Flow & Voice: a free monthly note with short, practical reflections on creativity and personal growth, plus occasional behind-the-scenes glimpses into my audio storytelling journey.
My mom passed away in early October. In an instant, I went from being an overworked, hassled family caregiver to a full-time grieving daughter. I'm sure I'll write about my mom in the coming months. She was an incredibly beautiful person, with creative talents and a humble, kind spirit.
She was the most interesting person I've ever known; an ardent fan of the New Yorker magazine, jazz, independent movies, old trees, and thriller novels. A voracious reader, she never owned a television. Yes, she was one of a kind, and she came by it all so honestly. She had more love in her heart than anyone I've ever met, a love that she conveyed through her smile and backed up with her actions.
I had four years of anticipatory grief to prepare for the moment when she would pass, but you can't pay all your grief forward. Some of it you have to live with, probably for the rest of your life, and it's not linear. Grief comes in waves. Today's episode is about self-compassion, which I believe is a great ally to anyone grieving the loss of a loved one.
It may sound strange, but over the last few weeks, what's kept me company during this acute stage of grief is the following medley of activities:
- rest/sleep
- watching Columbo detective reruns
- talking to trees
- listening to the sweet, authentic voice of Buddhist teacher Vinny Ferraro
Press play and listen to how this odd combination of activities promotes a sense of self-compassion that helps me get up each morning to face another day without my mother.
This Month on Let the Verse Flow
Episode 62: Handling Waves of Grief with Self-Compassion
Episode 61: You Are Seen: Poetry & Reflection to Support Family Caregivers
đź“– Worth Exploring (Hand-Picked Resources)
Vinny Ferraro is my favorite meditation teacher. His voice is a comfort to me, and I treasure his honesty and authenticity. Vinny learned the lessons of his early childhood struggles and developed an incredible knowledge base of Buddhism which he shares freely. He believes in sharing his Dharma talks (mostly as a way of building connection) with people who might otherwise not have access to it, particularly people who were incarcerated or struggling with drug addiction. Here's a collection of some of his work that I especially enjoy.
Vinny Ferraro’s website: https://vinnyferraro.org/; see the recordings tab for his Dharma talks and guided meditations.
Vinny is often a guest on the 10% Happier podcast; here are a few of my favorite episodes. I've linked to the Apple Podcasts listening app, but you can listen on your listening app of choice by using this link.
discussion about Vinny’s favorite practices, including alignment, noting practice, and being an “empathetic witness” for yourself
discussion about Vinny’s childhood and early struggles, and how he came to find a new path through Insight meditation
discussion about how you can’t afford not to make time to tune into your life
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