PODCAST SHOW NOTES
Episode Title
The Face in the Mirror: On Aging, DNA, and Unexpected Inheritances
Episode Description
In this deeply personal episode, acclaimed memoirist and writing teacher Laura Davis shares a letter to her late father written forty years after their correspondence ended. When Laura catches her reflection in the mirror after breast cancer surgery and recent health challenges, she discovers her father's face looking back at her—complete with his distinctive Einstein eyebrows and weathered features.
Laura explores the shock of sudden aging, the power of DNA and family inheritance, and how loving acceptance can transform our relationship with our changing bodies.
This episode offers both a tender meditation on mortality and practical wisdom for writers exploring themes of aging, family connection, and self-acceptance.
What Laura Covers in This Episode
Writing letters to deceased loved ones as a healing practice
The unexpected physical manifestations of DNA and family resemblance
Navigating sudden physical changes after illness and surgery
Adapting body reclamation exercises from The Courage to Heal for aging
The gap between how we feel internally and how our bodies age externally
Finding love and acceptance for our changing faces and bodies
Using memoir writing to process loss, aging, and transformation
Her father's poignant realization at 81: "I still feel 13 on the inside"
About Host Laura Davis
Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience guiding writers through the craft of memoir. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir The Burning Light of Two Stars (BookLife Prize Winner 2021) and co-author of the groundbreaking bestseller The Courage to Heal.
Laura teaches weekly writing classes via Zoom, hosts transformative international writing retreats hiking the Camino de Santiago and at Villa Maria del Mar in Santa Cruz, California, and produces The Writer's Journey podcast along with her Midweek Pause for Peace series.
Her work combines vulnerable personal storytelling with practical writing instruction, helping memoirists craft authentic, compelling narratives that honor their experiences while connecting deeply with readers.
Resources Laura Mentions
Book: The Courage to Heal by Ellen Bass and Laura Davis (published 38 years ago, featuring the "one-inch exercise" in the "Bodies" chapter)
Book: The Burning Light of Two Stars by Laura Davis (BookLife Prize Winner 2021)
Previous Essay: "The Hippie Dad Who Never Stopped Writing" (featuring examples of her father's artistic letters)
This essay on Substack so you can see the images: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/p/7d44f8c3-38c7-4d8d-9b91-c8d4889def7d
Upcoming Retreat: "Flourishing as We Age: A Writing Workshop for Women" at Villa Maria del Mar, Santa Cruz, California (Retreat details at https://lauradavis.net/flourishing/)
Body Reclamation Technique: The "one-inch exercise" for self-acceptance and healing
Key Takeaways from This Episode:
Write letters to the dead as a powerful memoir practice—Epistolary writing can help you process grief, maintain connection, and discover new insights about relationships that transcend time and death.
Honor the emotional journey of sudden physical change—Allow yourself to move through shock, dismay, curiosity, and acceptance without rushing to positivity or forcing premature acceptance.
Adapt healing practices to new life stages—Techniques like the "one-inch exercise" originally designed for trauma recovery can be reimagined for challenges like aging, illness, or body changes.
Recognize the gap between internal and external aging—Understanding that we "still feel 13 inside" while our bodies age can help us approach our reflections with compassion rather than judgment.
Find love through connection—When we see our beloved family members reflected in our own aging faces, it can transform self-criticism into tenderness and acceptance.
Episode Call-to-Action
Spend time with your own reflection this week. Look closely at the mirror and ask yourself: Who do you see looking back? Whose features have emerged in your face?
Write a letter—to a parent, grandparent, or other ancestor whose DNA you carry—exploring what you've inherited and how those physical connections make you feel.
Share your reflections in the comments, and if this episode resonated with you, click the heart and share it with other writers navigating the journey of aging and self-acceptance.
Connect with Laura Davis
Subscribe to The Writer's Journey: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/
Explore Laura's Classes, Books & Retreats: https://lauradavis.net/
Spring 2025 Retreat: Learn about "Flourishing: A Writing Workshop for Women Over Fifty" at https://lauradavis.net/flourishing/
Support Laura's Work: Click the heart on posts, leave comments, and share episodes to help new readers discover The Writer's Journey
The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully curated poems and nature photos, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more.
You can subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/ Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/
