When you’re trying to change something, whether that’s a career shift, downsizing, moving to another country, or just navigating a new period in your life, you need things to look forward to along the way. These don’t have to be big things, but if they’re not there, any change, even if it’s what you want,…
I recently found myself caught in a mental loop, revisiting choices I’ve made and where they’ve led me — the kind that leaves you questioning everything. It genuinely felt like a heavy blanket was weighing on my shoulders. As we age, life seems to accelerate, and wasting precious time agonising over the many choices you…
I was brought up Catholic and though no longer practising, I still recall kneeling in the confession box saying ‘Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned,’ to the shadowy silhouette of a priest behind the screen. We have all felt wronged by someone at various points in our lives, sometimes knowingly, other times less so. …
Over the years I have found myself in situations where I should have spoken up but stayed silent to protect the peace, or at least that’s what I told myself. When I should have left the restaurant because the drunk ‘host’ began shouting at me for some perceived slight, but stayed because I didn’t want…
This summer I was lucky enough to go to two ‘big’ gigs, only a week apart; one a birthday present to myself and both times I went alone. The second gig was a lot bigger, Nick Cave, 25,000+ people packed into a park. I strolled in without really thinking about it; maybe like the last…
I recently attended my first ‘big’ solo gig. Gigs can be pretty expensive, so unless you’re a real fan, forking out £70 or £80 for a ticket isn’t always an option. For me, I didn’t want to pass up the chance to see one of my favourite artists, so bought a ticket knowing I’d likely…
Not long after I launched this blog, I froze. Having newly exposed myself to the world, for a couple of weeks after I’d published my first posts, I avoided opening the blog site. I can’t fully explain why, but when I finally gave myself permission to reflect, I realised it was fear. Exposing myself…
I was recently watching an episode of the American sitcom Frasier. Frasier or “Dr Crane”, the main character, had bumped into an old crush he’d had from high school. Despite being a highly successful psychiatrist and appearing confident, he resorted to how he’d acted around her back then, an awkward, blushing teenager barely able to…
