How many times have you bullied yourself?

November 11, 2019.Reading time 3 minutes.

In a recent interview, singer Melanie C describes therapy as ‘bloody great’. She’s dead right. During therapy, one of my biggest epiphanies was uncovering the link between my early life experiences and inner critic, then taking action to break the pattern. Let’s face it: we all trash talk ourselves. Everyone has an inner dialogue, both […]

Colourful autumn walks in Devon

November 2, 2019.Reading time 5 minutes.

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The changing season can fill us with lots of feelings – nostalgia for those hot summer days, grumpiness because it’s dark at 4pm and weariness from smashing the snooze button for the eighth time because, well, it’s pitch black outside and I am nice and warm here thanks. When we do drag ourselves outside, when […]

Staying alcohol free – each day at a time

October 31, 2019.Reading time 3 minutes.

You may have reached the end of Go Sober for October without touching a drop of booze. Or you’ve moderated your way through the month and feel full of resolve to erase alcohol completely. Either way, kudos to you for making such a positive change. Leading a life without alcohol in it, even just for […]

My story: dealing with grief after miscarriage

October 15, 2019.Reading time 4 minutes.

I spent ages debating whether to add to the conversation for Baby Loss Awareness Week. I thought perhaps it’s too personal but I keep coming back to how important it is to speak openly about issues many of us face, often in silence. You see, for me and millions of other women and their partners, […]

Go Sober for October: Be booze free and improve your life

October 1, 2019.Reading time 7 minutes.

Today marks the start of Go Sober for October and I’ve been thinking about how different my life is compared to the one where alcohol was part of it. At the weekend, I went to the Isle of Wight for a writing course. I woke early each day to go for a run and spent […]

Learn the art of doing nothing

September 22, 2019.Reading time 2 minutes.

“Life is what happens to you when you’re busy making other plans.” – John Lennon I’d forgotten how much I like doing nothing. By that I mean properly zoning out. This morning I spent time staring into space, watching clouds scudding across the sky. My mind wandering aimlessly. This came about after reading Editor Jo […]

Giving up the ghost

July 11, 2019.Reading time 3 minutes.

Don’t let ghosts spook you – exorcise them.

Advice to my 20-year-old self

July 2, 2019.Reading time 2 minutes.

There’s no such thing as no strings attached. While we remain emotionally-driven creatures there will always be strings. It’ll get you in the end. Life’s not fair but you can be. Compassion and fairness are your major strengths. Hold them close and in the very least be consistent. Kiss chase is for playgrounds. If he’s […]

Take a break to prevent yourself breaking

June 23, 2019.Reading time 4 minutes.

Pppffft. Do you ever feel like that? Pppffft. Like a balloon deflating. There’s a billion things to do but instead I do nothing. Feel useless, hopeless. No cause for celebration. There’s a puncture and I’m taking myself down. Bah. Pppffft. I am useless and hopeless. See how these feelings run away, spiral out of control? […]

Step outside your comfort zone and admire the view

May 26, 2019.Reading time 6 minutes.

“It is not that I am so smart. But that I stay with the questions much longer.” – Albert Einstein. Hey folks! It’s been a little while since I last published a post here; not for lack of interest but because I’ve been so darn busy. It’s been a fun time; I’ve explored new places […]