A reader responded to my previous post, “Believe Them the First Time” with the following: Hi Cressida, this post of yours speaks right to me. I’ve been struggling with forgiveness and giving someone another chance. Yet they keep repeating the same abusive behaviour. And the only peace I receive, protecting my well-being, is when I …
Recently, I attended a dinner party. Due to social distancing, thank god!, there were only four of us. Oh! Hold on a second… I am reminded of a quote I came across the other day, “To all the genuine introverts who still aren’t showing up even when all the social engagements have moved online…” …
One of the dearest people in my life spent the weekend with me in London. A different London: feeling the sleepiness of the pandemic, wearing masks on public transport, in and out of shops and only being able to sit outside some restaurants and cafes. While sipping oat milk cappuccinos at Pret in Leicester …
The Angry Therapist on Psychology Today wrote an interesting article called This Is How You Know You’re in Love. I include a paragraph that made me sit up straighter and pay attention. Profound on many levels; however, so obviously simple at the same time. There is a difference between feeling love for someone (caring …
Someone I am close to recommended reading Lying by Sam Harris. It changed my life, she’d said. I am always ready for a life changer. Bring it on! A few hours later, I punched in my credit card details online and bought the book. Three days later it arrived. I waited for the right moment …
28th Post Challenge of 31 Most people find it difficult to accept someone else changing. I see it often amongst people I know and it’s sad to see how much it affects, even debilitates the one witnessing the evolution in the other. Elephant Journal has expressed this aptly, which I include an excerpt from, a …
20th Post Challenge of 31 Hillel, a most influential Rabbi of all time, once upon a time said: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, who am I? If not now, when?” Ethics of the Fathers, 1:14 I find this quote extremely …
15th Post Challenge of 31 For men it’s all about intimacy and for women it’s all about sex, apparently, according to an article in The Times. If we want different things, expecting to find it elsewhere, thinking the grass is greener, it becomes absolutely fruitless having affairs outside of marriage… It will eventually become …
11thPost Challenge of 31 Percival, a friend of mine, mentioned the “Anna Karenina Principle” to me today. I recalled a distant memory of it being about respecting all criteria when it comes to a family being happy or unhappy. He then said to me, “All happy families are alike, Cressida, and each unhappy family is …
No matter what happens – joy and sorrow – embrace it and accept it. Life happens; life is an experience, a constantly evolving series of moments. Leave the ‘out of your control’ moments to themselves. Trying to fight change, something inevitable causes suffering. Choose to accept or choose to suffer. There is so much in …
It makes me feel so sad when people can’t be there for others when it truly matters and all they do, choose to do, is act on their pain and suffering. And how they are unable to let go of control. Perhaps the one being controlled needs to believe in themselves more… …
One of the hardest things to do is Let Go. I think it’s one of the bravest things to be able to do. The liberation that follows makes it worth it in the end. “Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over instead …
“I wish someone told me this when I was young.” Morgan Freeman Recently, I discovered one of the best motivational videos ever listened to. Not that I’ve seen many but this one hit the spot, truly resonated. View it here: Best motivational video Morgan Freeman’s dulcet tones begins with: “If you listen and take evasive action I can …
“A lover knows only Humility; he has no choice.” What a profound statement. I heard it after digging out some chill-out music I’d last listened to more than six months ago. Is it true, I wonder? Selflessness. Does true selflessness exist? A lover knows only humility, he has no …
“It matters little whether a man takes the right road or the wrong one, provided only that he follows it sincerely and devotedly to the end, for either road may lead him to his goal.” William Blake 1757-1827 How many people really have the ability to be decisive and follow a path that …