In this episode of The Well-Tended Life podcast, I sit down with writer and bucket-list finisher Laura Carney for a heartfelt and inspiring conversation about saying yes to life—even in the wake of loss.

When Laura found her late father’s handwritten bucket list—left unfinished after his sudden death at age 54—she made a bold decision: she would complete it for him. What started as a tribute to his life turned into a powerful journey of healing, self-discovery, and joy.

Together, we explore the ways that tending to our own dreams can also help us tend to our grief, how rest and fun can be sacred acts of growth, and how surrendering to life’s callings can lead us exactly where we’re meant to be.

This episode is full of soul-stretching wisdom and reminders that living with intention doesn’t always mean doing big things—it’s about listening to your heart, choosing joy, and believing that you are worthy of both healing and happiness.

💫 Here are a few heart taps from this episode:

1️⃣ Laura shared vulnerably about fearing she was like her dad in the ways she didn’t want to be—until she realized she’d been seeing him only through the eyes of her childhood.

2️⃣ If you’ve forgotten that life is meant to be fun—pause and ask yourself: what are you even doing?

3️⃣ Your bucket list doesn’t have to be epic. Sometimes the smallest longings are the ones your soul most needs you to honor.

4️⃣ Don’t work for rest. Work from rest.

💛 So grab your journal and open your heart—this episode is an invitation to live more fully, tend more gently, and say yes to the life that’s calling you. Hit play now—you don’t want to miss this one.

Learn more about Laura here: https://myfatherslist.com/

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