grief

New Podcast: You Can’t Return Grief at the Self-Checkout

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What do a mistaken tea purchase and a 100-degree South Texas day have to do with grief? Everything. In this reflective episode, Ray unpacks how life, unlike a supermarket, doesn’t offer exchanges or refunds—and how we must keep moving forward through the world grief leaves us in. Guided by the poems of Theodore Roethke and Jane Hirshfield, we discover that taking our waking slow, learning as we go, and finding deep resilience is how we begin to heal. Pour yourself something cold (check the label), and join us on a poetic, personal journey of strength, sorrow, and survival.

5 Salient Points from the Episode:

  • Life isn’t like a supermarket: You can’t return the parts you didn’t want—grief stays with you.
  • Theodore Roethke’s poem “The Waking” offers a gentle mantra: “We learn by going where we have to go.”
  • The importance of movement: Both literal and emotional—“mobility is movement” applies to healing, too.
  • Jane Hirshfield’s poem “Optimism” reminds us of the inherent resilience in all living things, including ourselves.
  • Even in grief, growth is possible: Slowly, painfully, and beautifully—we unpeel layers, step by step, toward life.

New Podcast: The Grief Learning Curve (No, There’s No Manual)

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Grief doesn’t come with a handbook, but it does come with hard choices, unexpected emotions, and a steep learning curve. In this episode of Journey from Grief to Healing, Ray reflects on what it means to survive loss, grow through it, and rise stronger—like a duckling navigating life without a guide, or a warrior standing tall after every fall. With inspiration from poets Christina Rossetti and William Wordsworth, you’ll be reminded that you can do this… and you’re not alone.

New Podcast: You Can’t Go Back. But You Can Move Forward—With Grit and Grace

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In this episode of Journey from Grief to Healing, Ray shares a personal story of leaving home at 18 to join the army—and how that pivotal moment taught him a truth we all live: life is a series of transitions, and none of us are ever truly “settled.”

From small life changes to monumental grief, the way we navigate transitions defines our happiness. Using poignant reflections and a healthy dose of old neighborhood wisdom (yes, Moxie makes an appearance), Ray explores how grief fits into the larger arc of human change—and how embracing the ride is the only way to eventually arrive at peace.

Whether you’re adjusting to life after loss or simply riding the wave of another big shift, this episode reminds you: You’re not alone. You’re not broken. You’re in transition—and that means hope is walking with you.

New Podcast: Grief, Grace, and the Greatest Adventure Ahead

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In this deeply moving episode of Journey from Grief to Healing, we hear from a grieving husband who discovers that life still has a plan for him—even after unimaginable loss. With humility and grace, he shares how staying emotionally “at the cemetery” would have meant a slow fade into emptiness. But life, in its mysterious and fierce kindness, shook him awake. Anchored in poetry by Rainer Maria Rilke and Adelaide Crapsey, and inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s wisdom, he shows us that grief is not the end of the story—it’s a passage. Through raw honesty and unexpected humor, he reminds us that love doesn’t vanish; it transforms. The hurt we carry honors those we’ve lost. Our courage to keep going, to live fully, is the greatest tribute we can offer. This episode is a heartfelt call to rejoin the flow of life, to find adventure again, and to trust that joy can still unfold—one brave step at a time.

New Podcast: From Grief to Choosing to Live

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In this episode, we reflect on how grief shifts when we stop asking why and begin to accept what is. Inspired by Paulo Coelho’s wisdom and poems by Bruce Kiskaddon and Mary Oliver, we explore how choosing to live—fully and courageously—transforms our pain into purpose, wonder, and connection.

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Podcast: Bouncing Back from Loss: The Power of Resilience

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Grief can feel like it robs us of our strength, leaving us lost and uncertain. But deep within, resilience waits to be rediscovered. In this episode of Journey from Grief to Healing, Dr. Ray Calabrese explores how life’s challenges—whether childhood falls, heartbreak, or profound loss—shape our ability to rise again. Drawing on poetry, personal reflections, and the wisdom of resilience, this episode reminds us that healing is possible. Your journey isn’t over, and your best days are still ahead. Tune in and take the next step toward renewal, hope, and peace.

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Podcast: Overcoming Grief: Lessons from Poetry on Perseverance & Courage

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In Season 2, Episode 14 of Journey from Grief to Healing, Dr. Ray Calabrese explores perseverance as our secret weapon in grief. Each triumph over adversity strengthens us, proving that we are more resilient than we realize. Drawing from the wisdom of Elizabeth Edwards, Pablo Neruda, Anne Sexton, and contemporary poet Quiet Wolf, this episode reflects on the transformative power of resilience in the face of loss.

Grief is a journey through darkness, much like Neruda’s metaphorical lily blooming against all odds. It is in choosing to continue, even in the smallest acts—getting out of bed, cooking a meal, or facing another day—that we reclaim our lives. Sexton’s poem Courage reminds us that resilience is found in everyday moments, proving that even in sorrow, we have the strength to move forward.

Join Dr. Calabrese in this inspiring exploration of perseverance, healing, and the courage to keep living. The victory is already yours—just keep going.

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Podcast ~ From Heartbreak to Healing: Transforming Grief into Strengt

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In this heartfelt episode of Journey from Grief to Healing, Dr. Ray Calabrese guides listeners through the transformative process of overcoming deep sorrow and loss. Drawing on personal stories and evocative poetry, the episode explores how shifting focus from personal pain to the interconnected beauty of life can spark the journey toward healing. Whether you’re mourning the loss of a loved one or struggling with heartbreak, this podcast offers compassionate insights and practical wisdom to help you rediscover hope, embrace resilience, and take the first steps toward a renewed life.

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Acting As If – A Path Through Grief (Season 2, Episode 6)

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🎙️ Acting As If – A Path Through Grief (Season 2, Episode 6)

Feeling stuck in grief? Imagine being trapped, like a car sinking into the sand, unable to move forward. In this episode, we explore the power of “acting as if”—a transformative mindset that helps us take small, intentional steps toward healing, even when we don’t feel ready.

Through real-life stories, psychological insights, and practical strategies, you’ll learn how simple actions—like volunteering, taking a walk, or reaching out—can shift your emotions and guide you toward hope. Plus, we close with Adam Zagajewski’s profound poem Try to Praise the Mutilated World, reminding us that even in sorrow, life still offers beauty.

🎧 Listen now and discover how to gently pull yourself out of grief—one small step at a time.

Episode Title: Through Grief and Suffering: Finding Light in the Darkness

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