Category: Blog
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A fresh start
“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” Seneca I’ve been battling a bit about what to talk about this month. Those who know me well, will know I am not often lost for words or ideas! My confused state reflects the kind of unsettled time we’re in as we slowly and tentatively step out…
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Tree hugging anyone?
“Finland is officially the world’s happiest country. It is also 75 per cent forest. I believe these facts are related.” Matt Haig I got lucky enough over my summer break to have my first experience of forest bathing in the very lovely setting of Kew’s Royal botanical gardens. I knew very little except that the…
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My 2021 Summer reading
And so, its Summer once more, where here in the UK you must be prepared for all meteorological possibilities. And what better time to lie in the sun or snuggle up somewhere (weather depending) and catch up on a bit of reading. Here are some books which tickled my psychological fancy this season, hope they…
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Turning Green
“O! beware, my lord, of jealousy, it is the green-eyed monster which doth mock The meat it feeds on.” William Shakespeare Last month I discussed the very important concept of our anxiety around climate change, and for this month I am considering a very different version of “going green”. This being, as Shakespeare writes, the…
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Eco-Anxiety – an anxiety unlike any other
“I don’t want your hope. I don’t want you to be hopeful. I want you to panic…and act as if the house was on fire.” Greta Thunberg During our deep lockdown days, one of the things I really treasured was the quiet as I currently live surrounded by traffic. A year ago, mornings were wonderfully silent, with…
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A new normal?
“ ‘The new normal’…We can’t even say the word ‘abnormal’…it reminds us of what came before. Better to forget what once was normal…” Zadie Smith (pre-Covid times) And so, it’s another change of seasons and as the blossoms come out of their hiding place, we too, are coming out of our covid-imposed lockdown. Pub gardens…
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Getting to the root- a tooth story
“I am not one of those who neglect the body in order to make of it a sacrificial offering for the soul, since my soul would thoroughly dislike being served in such a fashion.” Rainer Maria Rilke For this month’s blog I wanted to share with you a recent personal story (apologies in advance for…
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Conspiracy theories-why believe?
I found myself recently on a walk (socially distanced of course) with someone who saw the World incredibly different from me. He spoke in sweeping generalisations about government corruption (this was all governments not just UK by the way). He spoke of “they” but never clarified who “they” were. He spoke of his frustration around…
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Jagged little pill? – Therapy and medication
“I’m fine, but I’m bipolar. I’m on seven medications, and I take medication three times a day. This constantly puts me in touch with the illness I have. I’m never quite allowed to be free of that for a day.” Carrie Fisher It’s becoming clear that we’re unfortunately facing two pandemics at present (as if one…
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Tick Tock Tick Tock – Our anxiety of time
“We have handed over our instincts to the hands of a clock. Increasingly, we serve time rather than time serving us.” Matt Haig, author I’m writing this during my festive break. A well-deserved rest, as we all need, from a very strange year. And yet my restful state doesn’t come easy. I make lists of…
Suzie Chick 