Embracing Grief

Kate Vosti joins a conversation with the Embracing Grief Podcast.Don't let the length of this conversation scare you off! There is rich discussion throughout.  Hear Kate's story as she relates her experiences with medical surgeries, scoliosis, death of her father, loss of a home, and most importantly how all of these moments in her life have brought her to her current work- helping people move energy through the body to find healing and empowerment.Kate shares her lived wisdom and expertise in psychosomatic education, dance, movement medicine, leadership studies, and buddhist philosophy.  Recorded 4 Oct, 2022Connect with Kate @rhythm.roseor through her websitehttps://www.rhythmrose.love/

Trish and Lori catch up for the first time in over a month.  Trish shares the unexpected solitude she experienced over the holidays. She talks through how she's working through the emotions and processing the events over the last 6 months with her hip surgery, returning to work, getting through the holidays, and in some ways sitting in a victim mindset.  With her Law of Attraction Planner in hand, Trish is looking at what she wants to get out of this new year.  She's getting back into the routine of things by starting a "75 Medium" routine.Lori spent the holidays with her family in snowy northern NY.  She reflects on her trip and what she's realizing about what happens when she gets out of her routine.  Like Trish, she's dusted off her Law of Attraction Planner.  (not a sponsor- yet.) While getting back into a routine is important, she's also aware that a "75" program doesn't quite fit what she needs in a day.  She's creating her own checklist of "75-ish" with more water, walking, reading, and journaling.The challenge for this episode send a text to three friends:This feels like a weird question to ask, but I was challenged to ask others.  What do you admire about me? Or what unique gifts do I have? Thanks in advance for being part of my growth journey.Would you like me to do this for you, too?

Trish and Lori look ahead to the holidays and discuss how they are including their children in celebrations.  Choosing what to continue to do for holiday traditions can help you include your loved one in the celebration, but not all traditions feel 'good' to continue.  Trish shares an excerpt from Mark Nepo's The Book of Awakening.  A resource she utilizes regularly.

We're so excited to share with you an interview we did with Stephanie Sarazin. Stephanie's a writer, researcher, and experiential expert in ambiguous grief. Her work began with her own experience of midlife trauma, which sparked an ambitious journey spiritually and around the world to understand name and heal the grief she found within her. Her efforts reveal the first of its kind definition for ambiguous grief, whereby grief is the onset of a loss of a loved one who is still living.  And where in the experience of hope presents as a stage of the grieving process. Stephanie's work brings new resources. To reframe disruptive activating events as gateway to discovering your highest self. Stephanie's also the founder of RiseUprooted an online resource center for navigating ambiguous grief, a grief educator, and a TEDx curator in her community. She's a graduate of Michigan state universityand earned her master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago. She's an avid reader, recreational runner, aspiring camper lives in North Carolina, where she is training to Trek to the. Mount Everest base camp.Her book, Soulbroken: A Guide for Your Journey Through Ambiguous Grief As published by Balance,  and imprint of Grand Central Publishing. It launched October 11th, 2022. And it's currently available at Barnes and noble, Amazon, or your favorite independent bookseller. We hope you enjoy this real, relatable, and inspirational conversation with Stephanie Sarazin as much as we did.Follow Stephanie's JourneyIG: @Stephing_ThruLI: Stephanie Sarazin

Trish and Lori wanted to get this episode out to you in light of the US Thanksgiving Holiday. November is filled with significant dates for both women as they wade through birthdays, death days, and holidays.Lori talks about her experience taking her sons to their first KidznGrief Support group.  She was surprised to hear another surviving-spouse-solo-mom discuss the emotional impact of Veteran's Day.  Once again, it was a reminder that you're not alone.  Veteran's Day continues to be one of those days that grief shows up significantly for her.Trish recounts the November dates that keep showing up for her- and the emotions that well each time she sees the dates on paper.  Healing from hip surgery, Trish relays the lessons, emotions, and grief that's showing up while being at home for the longest amount of time in 7 years.What both women have learned is to create new traditions that work for the family of now as opposed to trying to recreate the traditions of the family that once was.  Trish is reminded of The Think Like a Monk Book by Jay Shetty utilizing the idea of flipping the script through this emotional time of year.Be sure to listen in for the hosting hack for grieving families or hosts that are inviting bereaved guests.As always, you are the best part of the podcast.  And you are not alone.

Trish talks about her recovery from a successful hip surgery.  She talks about lessons in patience, persistence, and vulnerability.  She connect the dots between healing physically and healing in her grief journey.  Lori recalls a moment that required stillness.  She chose to completely change up plans for the day when her grief overcame her.  Recognizing Halloween memories tied into a party she was planning to attend, created an opportunity to practice all that she's learned.  The entire experience allowed her to see all the growth she and her family have made in processing their grief.Journal Prompt for this week focuses on self-awareness: Where am I now? What do I need? What happens when I push the limit? 

