About this Episode
A Tree, a Star or a River: When Giving Becomes Loss
What does it really mean to give?
In this episode, I explore a question that has been quietly shaping my life: Where does our giving come from? Because not all giving is the same—and some forms of it come at a cost we don’t see until it’s too late.
Drawing from my own writing—including On Becoming a Black Hole and On Being a River—I walk through three models of giving:
• the tree, which gives until it disappears
• the star, which shines while slowly burning itself out
• and the river, which fills… and then overflows
Along the way, I unpack a hard truth: you cannot continue to give what you don’t replenish. There is always a reconciliation.
This episode is about recognizing the difference between giving from fear and giving from fullness—and why only one of those is sustainable.
If you’ve ever found yourself exhausted, overextended, or quietly losing yourself in the act of giving, this conversation is for you.
I'd love to hear what you have to say about the episode including thoughts on the poetry and the topics that were discussed. You can email me at [email protected].
My books of poetry are availabe for purchase at
["The Ghost of a Beating Heart", "My Mother Sleeps" and "Haiku Village"](
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