Just over 4 weeks ago I left for the States, on a new adventure; for work, for adventure and I guess you could say, a need to reset. I came away from the UK with 3 things in mind; A need to feel part of a different culture/pace of life, a place to call my home; something different than being a ‘traveller or tourist’, and an exploration to see if I could make the digital nomad lifestyle work for me. I’ve been home a few days, and keep returning to this piece, as I’ve been finding it so hard to articulate this amazing experience. It’s been so much more than I could have imagined. Before I left ..read more

So for anyone that saw the UK TV show Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof where viewers witnessed a group of celebrities, having what appeared to be, to the untrained eye, some kind of breakdown. It turns out this was in fact Wim Hof guiding the group through a breath class. Whilst the slight sceptic in me wondered how much of what we were viewing was for TV ratings, I am an innately curious person. (A curious combination you might think, coming from a person that is currently on a 3 week long yoga retreat in the middle of Central America). So in light of the inner sceptic in any of us, I wanted to ..read more

Today I caught my first wave. Not a big deal for those that have spent many hours learning the craft of surfing, but for me it represented a huge leap. Not just because I actually managed to hold my own and get up on the board, an accomplishment in itself, but mainly for the lessons it taught me in not listening to your inner voice of self doubt. To put this into context, I’m currently on a yoga retreat in Nicaragua. A bit of an experiment of combining work, travel, time to reset. I’ll keep you posted on how that goes, but firstly I wanted to share some experiences with you. To illustrate how ..read more

Over the past few weeks I’ve been thinking a lot about loss, and the power it can have over those that experience it. Not just the all too common sad feelings that come with the grief of losing someone/something, but the potential power of healing through those experiences. Something that remains true through my childless not by choice journey. The loss of a loved one This past month has been an extremely difficult time, as I sadly lost my Dad. I can’t put into words the rollercoaster of emotions I’ve felt. The feelings are something I’ve ever experienced, something only those that have lost a ..read more

If I could speak to a younger version of me, the one that left university with less confidence in her creative ability than when she started. I’d tell her, ‘It’ll be ok. Your passion for art will come back, you just need a little time, the right set of circumstances and a few inspiring ‘mentors’ to find your way again’. It may have been over 20 years, but it was worth the wait! Brighton Artist Open House; is so much more than art! Last month I opened my home for the 3rd time for the Brighton Artist Open Houses festival. It’s become an annual event that’s very much a part of my life, something ..read more

One of the many things you discover in a life with no children is people’s huge misconceptions of what it’s like not to have children! I can only speak for myself, and the few people I know that aren’t part of the parenting world, but trust me it’s definitely not endless travel, lie-ins and nights out. There’s also a tendency to think of people without children as being selfish, or at least selfish with their time. However, when you stop and think about this, how true can this really be? When was the last time a childless friend wasn’t there for you when you needed them? In a world focused on ..read more

What’s your ‘reason for being?’ The Japanese word “ikigai” means a “life purpose” or “raison d’être.” Ikigai refers to defining your personal meaning of life in relation to your talents, passions, and profession, as well as what you can give to the wider world. I’ve previously talked about the struggle I had in finding my own ‘reason for being’, you may call it my legacy My journey through life coaching, which followed with training to become a life coach, has helped me discover a new life. One where I have re-connected with previous talents, as well as focusing on areas of my life where previ ..read more

Through my childless journey, I have met some incredible people. Both Men and Women, who continue to deal with the obstacles and pain that comes with being childless not by choice. A couple of months ago I was approached by Helen from Happy and Childless. Talk about kindred spirits! So much in common and so many shared experiences, which meant we hardly took a breath during our first Zoom call! Helen is the host of the Happy and Childless Podcast As well as the amazing work she does with the podcast, she’s also just launched an app. Which is like ‘Bumble for friends’ within the childless commu ..read more

We all do it. Say we’re ok, when we’re not really. 9 times out of 10, many of us can slip into the default. Perhaps we don’t feel comfortable talking about how we’re feeling. Sometimes it’s not the time, or the place, or perhaps we get the sense that the person hasn’t the time to hear the reality. One of the most powerful things I learnt recently around mental health, is the power of asking the right questions, of ourselves and to those around us. When we start to really understand that our mental health is a moving picture, we can recognise where we’re at and what external factors may be infl ..read more

Photoshoot I don’t know anyone that doesn’t have some insecurities with the way you look. With age we can gain more acceptance, but in moments of sabotage it can be easy to look at the negatives rather than the positives. This week, as I prepared for a photoshoot for my new business, self sabotage raised it’s head due to insecurities about my appearance. As my photographer Kitty, made me feel at ease, I realised that the shoot wasn’t so much the issue, but critiquing myself in the photos that followed was. Whether it’s facial features, weight, hair, skin issues, facial expressions, and the eve ..read more