So the job you’re doing isn’t ‘sparking joy’. You’ve reached the maximum happiness output you feel you’ll achieve and the job isn’t all you hoped it would be. Maybe you’re worried you’ll be wasting your (£9,000 if you’re lucky, but more likely £27,000) BSc, your PGCE or your Masters (and an additional £9,000). Maybe you’re…
A Thank You Letter
Dear A, I want to thank you for being receptive to the activity last week. It’s been a tough few months and we haven’t been as happy as we used to be. The constant bickering is driving us mad and our relationship isn’t always something for others to covet. Please be proud of yourself for…
“Our Own Little Narratives” – Guest Blog
*Guest blog* – A friend and I have been talking about collaborating on a few posts and sharing a male’s perspective on dating in our twenties (something this blog often lacks). He said he’d send over some thoughts – any my, how he delivered! I love the authenticity of his experiences and I thank him…
The Silent Couple
The silent couple sits shuffling in their chairs whilst the waiters bustle around. Their phones turned down, threatening to disrupt the silence. Then the vibration beckons. A quick flip of the phone, a stolen look at the screen and an internal relief that there’s something to focus on. When the food comes…
Successes and Failures – Part 3 of 3
You can find Part 1 here and Part 2 here. My darling best friend spent a long time considering his successes and failures and sent me a very long message. Wishing to do it justice, I’ve decided to write it out as he shared it with me so it maintains his voice and the eloquence…
The Music of Love
Music can evoke different emotions; it can make us feel connected with people. It can bring back memories. Can we map a piece of music or a genre of music onto our relationships? A while ago, I wrote about the colours of our relationships. Now, I’m wondering about the music of our lovers. Over Christmas…
Bookish Thoughts
Photo by Gaelle Marcel on Unsplash My social media feeds are awash with Reading Challenges. And although I’m a lover of a list and ticking off jobs from the ‘to-do’ list, I’m choosing not to set myself a target of how many books to read this year. I worry that it would take the joy out of reading…
It takes a village to raise a child
This year, I’ve written quite prolifically about my fertility and health problems. But as 2019 draws to a close, I’m thinking about the future – particularly as I’m careering towards 30 at (what seems like) an alarming rate. Specifically, I’m thinking about family plans. Whilst so many things are going well (family, friends, career and…
5 Ways to Minimise Collateral Damage from an Argument
So you live with the boyfriend. Great. But now you’re with each other all the time. One another’s irritating habits are amplified, it’s harder to find the time to cool off and you’re wondering if you should have moved in together. Does this sound familiar? Daily arguments have become commonplace in my relationship and we’re…
Successes and Failures – Part 2 of 3
In Part 1 I wrote about personal and global achievements and disasters. Whilst writing, I messaged friends and they kindly shared with me some of their own successes and failures. Hopefully, by grouping them into themes, I haven’t reduced their poignancy. [Since writing Part 2, other friends have messaged with their own experiences, so I’ve…
