When I invited her to share her story, I wasn’t looking to spotlight someone—I was inviting truth into a space that was never meant to be all about me. FD isn’t just a personal journal or a gallery. It’s a living archive of everyday sparks, reflections, creative experiments, soul-touches, and yes—plenty of tail wags.
What she gave in return was real. A testimony of perseverance, transformation, and faith. Through her answers, you’ll meet a woman who walked through fire and came out radiant—still growing, still glowing, still reaching.
I’m honored to host her here. Not just to share her journey, but to remind us why these stories matter: because presence, care, and connection are art forms too.
🌿 Meet Janet Jane Heider
Janet Jane Heider is a woman of fierce resilience and quiet radiance. Her story is one of transformation—not just in body, but in mind, spirit, and relationship. With faith as her compass and perseverance as her path, Janet has navigated health battles, emotional reckonings, and spiritual renewal to arrive at a place of deeper wholeness.
Beyond her personal healing, Janet is a storyteller, a gamer with a rich imagination, and someone who’s built new pathways to love and vitality—one decision at a time. In this conversation, she speaks openly about the moments that shaped her, the challenges she faced, and the wisdom she carries forward.
This is her journey—told in her words, shared with grace.
Personal Journey
Q: Can you describe a defining moment in your life that shaped who you are today?
Janet: There are two moments in my life that shaped who I am today. The first moment was realizing I needed to take care of myself better. This was sparked by a couple of physical challenges that landed me in ICU, multiple surgeries, and a serious illness. I gained great insight during these experiences, and also received a second lease on life, which I don’t plan on wasting. This renewed sense of vitality after overcoming such a difficult challenge has encouraged me to change my physical lifestyle with my eating and exercise habits. The second moment is a gradual realization about the importance of my relationships. After years of being surrounded by toxicity and taking care of others’ needs over my own, I was reminded to take care of myself and love myself. I didn’t for a very long time, which was an unhealthy pattern in my life, but now I do. With the help of a support system and therapy, I now have healthy boundaries and healthy relationships with family and friends.
Q: What challenges have you overcome, and how did you push through them?
Janet: Physical: This renewed sense of vitality after overcoming such a difficult challenge has encouraged me to change my physical lifestyle with my eating and exercise habits. Relationships: With the help of a support system and therapy, I now have healthy boundaries and healthy relationships with family and friends.
Q: Was there ever a time you felt like giving up? What kept you going?
Janet: During the times I was going through so many challenges, there were more times than not that I wanted to give up on everything. The one thing that helped me pull through was my faith in Jesus Christ. I believe that because I leaned and trusted in the Lord that I was able to overcome. I know that reading and listening to the Word of God is important, but the key to success is to live it out in your life and have faith in God to help you overcome your trials.
Transformation & Growth
Q: Looking back, what’s something you never thought you’d achieve—but did?
Janet: Over the years I have struggled with my weight and often felt like giving up on trying to live a healthy life. I have been overweight my entire life and nothing seemed to work. But, I knew I needed to do better, for my own sake. It felt like I would never be happy with myself. But, it turned out I was wrong about that. As I lost more and more weight, I started to realize that weight loss was not the only way to get healthy. It’s also important to work on the mind and spirit. If you only work on the body, it’s still unhealthy if you have a bad mindset.
There was a lot I had to work on. I had to reprogram my mindset. I had to forgive people who made fun of me for being fat. I had to forgive myself for not trying to look better sooner. It also took a lot of self-discipline. I had to change my diet entirely and exercise more. There were many times I wanted to just give up and go back to my old habits, but I told myself to think about all the things I would be giving up. I knew there would be no turning back after I achieved my goal.
Q: How do you feel now compared to where you were years ago?
Janet: I feel amazing now! I’ve learned that I’m capable of achieving anything I set my mind to, and that’s one of the best takeaways. I’ve also learned that it’s a journey that I will likely have to stay on for the rest of my life to maintain. I’m here to inspire anyone who feels they can’t do it. You can, and I’m living proof.
Q: What’s the biggest lesson your journey has taught you?
Janet: The biggest lessons I learned during my journey are: never give up, never lose hope, and lean on God. Never give up when it feels like nothing is working. Never lose hope when all you see are setbacks. It may be hard, but you must persevere. It is at the darkest moments that you should lean on God. Have faith that he will always be there for you and will lead you to the right path.
