What if slowing down gave you the space to discover who you really are?

For Laura, the Covid lockdown became an unexpected opportunity to pause, reflect and reconnect with her creativity. What started as an art class soon grew into a passion that inspired her to apply for a Fine Art degree. Today, she's taking another leap of faith—selling the family home and moving to London to immerse herself in the creative community.

In this inspiring conversation, Laura shares how connecting with nature, trusting her instincts and embracing uncertainty has transformed both her art and her life.

We talk about:

• 🎨 How lockdown created the space to rediscover creativity
• 🌿 Why mindful walks in nature are the starting point for every painting
• 👀 How her artwork captures a feeling, a moment and a personal perception of the landscape
• 💭 The importance of slowing down enough to really notice the world around us
• ✨ Why trusting the process and following your instincts can lead you exactly where you're meant to be
• 🏙️ The courage it takes to sell the family home and move to London to pursue a life surrounded by fellow artists

Laura's story is a beautiful reminder that we don't always need to have everything mapped out. Sometimes, by embracing change, trusting ourselves and staying open to possibility, life unfolds in ways we could never have planned.

If you've ever felt the pull to try something new, reconnect with nature, or follow a dream that won't leave you alone, this episode is for you.

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If Laura's story resonated with you, we'd love you to subscribe, leave us a review and share this episode with someone who might be standing at a crossroads in their own life.

If you've been wondering whether it's time for a change, perhaps this conversation is the gentle reminder you needed that small steps can lead to a completely different future.

Thanks for listening!

Every episode is designed to help you become 1% happier and healthier, one small step at a time.

A big thank you to Pixabay for providing our intro and outro music, "Inspirational Background" by AudioCoffee.

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Create Your Badass List

When was the last time you stopped and really recognised how far you’ve come?

In this episode, we’re talking about creating your own Badass List — a powerful reminder of everything you’ve overcome, achieved, survived, and handled, even when life felt hard.

So many women focus on what they haven’t done, instead of celebrating the strength, resilience, courage, and everyday wins they already have. Your Badass List is proof that you are far more capable than your inner critic wants you to believe.

This episode is your reminder to stop downplaying yourself and start owning the incredible things you’ve already done.

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Share it with a friend

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Leave us a review — it helps more women take that first step

A big thank you to Pixabay for providing our intro and outro music, “Inspirational Background” by AudioCoffee.

Ann & Sally

xx

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October 2026 marks the first ever Urostomy Awareness Month, and in this episode of Real Women, Real Stories, Julie joins us to help break the stigma, start conversations and raise awareness of what it means to live with a urostomy.

Julie was just four years old when doctors discovered she didn't have a bladder and she had life-changing stoma surgery in 1975.

But having a urostomy has certainly never defined what Julie can do.

Inspired by—and determined to keep up with—her older brother, Julie threw herself into sport from an early age. She attended mainstream school, joined in with swimming lessons and developed an attitude to life that has seen her continually challenge expectations.

Today, Julie is a qualified Pilates instructor who happily takes on multiple classes at her local gym. She's cycled coast to coast from Whitehaven to Tynemouth, run marathons and continues to lead an incredibly active life.

In this uplifting conversation, we talk about:

• 💜 Growing up with a urostomy from the age of four
• 🗣️ Why Urostomy Awareness Month matters and the importance of breaking the stigma
• 🏊 Being encouraged to participate rather than being treated differently
• 💪 The role sport and movement have played throughout Julie's life
• 🚴 Taking on the Whitehaven-to-Tynemouth coast-to-coast cycling challenge
• 🏃‍♀️ Running marathons and refusing to put limits on what's possible
• 🧘‍♀️ Becoming a Pilates instructor and continuing to embrace an active lifestyle
• 🍫 Julie's wonderfully simple 1% happier and healthier habits: start every morning with a glass of water and enjoy a little piece of chocolate every evening!

Julie's story is a wonderful reminder that our circumstances don't have to determine the size of our lives.

By sharing her story during the first Urostomy Awareness Month, Julie hopes to increase understanding, challenge misconceptions and show what's possible when we focus on what we can do rather than what we can't.

If Julie's story inspires you, please share this episode. You might just help someone living with a urostomy feel a little less alone—and help more people understand life with a stoma.

If you're looking for practical ways to improve your wellbeing, this episode is packed with simple, evidence-based advice that you can start putting into practice today.

Every episode is designed to help you become 1% happier and healthier, one small step at a time.

A big thank you to Pixabay for providing our intro and outro music, "Inspirational Background" by AudioCoffee.

Stay Connected with Us:

Follow us on Instagram: @happierandhealthier__

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17An2r6AFE/?

Have questions or want to join our Facebook community, email us at hello@1percenthappierandhealthier.co.uk

Follow this link to receive our monthly news letter zfrmz.com/y2clyxhSheOWEJ9EjaS6

Follow this link to get more information about our 1% Happier and Healthier Programme https://tinyurl.com/HHinfopls

Happier and Healthier linktree https://linktr.ee/1percenthappierandhealthier?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

Connect with Julie on Instagram

Joo_m_w and fitafterfifty5

Urostomy Association

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