you feel lighter, wiser, and more loving all at once. At on this episode of the Sharing the Heart of the Matter podcast, Vicki and I are with Cheryl and she gives us a wonderful taste.

Cheryl reads an essay from her book, Grow Damn It, called True Grit and we talk about what we develop as we grow through life – the ability to get up and dust ourselves off again and again. In her charming and funny way, Cheryl makes us realize that each failure is a delightful opportunity.

We talk about how Cheryl found a letter she’d written to her mom, but never delivered, a few years after her mom passed and the reluctance to open it. We touch on that feeling that beckons us to think back to the moment we were before our parents died and the bittersweetness of crossing back to that time.

But for each increment of wisdom and perspective we gain, there are many things we also get to lose as we get older. Vicki and I ask Cheryl about the most delightful things she’s found useful to leave behind in middle-age. Cheryl talks about letting go of perfectionism, over-apologizing, and over-pleasing and using the space to focus instead on family and faith.

This is a great conversation with Cheryl, a wonderful and authentic writer and essayist. So, of course, we ask what she’ll write next, and we talk about a perspective on retirement that we rarely hear about. This is a wonderful episode full of love, laughter, and a little risk. I know you’ll love it.

Episode 132: South Side Memories with Gloria Golec – Sharing the Heart of the Matter

In this episode, hosts Wynne Leon and Vicki Atkinson engage with author Gloria Golec about her memoir, South Side Memories. The conversation explores themes of family, immigrant experiences, and the power of storytelling. Gloria shares insights on how her Polish heritage and family dynamics shaped her identity and writing journey. The discussion emphasizes the importance of preserving personal narratives, the emotional connections that come from sharing stories, and provides the inspiration for writing our own stories.TakeawaysThe book is a reflection of the American dream and immigrant experiences.Storytelling helps maintain connections to roots and loved ones.Writing can be a therapeutic process for personal growth.Family dynamics, especially gender roles, play a significant role in shaping identity.Cherished memories can provide clarity and understanding of past relationships.Cultural heritage is often intertwined with food traditions and family gatherings.Teaching experiences can influence one's writing and storytelling approach.Writing a memoir can be an emotional journey that brings past relationships closer.Encouragement to start writing by focusing on one story at a time.Sharing stories can inspire others and create a sense of community.Links for this episode:⁠How To Share Snapshots of the American Dream transcript⁠⁠Gloria Golec's profile on Eckhartz Press⁠South Side Memories on ⁠Eckhartz Press⁠From the hosts:Vicki’s book about resilience and love: ⁠Surviving Sue⁠; Blog: ⁠https://victoriaponders.com/⁠My book about my beloved father: ⁠Finding My Father’s Faith⁠
  1. Episode 132: South Side Memories with Gloria Golec
  2. Episode 131: Attacking the Dragon with Marc Ross
  3. Episode 130: Take Me Back to Chicago with Doug E. Jones
  4. Episode 129: Wish I Was Here with Ilsa Rey
  5. Episode 128: This is Your Body on Trauma with Meg Bowman

Search (and subscribe!) for Sharing the Heart of the Matter on Apple, Amazon, Spotify or Pocket Casts OR Listen to on Anchor Episode 30: True Grit with Cheryl Oreglia

Links for this Episode:

Episode 30: True Grit with Cheryl Oreglia on Anchor

Grow Damn It!: The Feeding and Nurturing of Life by Cheryl Oreglia

Cheryl’s blog: Living in the Gap

27 thoughts on “Episode 30: True Grit with Cheryl Oreglia”

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  3. Thank you, Wynne and Vicki. This was such a fun experience. Thank you for hosting me and sharing some fun and poignant stories from Grow Damn It! Always a joy to chat with you and Vicki, share some laughter and our musings, stumbling on insights and new perspectives. Just wonderful! Thank you, much love and hugs, C

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    3. Hi Crystal, I am thrilled to have vindicated your stance on loading a dishwasher. It is my deep-seated belief that dishwashers have cycles just like us, and mine just went through a rough bout of perimenopause. I told Larry we’ll need to eat out for the next few months and give the old girl a break. Thanks so much for listening. Hugs, C

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  7. I knew I’d enjoy this interview before it started. Cheryl’s blog has exactly the right amount of wit and wisdom, and her spoken voice reminds me of her written voice. Funny and authentic! It was fun to listen to her read this chapter and let her hit the sarcastic notes, especially those pokes at Larry. 😊

    I totally get the notion of “what matters most” in the time that we have left. It’s not like we’ve (we’ve as in people my age) got one foot in the grave, yet with age, I feel more fearless with an attitude of “quit screwing around, and get ‘er done” (I realize I lifted the second half of that quote from Larry the Cable Guy)—Wait! Is that Cheryl’s husband?🤣

    Write that retirement book! My wife and I laugh at the two most common questions we get in retirement:
    1. What do you do all day?
    2. Are you driving each other nuts yet?

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    1. I love those gentle pokes at Larry too – there’s something that feels so good-natured about them but also true! And your comment that “you feel more fearless” with age. So good. Thank you so much for listening, Pete!

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    2. Hi Pete, what a fabulous and generous comment. I can’t thank you enough because your words inspire me to keep writing, to keep searching for those elusive answers, and to do it all with a healthy sense of humor. Doing a podcast with Wynne and Vicki is like joining your friends for lunch. What a pleasure it is to work with those two ladies. They put you at ease, always moving the discussion in a positive direction, and it feels seamless.

      You crack me up, I have often referred to Larry as Larry the Cable Guy! They might be related. I totally agree about making the most of the time we have left and doing it with a “fearless attitude.” I think you nailed it.

      And now I have to write that book because those two questions need answering! Right? Because he is driving me nuts no matter what I’m doing all day!

      Thanks again, Pete, for the lovely comments! Much appreciated, hugs, C

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