The Room to Be Brave: When Survival Isn’t the Same as Healing

In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, Shara sits down with author April to talk about her book The Room to Be Brave and the healing journey behind it. April shares how she once believed she had “overcome” her trauma, only to realize she had merely survived it. After making the life-changing decision to stop drinking in 2024, she finally found herself able to revisit the “rooms” of her past and begin true healing.

April opens up about surviving bacterial meningitis at 22—losing three and a half fingers and completely redefining her identity. She discusses growing up as a stepchild and the lingering belief that she was “in the way,” how ADHD and anxiety are simply information—not identity—and what it means to break generational cycles in imperfect but intentional ways.

The conversation also explores motherhood, regret, changed behavior, journaling as a healing tool, and the humbling realization that survival is not the same as freedom. April shares how service became a turning point in her healing, leading her into occupational therapy, accessible travel planning, and the launch of the JD Builds Foundation in honor of her late brother-in-law.

This episode is about courage. It’s about revisiting the rooms we’ve closed off. And it’s about learning that healing isn’t polished or perfect. It’s simply different.

To learn more about April's work and her book, visit https://www.aprildaygarcia.com/

Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1718977880777072342a16683