Advice & Inspiration
Q: What advice would you give someone going through a similar struggle?
Janet: My advice to someone who is struggling like I was is to reach out for help if needed. I’m not saying it’s easy, but it’s important to find someone you really trust and who loves you unconditionally. That’s what I did. I leaned on the people I loved who shared my faith. They helped me build a relationship with God and taught me how to love myself. I also surrounded myself with positive energy and pushed out negative thoughts. It’s difficult, but if you keep your mind on the good things, you’ll find that eventually, the good will start to outweigh the bad. I stayed away from toxic people. Negative influences can hinder any progress you might make. But if you stay positive and focused, you can accomplish anything.
Q: If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?
Janet: I would tell my younger self not to give up, but to love herself. To remember that God sees all, even though some of the role models in her life may have hurt her the most. I would tell my younger self to hold onto hope, that God loves her, and that he has the best plans for her. She is the daughter of the highest King. She is precious. She is loved. She will achieve great things for the kingdom of God. I would have told her that even when it’s hard and you feel discouraged, don’t give up. Keep reaching and dreaming. God’s plan is perfect, and it’s for the greater good. Hold on to that. He doesn’t put us through suffering so we can have hard times. It’s so we can emerge victorious and triumphant. And so we can inspire others. Even when life seems dark and difficult, remember that you’re worthy and that the trials of life will make you stronger.
Q: What motivates you to keep striving for more?
Janet: I am motivated to strive to live more like Jesus Christ. Living like Jesus Christ means having unconditional love for others, the same way God has for me. It means developing a more mature relationship with God, my loved ones, and the people who God has placed in my life. It also means serving others as Jesus did. I will do this by loving others unconditionally and being an example of Jesus’ teachings in my daily life.
Fun & Nostalgic Touches
Q: If your life was a movie, what would the title be?
Janet: From Bondage to Blessing: A Journey to Health and Wholeness.
Q: What’s something quirky or unexpected about you that people don’t know?
Janet: I am a gamer. I have been a member of a gaming guild since 2005. I role-play my characters, and the world around them is rich with detail, thanks to the stories I write for them.
Q: How would your childhood self react to seeing who you are today?
Janet at the turning point—still young, still searching. A heart full of questions, unaware of the strength she’d one day embody. What would she say if she saw who she became? Maybe nothing at all. Just tears and awe.
Janet: My childhood self would be inspired and might have tears of joy, to know that there is hope. She’d be so proud to see that she never gave up, even when she felt like she was abandoned. She’d probably be amazed to see the woman she’d become—beautiful, successful, and loved by many, but most especially by God. She would be astonished by the love that surrounds her, the dreams she would accomplish, and the strength and perseverance she would have.
↞ Follow-Up Reflections ↠
Where silence leads the soul. Two questions, meant to be felt more than answered.
Q: What’s one truth you’ve learned that feels more like a whisper than a declaration?
God’s love is unconditional and unwavering, regardless of flaws or mistakes. His love embraces us all, whether we are perfect or flawed, deserving or not. In an uncertain world, God’s love remains a beacon of hope, guiding us along a path of forgiveness and mercy.
Q: If healing had a sound, what would yours echo like?
The sound of a heart healed, filled with newfound joy and peace after experiencing God’s restoration and deliverance. God has been my healer in my life. He restored my heart after it was wounded. Through His restoration, I experienced His power and deliverance.
“Let these words linger…”
Her story isn’t just a journey—it’s a blueprint for transformation. Through surrender, self-love, and sacred perseverance, she reminds us that trials are not barriers, but invitations. To evolve. To forgive. To believe. In her words, we hear the echo of every person who has been broken and rebuilt—gracefully, purposefully, faithfully.
“On behalf of Farley’s Angels, thank you, Janet, for this memorable and uplifting interview. May God bless you and bring healing and peace.”
FD isn’t just a platform—it’s a presence. A soft space where stories are shared without judgment, where creativity and connection flow freely, and where dogs always get a seat at the table. It’s never been all about me. It’s about what moves through me, what moves me, and what I’m moved to pass on.
I created FD to archive life—not as a highlight reel, but as a living rhythm. The quiet triumphs. The messy beauty. The people who remind me why it all matters.
Farley Dojenia
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