Life after loss: Moving on, looking up

Answering the question ‘what happens after you lose someone/suffer a major loss?’ is one of those how-long-is-a-piece-of-string-type questions, in that a. each person handles and processes grief differently; and b. the truth is that you never really stop grieving. Even when you move on, there is always that big black hole of sorrow inside thatContinue reading “Life after loss: Moving on, looking up”

‘IT STARTS LIKE THIS’: An Unexpected Journey

What do you think of when you hear the quote, ‘Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans’*? Does one of those delightful ‘God incidences’ spring to mind? Or perhaps you were just out on your normal coffee break when you lock eyes with the person you instantly know is the love ofContinue reading “‘IT STARTS LIKE THIS’: An Unexpected Journey”

Samurai, Sakura and Onsen Satori: 18 Days in Japan

Japan is a fascinating country; even when you get lost and end up wandering through some residential district as I often did, noticing little details outside people’s houses or seeing one of its many species of swallowtail butterflies or huge ‘bear bees’ grants moments of pure rapture.

THE GIFT OF REST

Just as the Earth needs a period of dormancy before she can resume her profligate exuberance, so we as her creatures also need to receive the gift of rest so we will be revived for the next season of growth, life and development.

Sun, sea and salsa: the ultimate party + chill groove at Rovinj CSSF 2023

Every year, the annual ‘peace, love and salsa’ (or sun, sea and salsa) orgy that is the Croatian Summer Salsa Festival (CSSF) sends thousands of international dance revellers back to their respective homes blissfully refreshed, rejuvenated and already craving more.

Questions for my readers: I need your help!

As this post-new year time of coming out of winter and heading into spring is usually a process of reflection and refining, I’d love some feedback from you on which topic(s) interest you most.

2. Mental Health and Work

When you are used to waking up every morning and having a job to go to for at least a full eight hours where you are totally focused on doing work you will get some recognition and sense of self-worth / value and /or identity from, suddenly not having this can be very depressing indeed.

1. What is mental health?

“Currently, mental health is often viewed only as mental health issues, and is seen as a sign that we’re ‘broken’ and need ‘fixing’. It shouldn’t be this way. Mental health issues are an incredibly important part of the mental health conversation, but they aren’t the whole conversation.” – James Routledge

Mental health: A personal journey

Recently I attended a London Writers Salon-hosted online interview with entrepreneur and author James Routledge, founder of Sanctus – a start-up he set up due to the mental health issues he struggled with as a result of his first failed start-up, having found there was nothing in place to offer the help he needed. IContinue reading Mental health: A personal journey

In the Limelight: Casting director, salsa performer and teacher Magda Sobolewska

“My dance performance experience is similar to my casting work, because when you are dancing on stage, you get into character – that is the bit of acting I enjoy.”