My heart bleeds for all those in South Africa who are suffering, especially my family and friends, trapped in their homes amidst a warzone where their food supplies, fuel, and medication are running low. And a civil war is imminent. In brief, ex-president Jacob Zuma was sentenced to fifteen months in prison for his …
This evening just before my last stint of writing, ending my day polishing another chapter of Goodbye Danny, getting it ready for publication, I realised I hadn’t listened to the Daily Stoic podcast in many weeks. I grab my iPhone, click on Spotify and search for today’s episode, 4 minutes, titled “Take The Interior Voyage” where …
“You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better.” – Anne Lamott Anne Lamott’s quote stopped me in my writing drift… Who said that? Who is Anne Lamott? What else does she have to say for herself? What …
Today in The Times Weekend supplement, following on from Prince Harry’s documentary on mental health, Jean-Claude Chalmet encourages men to “look on therapy as a gym workout for the mind…” In A man’s guide to therapy. Another interesting fact – not just for men, rather for all those who struggle with a dysfunctional relationship …
I cannot recall the last time I read Postsecret. After reading the below secret, I truly felt sad for a lot of women who come to realise, or perhaps not, they are simply fitting into society’s expectations and not understanding what it means to be their authentic selves and live in ways that celebrate what …
I recently celebrated my birthday, as much as one could do while slowly escaping lockdown. Not that I ever found lockdown resembling a prison. It was what it was. Radical Acceptance: it’s become a mantra of mine. Thanks, Jenny! Resistance is futile when entertaining a fleeting digression… Lockdown is now on my mind. Oh, do …
Sit quietly. Take in a deep breath. Pause. Exhale while counting to eight. And meditate on these five words. “Free will is an illusion.” Do you have the power to radically accept that free will is an illusion? The majority of us believe they have free will. I have returned to FREE WILL, Sam Harris’ …
Once Upon a Time… …There lived a princess. Some called her rotten, spoilt to the core. “A fucking spoilt princess!” The exact words spat; spittle almost landing on her cheek, once or twice. Mostly by those jealous of her and all that they accused her of: “Everything always falls into your lap!” Blah blah and …
“Women, be more selfish!” I read to my partner from The Times Weekend newspaper insert this morning. Referencing “How to make lust last – the new rules for long-term relationships.” “It’s important for women to learn to be more self-centred.” Ping! ‘See!’ I exclaim. ‘I am not selfish enough. I’ve been ordered to…’ He turns …
I feel sad for Mary, a close friend who recently gave birth to a son. Childbirth in the time of COVID, she cries. She wishes for others to be more aware of their choices and all the pros and cons before their lives change forever; change in unimaginable ways. And putting further strain on a …
I cannot count the number of times, at school, work, by people I called friends at one stage, I have been called a “bossy bitch.” Sometimes it made me angry, and other times it made me laugh. I recall my mother calling me “wilful” and “bossy” from a young age. I had a mind of …
Happy New Year! In wishing me a Happy New Year, someone very special asked: ‘What do you want to happen this year?’ Without thinking, I blurted, ‘Everyone special in my life to live, breathe and know their worth…’ Whilst I help someone close to me deal with debilitating depression, I have come to learn and …
Recently, I stumbled upon Paul Dolan, a professor of behavioural science at the London School of Economics. His latest book, “Happy Ever After”, discusses happiness data surrounding relationships. Conclusion Single women might be healthier and happier than married women and married women with children. Dolan’s research showed men in comparison benefited from marriage as …
I am extremely fortunate to have escaped Tier 4 in London and ended up in Tier 2 before Boris stole Xmas… I’m still diligently creating my third novel. “CHARLIE ON THE HUNT.” Each chapter is about a different character and only at the end does it all tie in… An extract from LOLA …
The woman has come to terms with her nature. Finally, she said it out loud. She expressed herself to someone close to her. Sitting up straighter, she took in a deep breath and exhaled just as deeply: ‘It has to be worth my while to have a man in my life.’ ‘Wow! I’m loving that,’ …