Today, Trish and Lori take some deep breaths sharing all the life work that's coming up: solo-parenting teenagers, creating positive habits, building awareness, facing emotions, and reaching toward goals.  All of this with the added layer grief.The women work through these real life scenarios using inquiry, reflection, reframing, asking for help, check-ins, and lots of deep breath resets.It's complicated.  It's real.  It's what happens when two women get vulnerable while embracing grief.life 

We are so excited to share our first podcast interview, and it's with an amazing human.  Reid  Peterson achieved Master's degree in Transpersonal Psychology. And is certified in Death and Grief studies by the Center for Loss and Life Transition.After losing his biological father to suicide in 2006 and his stepfather to cancer in 2016, Reid felt a calling to help the grieving find peace and purpose after loss. The Grief Refuge App was born.   It can be best described as a compassionate companion for your grief journey. We were really impressed with the tools that we found on the Grief Refuge app and have enjoyed the content that Reid puts out on IG.  Learn more or Connect with Reid Website: https://www.griefrefuge.com/ Podcast: Grief Refuge Instagram: @GriefRefugeAppGrief Refuge App: https://www.griefrefuge.com/app

Hips Don't Lie TakeawaysAllowing the presence of enjoyment without letting fear take overTrish's and Hip Pain- Can’t go on like normal; breaking up big tasks intoResource: Louise Hay Heal Your Body Prioritizing social and relationship connections over fear and shameJournal Prompt: What CAN I do? How CAN I? These small things are wins!  Grieving takes practice.  When we repress our grief, emotions, stresses, and traumas, our body takes on all that we 'push away'.  Trish and Lori speak to moving through the emotions of grief and the importance of release.  Given Trish's significant trauma and grief, it's interesting to read about the scientific research about how emotional trauma is connected to the hips.To learn more about the scientific relevance and research in the connection between stored stress, anxiety, and trauma and the body, read  Why We Hold Trauma in Our Hips—And 4 Ways To Release It . For a more robust, somatic yoga sequence, try Hips: Releasing Stored Trauma | Trauma Informed Yoga Instructor, Hannah Uiri

Grief comes in many forms and for many reasons. This week Trish discusses what' surfacing in regards to her upcoming hip surgery.  She talks about how she's approaching her ever growing to-do list as her mobility has decreased, and she shares a story about purchasing a cane for walking assistance.Both women discuss the connection between the body, trauma, stress, and emotions- especially in relation to the hips.Lori and Trish share the effects of their growing work in gratitude and their growth in showing up for connections without self-judgement.  As always, there's solo-parenting  escapades, lots of love, and lots of laughs.  Looking to connect with the Embracing Grief podcast?  Send an email to community@embracinggrief.lifeDid you enjoy this episode? Be sure to give us a 5 star rating!  Write a review stating what you enjoy most about this podcast! 

You saw that right, an episode under 10 minutes :) Trish and Lori have lots of exciting things for listeners this season to include, "The Grief Brief".  Lori will recap highlights from each episode, prompt a thought provoking challenge to journal about, and share useful resources.Attention spans and grief don't always get along, so here's your Ep. 01 recap:Reflections on Season 1Summer AdventuresCreating ConnectionsBack to School CommunicationIntentional Mental Health DaysJournal Prompt Inspired by Mel Robbins 90 day win; 90 day claimLove the Grief Brief?Be sure to give a 5 star rating and review!  

The beginning of Season 2 lends itself to reflection, recognition of 'wins', back to school resets, and a look ahead.Join Trish and Lori as they look back at the last year of life, growth, and grief.  Relationships and connection will a big part of Season 2.  Trish vulnerably discusses the desire to welcome a new companion into her life.  Lori will be intentionally creating local friendships to build the support system she's seeking.  Both women describe the impact of strong connections- with their children, with their families, with their friendships, etc.Back to School is the perfect time to set your kids up for success.  The two women discuss strategies they are using to ensure everyone is one the same page- and same team.  It's a quick journal turn around when the women share their response to this week's journal prompt: 24 hr win, 90 day win, and 90 day claim inspired by Mel Robbins (big fans!).Here's to another season embracing grief in order to move life in the direction we desire through awareness and action.Looking to connect with the Embracing Grief podcast?  Send an email to community@embracinggrief.lifeDid you enjoy this episode? Be sure to give us a 5 star rating!  Write a review stating what you enjoy most about this podcast! 

