Explore how the art of poetry transforms pain into resilience and helps navigate life’s toughest moments.

In today's episode, I'm joined by the renowned voice actor, author, and poetry therapy facilitator Bill Ratner. Bill brings a deeply personal and insightful perspective to the episode, sharing the profound impact of early losses on his emotional and creative development. He reveals intimate stories from his life, delving into themes of grief, healing, and personal growth.

Throughout this episode, Bill reflects on his mother’s remarkable approach to discussing her terminal illness with him as a child, the role of therapy in his life, and the complex dynamics of his family after tragedy. Bill’s stories are rich with introspection, exploring how grief influenced his relationships, career, and eventual passion for writing.

Highlighting his work as a poetry therapy facilitator, Bill explains how writing provides a safe outlet for emotional expression, both for himself and for those he teaches. He discusses the process behind his poetry and the intention behind his new book, which blends dark humor and grief into a reflective narrative. His contributions offer a message of hope, emphasizing the value of creativity and connection in navigating loss.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• A life shaped by loss (0:59)
• The power of early emotional support (6:14)
• A second mom and her struggles (15:31)
• Adolescence, anger, and diverging paths (20:44)
• The healing power of poetry therapy (29:15)
• The creation of Lamenting While Doing Laps in the Lake (31:10)
• A journey from estrangement to connection (34:11)
• Closing Reflections: Embracing Creativity for Healing (37:30)

Connect with Bill Ratner:

• Website
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• X
• Get Bill’s books!

Let's Connect:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Pinterest
• The Grief and Happiness Alliance
• Book: Emily Thiroux Threatt - Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief

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What have you always wanted to learn about?

Let's Connect:

• You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance which meets weekly on Sundays by clicking here
• You can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Guide by clicking here.
• You can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here at Amazon:
• You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking here
• Request your Awaken Your Happiness Journaling Guide here

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Could setting boundaries and saying 'yes' to yourself be the key to transforming grief?

In this episode, I'm joined by transformational coach Vickie Menendez, who shares her deeply personal journey through profound loss and the powerful ways she has learned to heal. Drawing from her 35 years in self-care and trauma healing, Vickie discusses the importance of tuning into the body’s physical responses to grief and using intentional self-care practices to support emotional healing.

Throughout this episode, Vickie speaks about the personal transformation that occurs when one commits to raising their vibration to connect with lost loved ones. She shares insights from her Mind, Body, Soul, and Sacred Spaces approach, which emphasizes the ripple effect of healing and nurturing on ourselves and our environment. Through setting boundaries and embracing self-care, Vickie illustrates how grief can be transformed into a path of growth and connection, offering listeners wisdom on how to find peace and even joy after loss.

Tune in and listen to episode 286 of Grief and Happiness with Vickie Menendez to explore how listening to the body’s signals and setting boundaries can transform grief into healing and reconnection with loved ones.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Vickie finding her mission through loss (0:54)
• Writing her upcoming book as a healing process (3:06)
• The healing power of mandala art (7:06)
• Listening to the body’s grief signals (11:32)
• Breaking generational patterns of self-neglect (14:43)
• A visualization journey for grief (23:36)

Connect with Vickie Menendez:

• Website
• Mother of All Memoirs website
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

Let's Connect:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Pinterest
• The Grief and Happiness Alliance
• Book: Emily Thiroux Threatt - Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.