We all have something that makes our heart leap up. An unmistakable jolt of joy hits whenever we encounter that delicious stimulus. For me it's the smell of coffee, freesias, rain and strawberries (though not necessarily all at once). It's gentle sunshine, green grass and the solid, serene company of a tree. And one thing … Continue reading Your happiness helps
Tag: relationships
Mirrors
If you admire a quality in a person, then that person is mirroring that quality to you. If you did not possess that quality yourself, it is unlikely you would notice it in the other person. When I found out about this phenomenon, I became aware of it playing out in a way I had … Continue reading Mirrors
The power of anger
For so many years I felt no anger. I was so deeply depressed I had gone beyond sadness into a flat desert wasteland of numbness. There were no highs, no lows; if you had asked me how I was I would have said 'fine' and meant it. I wasn't in anguish like I had previously … Continue reading The power of anger
Moments of Joy
As I was being wheeled into the anaesthetic bay for one of my surgeries, a nurse said to me: “Remember to do something that brings you joy every day.” By that stage I had figured that out for myself, but I still appreciated the advice. For the period of time that I was preoccupied with … Continue reading Moments of Joy
Cat lady interrupted
My mother threw me a big party for my fortieth birthday on the premise that 'well, you're never going to have a wedding'. She could be forgiven for thinking that – at the time I was very vocal about not wanting to be involved with a man ever, ever again and what an pathetic anachronism … Continue reading Cat lady interrupted