Today’s guest- Vanje Watson, from Tiverton, Ontario. Mom of 2, business owner of Watson Wellness as a personal trainer and holistic nutrition coach. She shares with us her multi-layered challenges as a parent and the daily things they face as a family journeying epilepsy.

Vanje discusses how her daughter was diagnosed with a rare form of epilepsy called epilepsy with eyelid myoclonia after experiencing hundreds of seizures daily, with the condition being medication-resistant. The family has been navigating this chronic illness for several years, with Vanje also walking the road of severe postpartum depression and the physical toll of ongoing stress. Vanje shares her perspective on choosing to focus on "what now" rather than asking "why me," and how this experience has led her to support other parents facing similar challenges while maintaining her faith and hope for a purpose in their journey through hardship. Vanje shares that "steady" has become a key theme in her life, applying to both physical and mental aspects.

Vanje is a voice of courage in the midst of hardship. She is walking in curiosity, persistence, resiliency, faith and love each day. Showing us the beauty IN the fire. Redefining strength -not as a state of perfection, control and faultlessness but rather what it can be in the midst of hardship -being Steady, Consistent and CHOOSING to show up everyday with the focus of doing her best.

Quote “Whatever is True, whatever is Honourable, whatever is Just, whatever is Pure, whatever is Lovely, whatever is Commendable-if there is anything Praiseworthy-dwell on these things."

https://www.watson2wellness.com/

https://internationalepilepsyday.org/

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My thoughts on emotions and the importance of validating ALL of them. Sharing my strategies and tools that I have adapted into my life as I grow in journeying this beautiful part of being human.

Journal prompt-

3 questions;

What are 3 words that describe how I feel right now?

What are 3 words that describe how I want to feel?

What do I need to give myself today based on this information?

credit to Gemma Hanley -Anxiety & Mindset Coach

Quote- " Listen not only with your ears but with your EYES and with your HEART. "

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This episode I share my personal Valley Story that was the catalyst for starting this podcast. I have my sweet friend, Julie Smith joining me as co-host. This interview style chat journey’s through 3 questions which is the structure for all Valley Story interview episodes.

1.What is your Valley?

2.Crossroad, turning point, shift?

3.How has this made you who you are today?

Join me as I share from the deep places of a hardship that has molded me into who I am today. 💛

“Never give up, for that is just the place and time the tide will turn.” Harriet Beecher Stowe

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CFShealth YouTube channel-

https://youtube.com/@cfshealth?si=0549OxVMGM9DauSn

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Looking a little deeper into Hardship- sharing my thoughts and the treasures that I feel I’ve unlocked as I’ve journeyed, and with all my heart, want for you too.

Hardship offers a Crossroad:

Path 1-Running from, avoidance, denial, doing the bare minimum, fear, bitterness, never ending

Path 2-See as a tool, get curious- choose to adapt, growth, new outlook, hope, life, beautiful change.

Journeying through hardship is not easy but avoiding or staying in it is even harder. The GOOD NEWS -there is a choice and the choice is ours!

I am now a believer that we are created to do hard things, but even a step further than that, we are better for it!

Quote- “Every test in our life makes us bitter or better, every problem comes to break us or make us. The choice is ours whether we become victim or victor.”

If you haven't already make sure to FOLLOW on your favourite podcast player to get notified of the next episodes when they air!

Come find Valley Stories on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Bz9UPrfbk/?mibextid=wwXIfr I would love to hear your takeaways from the latest episodes and share in your journey through life.

Welcome friends!

Valley Stories is a space where honest conversations and hopeful reflections are shared — a mix of powerful interviews and personal refections of my own.

Each interview will follow a journey asking my guests these 3 questions:

• The Valley – the trial or challenge they walked or are walking through

• The Turning Point – the crossroads moment that sparked change

• The Growth & Transformation – how that experience shaped who they are today

These conversations are real, vulnerable, and rooted in the belief that our hardest seasons can shape our strongest selves. That in sharing our story we can bring healing not only to ourselves but to others.

In my Solo episodes you can expect-

Short, reflective, and hope-filled thoughts often taken from journal entries written in my hardest days. The keys that kept me forward moving. 🌱

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Come find Valley Stories on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Bz9UPrfbk/?mibextid=wwXIfr I would love to hear your takeaways from the latest episodes and share in your journey through life.