This year I turned 25. And for the first time, I thought of that as a quarter of my life, rather than twelve, ten, eight years after I was supposed to die.
Read More
I started a blog, that sadly wasn’t taken care of enough (but maybe to be added on my new year’s resolutions), but then I found The Everyday, and it really offered me another chance to write. I’m incredibly grateful to this magazine for getting my creative juices flowing, but also for challenging my ideas of what writing needs to be and how it needs to be done.
Read More
I'm not going to dwell on the bad stuff. We don't need reminding what has happened. We're all living it, but in amongst the pile of steaming horse manure, there have been some gold nuggets – if you move too fast you may have missed it twinkling in the sun. And that's what I am grateful for—the ability to slow down, to just stop and take a collective breath.
Read More
Fast forward to March, and everything grinds to a halt. There were some withdrawal symptoms to begin with – a sense of never-ending boredom, a restlessness that lead me to start running every other day. But after a while… I started to get used to it. I’ve been saying for years that I want to slow down, to really appreciate life day-by-day, and this year I have.
Read More
To my cats, having moved out, lockdown is the longest we’ve spent together in years. Your quirks, cries and catnip induced crazes got the family through a difficult time.
Read More
Moments when life clips our heart strings are often un-mendable, but there are also those magical moments that take you completely by surprise and start to tie on new ones, ones that are stronger than the last. Despite the difficulty of 2020, there have been many magical moments. Some have pushed me beyond my comfort zone, some have been as mesmerising as a walk in a new park.
Read More
Is it still that simple to have an attitude of gratitude in these uncertain times?
Read More
There is definitely something in the Bible for every mood. There is romance (The book of Ruth), there are wars, battles, kings and beggars (Most of the Old Testament), and there is magical, wonderful Jesus (The New Testament. I would particularly recommend the book of Luke). And this is all wrapped up in everyday life.
Read More
Family zoom calls became a weekly highlight, offering more regular connections than we have had in years. Postcards, phone calls, videocall coffees and wine Wednesdays became essential and strengthened ties to friends and family.
Read More
You don’t need me to tell you that 2020 has been a shocker, but the more I dwelled on what the hell to write here, I realised that like many tough times, good things have come from 2020, and as winter settles into its seat and 2021 approaches, I realise I have a lot to thank 2020 for. I found my strength.
Read More
Father Christmas, what kind of world do we live in when the only thing that made children remotely equal is in fact a lie? How great is the gulf between those who have and those who have not, that we have to be deluded into believing a fairytale?
Read More
However, I’ve also picked up a few new hobbies along the way. I’ve been an occasional baker for a while now, but now I’ve all but perfected my own bread recipe (hint: herby loaves are better than anything else, and make excellent garlic bread!)
Read More
How does one make friends as an adult? Where do I find them? Is there an application form? An “I’m looking for friends” badge I can wear? More importantly, who do I want to make friends with? What type of people do I like? Jeez, what kind of people might like me? It was proving to be a bit of a friend-finding minefield.
Read More
In 2011, the world was changed forever when E.L James aka Twilight superfan Snowqueen's Icedragon introduced us to Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele. However, what Fifty Shades missed out was healthy consent. In fact, the Venn diagram of healthy BDSM relationships and what 50 Shades of Grey and 365 DNI gave us is two circles on opposite sides of the room.
Read More
As a freelancer, every client, or potential client, is precious. Your income often fluctuates considerably and a bumper month of big projects can easily be followed by a month of drought (cue tumbleweed). So why do we, as freelancers, feel so guilty charging the prices we have spent so long getting just right?
Read More
The problem… is that the minimal and performative style in which the brands often choose to get involved or show support to a movement is low-effort and, in many cases, low risk. It’s where we get terms like ‘greenwashing’ and ‘rainbow washing’ from.
Read More
Throughout History Black art, cultural and intellectual property have been coopted, whitewashed and mass produced for white consumption. From Picasso to a racist Elvis Presley for decades our culture has been sold back to us by white artists. It is reproduced in a style and language more consumable for white eyes and ears whilst we are told our women are undesirable, our men aggressive and our vernacular uncivilised.
Read More
In a recent discussion about gender identity, gender roles, and the general move towards a more accepting society I mentioned the concept of “Two-spirit” in Native Northern American culture. Once I got thinking I started reading, and in my exploration of texts about gender and culture, I have come across a wonderful world of diversity and history.
Read More
This time of year is polarising - if you’re not buzzing about Christmas like everyone else, then it must mean you're a scrooge. You’re not. Many people have their own reasons why the atypical festive routine is not something they take part in. They find ways to do it their own way, during a time when everyone else is singing the same festive tune.
Read More
I have frequently battled with my relationship with social media and the overuse of my smart device. Not just because of my proneness to dropping it on the floor full speed and full screen, but the countless times I have deactivated, deleted, detoxed, reactivated and replaced my social media accounts.
Read More