mental health
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Growing joy
Describe one simple thing you do that brings joy to your life. One of the simplest things I do that brings joy in my life is stepping into my garden everyday. It’s by no means a paradise; I’m far from being a competent gardener. I struggle to keep up with the endless weeding, and I’ve… Continue reading
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The needs of the many…
What are you good at? After almost half a century of crippling self-doubt, agonising over this very question and desperately trying to overcome what a lifetime of evidence has (unwantedly) revealed, I can say with 100% certainty what I’m good at. I’m good at being a sensitive person. No, I’m not just good at it… Continue reading
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Try a little kindness instead
Write about a time when you didn’t take action but wish you had. What would you do differently? Many years ago, one of my work colleagues suffered a mental health crisis. They began behaving erratically, at first wildly happy, but then – increasingly – extremely depressed. I can’t say with certainty what triggered their crisis;… Continue reading
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From looking down to looking up
“The Final Frontier” has fascinated me all my life. With my love of all things weird and otherworldly (originating from my childhood exposure to Star Trek, Star Wars, Doctor Who and many other 80s sci-fi shows and movies), I can’t help but be drawn to astronomical concepts and space-inspired imagery. They take me away from… Continue reading
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A few of my favourite things
What are 5 everyday things that bring you happiness? I like this prompt. I spend (or rather waste) so much of my time worrying about everything under the sun, that I often forget about the simple pleasures present in my life. It’s always good to be reminded of them. Some of my everyday sources of… Continue reading
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No pop, no alcohol…and being a killjoy
I stopped consuming fizzy drinks about 10 years ago; I only drink plain water with every meal (or whenever I’m thirsty). I may have the occasional lemonade at a social gathering, but these are pretty infrequent and if I can, I always try to choose water (ideally still, not carbonated). I try to avoid juice… Continue reading
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Living the dream?
When you think of the word “successful,” who’s the first person that comes to mind and why? My answer to this prompt is somewhat telling of how I view my own level of success. When I think of the word “successful”, I think of several of my friends and work colleagues. They all seem to… Continue reading
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Keeping a mental locker
What would you do if you lost all your possessions? I have very few personal possessions that mean anything to me. I used to have so many though. Books. Videos. Childhood toys. My keyboard. My music collection. Momentoes and souvenirs of the first 26 years of my life. But all of these have been in… Continue reading
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Be awestruck, be humble, be kind
What’s the trait you value most about yourself? If you asked me this a year ago, I would have really struggled to come up with an answer. When you wake up every morning thinking your life is an utter shambles, being asked to dig out something about yourself that you feel positive about can turn… Continue reading
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Life without a song
What would your life be like without music? Music is a beautiful art form that enriches my life. It uplifts my daily routine and stirs my emotions in a myriad of ways. It can make me feel happy or sad, nostalgic or hopeful. Hearing an old familiar song transports me back in time to a… Continue reading
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The Fool
At certain times in our lives, we are required to make a life-changing decision. Like the carefree young Fool in a tarot deck, we are faced with a cliff edge and must choose whether to step back into what is safe, or take a leap into the scary unknown. Twenty years ago, I stood at… Continue reading