Our lives and our world have been well and truly disrupted by coronavirus and all that it entails.
We have each been living our own ‘temporary normal’ in order to survive and cope.
Many are already talking about what our ‘new normal’ will look like afterwards.
All we do know, for sure, is that no-one is unaffected and that we can’t go back – we can only go forward. Continue reading “Disrupted lives – what next?”
I heard a great quote yesterday – not sure who said it first but it was along these lines re the current pandemic:
“We’re NOT all in the same boat,
we’re all in the same storm,
but in different boats.
Some are relaxing in luxury yachts,
others are in rickety old rust buckets, letting in water, having to bail it out
and, of course, everything in between …”
The truth of this really struck me in terms of how differently we’re each experiencing this current situation. Continue reading “We’re NOT all in the same boat…”
This is from an internet search I did yesterday:
It’s my experience that the (Western) world has been shaped mostly by extraverts and that, consequently, those of us who identify more with the traits of introversion, or are on the cusp between the two (ambiverts), can find it a tough place to navigate at times.
In her book ‘Quiet‘ (which I love), Susan Cain talks about the different levels of stimulation required, and able to be tolerated, by introverts and extraverts and the ‘extrovert ideal’. She quotes William White:
“Society is itself an education in the extrovert values,
and rarely has there been a society that has preached them so hard.
No man is an island, but how John Donne would writhe to hear how often,
and for what reasons,
the thought is so tiresomely repeated.” Continue reading “Today is World Introvert Day”
I’m thinking today about this old adage which used to be chanted by children in the playground:
“Sticks and stones may break my bones
but words will never hurt me.”
I know differently now, of course – unkind words can really hurt a person.
And, by the same token, that a kind word or two can be really healing, too. Continue reading “Sticks and stones – and the power of words…”
What did you do yesterday?
Now known internationally as ‘Black Friday’.
Were you out at the shops searching for bargains?
Surfing the web?
Suck(er)ed into buying something you didn’t want or need by a carefully-targeted and tempting enticement from a previously-visited or a favourite website?
Are you experiencing ‘buyer’s remorse’ about any of your purchases?
Whilst the timing of this message is targeted towards those of us who celebrate, mark or ‘suffer’ Christmas as we know it today, it is part of the much wider movement that asks us to each reflect on our consumerism overall and its effect on not only the environment, but also on our own personal finances and happiness – and how what we do affects other people, too.
Whatever you did or didn’t do yesterday, we all have the choice today to do something different(ly) in the run up to Christmas this year, and from hereon in… Continue reading “Black Friday Blues?”
I was fascinated this week when I saw a report on BBC Breakfast about a ‘back to basics’ experiment in a UK nursery which, it’s reported, has stimulated creativity and improved communication amongst the children involved (especially the boys, apparently) – and decluttering the rooms in the process. I also found an article about it in the Mail Online (published back in March of this year).
Matt Caldwell, the Head of the nursery was, apparently, inspired by similar schemes in Germany which replaced plastic toys with everyday items and real size objects – so, for example, instead of a miniature/child-size/toy version of a musical instrument, they would have an adult-sized, real one to explore.
Other items were day-to-day objects such as kettles, bottle tops, egg boxes, corks, pine cones, conkers, lavender and pots.
The backs were taken off electrical items so the children could see how they were constructed. Continue reading “What is a Toy?”
We’re coming, now, towards the end of the summer in the UK.
Many of you may have spent time enjoying your own garden this summer, if you have one – or someone else’s garden, or a public park or beach-side garden, perhaps?
This is a light-hearted look at what might be in that garden – what draws you, where you regain balance and perspective, perhaps – based upon your MBTI personality type and preferences.
Do you recognise yourself, or your favourite (place in the) garden here?
I certainly do!! 
Continue reading “What’s in your garden?”
I’ve been thinking about this quite a bit lately.
The stories we tell ourselves about our own lives….
What we say, how we ‘report’ our lives, when we speak to people we haven’t seen for a while and they ask us what we’re up to these days…
Does it feel like we have to ‘put on a show’ and that we’re in a competition that we’re losing more often than not..?
For example, what do we say when someone asks “What did you get up to this weekend?” Have you ever been tempted to ‘guild the lily’ a little to appear more active and interesting than you think the truth might sound? I know I have… 
And what does success in one area of our life cost us in another?
Hence some of my recent Instagram posts:
I wasn’t at Glastonbury this weekend, but I did see a recording of Sir David Attenbourough’s spot.
He’s amazing – so respected – able to hold the attention of such a large crowd, many of whom were 70 or more years younger than himself – that’s no mean feat! 
He’s lost none of his energy and passion – yet, I think he delivers what he says in an understated but serious manner – without talking down to anyone.
A great role model, not only for what he’s doing for us all and the planet, but also for any of us who might be wondering how we might be/behave in our own later years perhaps ..?
If you missed it, here’s a recording I found – it’s less than 4 minutes:
Plus a great comic-style article which a friend sent me recently which you might like, too – click here.
Whole People 