“Hello, sun in my face. Hello you who made the morning and spread it over the fields…Watch, now, how I start the day in happiness, in kindness.” ~ Mary Oliver
Mary Oliver
The Sun ~ A Poem by Mary Oliver
The Sun
Mary Oliver
Have you ever seen
anything
in your life
more wonderful
than the way the sun,
every evening,
relaxed and easy,
floats toward the horizon
and into the clouds or the hills,
or the rumpled sea,
and is gone–
and how it slides again
out of the blackness,
every morning,
on the other side of the world,
like a red flower
streaming upward on its heavenly oils,
say, on a morning in early summer,
at its perfect imperial distance–
and have you ever felt for anything
such wild love–
do you think there is anywhere, in any language,
a word billowing enough
for the pleasure
that fills you,
as the sun
reaches out,
as it warms you
as you stand there,
empty-handed–
or have you too
turned from this world–
or have you too
gone crazy
for power,
for things?
Episode 152 ~ Owning Your Life: Rediscovering Yourself After Losing a Partner
In episode, 152 we explore the journey of reclaiming independence after losing a partner. Life changes dramatically when we take on roles we once shared—cooking, cleaning, budgeting, and navigating life alone in a home meant for two. Drawing inspiration from poets Anaïs Nin, Mary Oliver, and Charles Bukowski, we reflect on the power of self-reliance, finding peace in silence, and embracing change.
Discover how owning your independence can lead to growth, resilience, and blooming into the best version of yourself. Learn to shut out external noise, navigate grief on your terms, and rediscover your “one wild and precious life.”
If you’re navigating grief, seeking empowerment, or looking for inspiration to embrace life’s changes, this episode is for you.
Navigating Grief and Transformation Through Liminal Space
Podcast Description: Episode 147 – Navigating Grief and Transformation Through Liminal Space
In Episode 147, we delve into the transformative journey of grief, exploring the concept of liminal space—that in-between phase where we experience profound changes and personal growth. As I share my own grieving story, starting with the moments before I learned of my loved one’s terminal diagnosis, we’ll uncover how grief begins and evolves, often unexpectedly. This episode reflects on the challenging, unsteady journey through liminal spaces, where we lose our old identities and face new, sometimes uncomfortable realities.
Drawing inspiration from Octavio Paz’s poem Between Going and Staying and Mary Oliver’s Morning Poem, we discuss the importance of embracing this space for what it teaches us about resilience, creativity, and transformation. If you’re navigating grief, loss, or major life changes, join us as we explore how each step through liminal space brings us closer to healing, hope, and a new beginning. Never quit, never give up—good things are on the horizon.
Keywords: grief journey, liminal space, personal growth, resilience, grieving process, transformation, Octavio Paz, Mary Oliver, hope after loss, navigating life changes.
Fresh Air for the Soul: Lessons in Grief and Renewal
Podcast Title: Journey from Grief to Healing – Episode 138
Description:
In this episode, we explore the power of refreshing your home and soul. Just as opening the windows allows fresh air to cleanse your living space, it’s important to open the windows to your spirit, especially when coping with grief. Discover how embracing change and breathing new life into your emotional world can lighten your burdens and help you find peace. Drawing inspiration from Mary Oliver’s powerful poem, Journey, we discuss the courage it takes to leave behind the voices that hold us back and find our own path. Are you ready to save the only life you can save?
Keywords: grief recovery, emotional healing, fresh air for the soul, mental refreshment, opening windows, Mary Oliver Journey, spiritual renewal, overcoming grief, life transformation, grief and healing.
How Gratitude Can Heal: Lessons from Nature and Poetry
In this inspiring episode, we explore the profound power of gratitude and how it can transform our lives. Set on a beautiful September day in South Texas, we reflect on the everyday gifts that surround us—like a gentle breeze, a gecko changing color, or a delicious cup of coffee. These small, often overlooked moments hold immense value.
Through the wisdom of poets like Mary Oliver and Rumi, we dive deep into how gratitude helps us heal from grief. We’ll discuss how moving toward gratitude brings peace and helps us see the loved ones we’ve lost as eternal gifts that remain with us always. We also explore how gratitude fosters humility, strengthens our relationships, and allows love to flow freely into and out of our lives.
Join us as we navigate the journey from grief to healing, uncovering the beauty in the everyday and embracing love as the greatest gift of all.
Keywords: gratitude, healing, gifts, grief, love, Mary Oliver, Rumi, humility, peace, spiritual growth, South Texas, poetry
Today’s Inspiration ~ How to Start the Day
“Hello, sun in my face. Hello you who made the morning and spread it over the fields . . . Watch, now, how I start the day in happiness,
in kindness.”
Think About It
“One day you finally knew / what you had to do, and began . . .” (Mary Oliver). Imagine knowing what life was calling you to do and the call was a roaring noise you couldn’t dismiss. Would you cast aside all the distractions, naysayers, doubters, and angry voices that try to dissuade you from beginning? You’ll know when you know and when you know you are caught in a zero – sum game where there are only two choices. Either answer the call with a resounding yes, or make an excuse and turn away from it. I think we hear this call numerous times during our lives. It may be asking something different of us. It may be challenging us. it may be asking us to push boundaries we never believed we could push. Are you ready to begin?