Join Trish and Lori for the final episode of Season 1.  The women reflect on the intentional changes they have made in their lives in the face of grief and discuss their recent family vacations.  Lori sits in gratitude as she talks about the lessons, love, and perspective chats with her grandmother gave her while vacationing.Trish gives details about her cruise to Alaska and reflects on the gratitude she has for her relationship with her teenage son.  The women challenge listeners to start a gratitude practice- Write down three things you are grateful for every day.  Notice your shift in perspective.Looking to connect with the Embracing Grief podcast?  Send an email to community@embracinggrief.lifeDid you enjoy this episode? Be sure to give us a 5 star rating!  Write a review stating what you enjoy most about this podcast! 

Summer of 2022 means travel and adventure for Trish and Lori's families.  But neither woman impeding fears about flying dampening their excitement for new adventures.After her successful family trip, Lori relays the steps she took to get over her fear of flying with her children.  With this new perspective and these new tools to ease her fear, Lori is super excited to plan more travel.Hearing these tips on how to manage fears in flying, Trish appreciates how she can use these tips for her upcoming trip.   She is hoping to help herself and her son built lifelong happy memories on with a brand new experience and leaves the conversation with new awareness and a plan of action. Did you enjoy this episode? Be sure to give us a 5 star rating!  Write a review stating what you enjoy most about this podcast! 

Oftentimes in the face of grief, our world becomes rather small.  Grief can feel isolating and lonely.  With self-awareness and some deliberate choices, intentional connections can bring the breath of fresh air and bit of energy we need to keep on.Trish and Lori talk about creating connections with themselves, with friends, and with their children.  Listen in as they share how they are intentionally creating these connections to ease the loneliness of grief.  They also share the surprising results of connecting with others and themselves.This week's journal prompt is all about creating awareness and action surrounding connection.  What kinds connections are you seeking?  With whom? How will you create these connections?  Did you enjoy this episode? Be sure to give us a 5 star rating!  Write a review stating what you enjoy most about this podcast! 

Closure becomes such a significant part of our experiences after the death of a close loved one, especially if we feel an open, missing piece that we just can't heal.   How can we express what we need to and know we are heard?In this episode, Lori shares the experience of helping her children try to gain closure after yet another tumultuous end of a school year- and how she tries to gain closure with the people still living so as not to wait to say it all in a eulogy later.Trish talks about her own experience with unsaid words and feelings.  The journal prompt this week especially resonates with her.Did you find this episode especially helpful or touching?  Please leave a five star rating and review about what you found helpful!

Trish and Lori talk about each of  their approaches to Father's Day.  Father's Day is a time for both women to reflect on the men in their lives and think about the sons they are raising who continue to grieve their fathers. The journal prompt for this episode focuses on appreciation.To reach the Embracing Grief podcast, email: community@embracinggrief.life

Recorded May 26, 2022 After a series of mass shootings and racially motivated attacks, the weight of the world feels like a heavy burden to bear.Trish and Lori talk about how recent events have impacted their work and families.  They share how they have talked to their children about what's going on in the world in a way that supports their needs.  There are more questions and answers.  While, they don't always know the perfect thing to say or how to make the world a safer place, these women promise to keep it real, raw, and authentic.  Sending much love and light to our listeners.Listeners, you bring great joy and inspiration to reach the Embracing Grief podcast, email: community@embracinggrief.life

Trish and Lori give their perspectives Tim Ferris' interview with Susan Cain about her new book,  Bittersweet How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole.Hear how the interview and book brought both women the language they were seeking about their own experience with grief, with building a new life, and with parenting their children through grief. Today's journal prompt is next level introspection!Did you like this episode? Be sure to give us a five star rating! If you have a topic you'd like to hear about, you're looking for a resource, or you'd just like to connect, email us: community@embracinggrief.life .

Grief impacts so much of our life- including the way our brain functions.  Today, Lori and Trish talk about the changes in executive functioning they have experienced, its impact on their work, and how they are adapting and using tools to continue building the lives they want with the flux in executive functioning.Are you or your loved ones experiencing changes in flexible thinkingworking memoryself-monitoringplanning and prioritizingtask initiationorganizationimpulse controlemotional controlConsider your energy levels and how your mind and body are changing because of trauma/loss.  Talking through the effects of grief on our lives and making intentional choices to move forward every day has given both co-hosts a sense of calm and peace - and increased their compassion for self.To read more about grief's impact on neurology, read Before and After Loss by Dr. Lisa Shulman.Did you like this episode? Be sure to give us a five star rating! If you have a topic you'd like to hear about, you're looking for a resource, or you'd just like to connect, email us: community@embracinggrief.life .