118 | The Gifts Hidden in Hard Times, with Marlo Woods, Massage therapist, Mental Health Advocate, & Co-Founder of Vulva Sisters Australia

<p><strong>What if the hardest things you live through don&#39;t break you, but become gifts you could never have imagined?</strong></p><p>We spend so much of our lives trying to avoid pain. We numb it. Push through it. Tell ourselves we&#39;ll start living once things get easier.</p><p>But what if the opposite is true?</p><p>In this heartfelt conversation, my oldest friend, <strong>Marlo Woods</strong>, shares how some of life&#39;s hardest moments became the catalyst for discovering joy, deeper purpose, and a profound appreciation for simply being alive.</p><p>Together, we explore what it means to find the hidden gifts in hard times, and how even life&#39;s &quot;shit bits&quot; can become the experiences that shape us into the people we&#39;re becoming.</p><p>If you&#39;ve ever wondered whether something beautiful can emerge from heartbreak, grief or struggle, this conversation is for you. </p><p>** <strong>Content note</strong></p><p>This episode includes conversations about mental illness, depression, suicide, addiction, stillbirth, grief and loss. Please listen with care, and if now isn&#39;t the right time, know it&#39;s okay to come back to this episode when you&#39;re ready.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>In this episode, we explore:</strong></p><p>✨ The hidden gifts that can emerge from life&#39;s hardest seasons.</p><p>✨ Why joy isn&#39;t something we find, but something we learn to notice.</p><p>✨ How our greatest challenges can shape who we&#39;re becoming</p><p>✨ What happens when we stop numbing ourselves and allow ourselves to feel.</p><p>✨ The courage to say yes to what lights us up, and no to what no longer serves us.</p><p>✨ Finding strength through friendship, community and meaningful connection.</p><p>✨ How service and advocacy can become part of our own healing.</p><p>✨ Challenging shame, stigma and the conversations we&#39;re afraid to have.</p><p>✨ Everyday practices that help us reconnect with ourselves.</p><p>✨ Why it&#39;s never too late to choose a life that feels deeply alive. </p><p>Follow Marlo and <strong>Vulva Sisters Australia</strong> on Instagram <strong>@vulvasistersaustralia</strong> to learn more about their work raising awareness of Vulvar Cancer and the <strong>Viva La Vulva</strong> community fundraiser supporting Rare Cancers Australia. </p><p>If this conversation brings up difficult feelings for you, please reach out to someone you trust or seek support from a qualified mental health professional.</p><p>If you&#39;re i