EP 34 - Lessons I Learned In Season 2 (Part One)

Over the next two episodes I thought it would be fun to go back through the interviews that I did from this season and pull from them the lessons that I have learned from all of my incredible guests. I have always said and believe that there is something to learn and be grateful for every single day, and doing this podcast has proven that to me over and over again. Everyone has a story, their own hard beautiful journey and by telling these stories and our journey's, we may be lifting someone up that really needed it but didn't know how to ask.   For this episode I will be discussing episodes 17 to 25 and I can't wait to dive in!!   On EP17 my friend Stacey joined me to talk about her experience with divorce and finding out her husband was having an affair and what that journey looked like for not only her but also for her two girls. Stacey helped me remember that even though these things can happen, it doesn't have to be the end of your happiness....that you can move on and still live your life to the fullest.....   On EP18 my beautiful friend (and neighbour) Chenoa joined me to share her journey of giving her son up for adoption at birth and then reconnecting with him in 2020 and the rollercoaster of emotions that took place. Chenoa reminded me that there is always two sides to a story, and in the case of a child, both the birth mother and birth father's feelings need to be considered. That was a big aha for me with my ongoing search for my half sister.   On EP19 I invited my therapist and "my Jenna" onto the podcast to talk about her role in helping me through one of the darkest times of my life. It was with Jenna that I was asked for the first time - what are you going to do with these struggles - you've shown what you can do for yourself and your family - what can you do to help others with what you've learned. Jenna was the one who first knew that I was supposed to use my voice and find a path and a way to connect with and guide other people. It was through her encouragement and others close to me that I decided to be vulnerable and put our story out there.   On EP20 my incredible cousin James was here and I loved every minute of our conversation....James was here to talk about his own management of his mental health and what that has looked like for him over the past few years. James taught me that men, teachers, athletes....all go through the same mental health battles as everyone else, and if you are a boy, a young man, a grown man - that it is OK to ask for help and it's ok to not be ok.....and it's MOST definitely ok for you to cry - Vulnerability can be your strength.   On EP21 I had my sweet friend Tina on the show to talk about her hard beautiful journey and wow....she has been through some things for sure. From going through two divorces as a young woman, to an infertility battle, to then losing two of her sisters to breast cancer, Tina taught me that you can take matters into your hands when it comes to preventing cancer, especially when it has had such a devastating impact on her families life.   On EP22 I had my mentor and soul coach Bree-Anna Vincent on the podcast to give my listeners an insight into what it is I am currently working on and what soul coaching is all about. I could go on literally for HOURS about what lessons I have learned from Bree-Anna but the number one would be that we are Human BEINGS, not Human DOINGS. That it's absolutely critical that we learn to connect with ourselves and understand who we are at our core.   EP23 - On EP23 I had the wonderful Tonya Woolford on my podcast and I LOVED our conversation about what she is doing as a Death Doula or Death Walker. It is such an important role that she fills in the lives of those people that are nearing the end of their human experience and to help them transition. Not only does she provide comfort to the dying person, she is also there to support the family and friends of her clients. What I learned from Tonya is that by becoming more comfortable with the idea of death (because really, none of us can escape it), you can actually learn to enjoy your life more and it not be a source of dread your whole life and experience joy more deeply.   On EP24 I had the lovely Mandy Balak here with me and she was incredible to talk to. Mandy and I talked about the RISE Lake Louise conference that her company ACE Collective put on, in the middle of a pandemic no less, and how that experience was from both of our perspectives. What I learned from Mandy is that even in the middle of a global pandemic, with all things stacked against you, it is possible to rise, it is possible to get back up and succeed in whatever you want to achieve.   On EP25 I had the absolutely HILARIOUS and beautiful soul Jenny B here with me.....what a blast. Besides being so incredibly funny, she has a heart of gold and I loved getting to know her better. Jenny taught me that it is ok to be vulnerable and share your story in front of a large group of people and even ugly snot cry too.....because there is going to be someone else in the room that has felt the same way (like she did for me). And she taught me that it is always critical for a woman to carry a set of car tweezers with them at all times.   On the next episode I will share the lessons I learned from episodes 26 to 33!   Follow me on Social! Instagram - mstiffvaughan Facebook - mstiffvaughan Facebook Private Group for Hard Beautiful Journey is HERE.  Please come join us!