I’m having lunch with my daughter. I am eating the leftovers from Monday and she is in the kitchen making herself something. She calls from the kitchen, “I don’t know how I’m going to eat this without it falling apart”. Moments later she emerges with an impressive looking falafel and hummus wrap. … [Read more...] about How To Avoid Upsetting People
Self Acceptance
Why There’s No Point Guarding Against The Future
When we were in our teens Paul and I invented a game. From halfway down my long garden, we’d climb over fences and hedges into neighbouring gardens. If a light went on or we heard a door open we’d scoot back from where we came as quickly as possible, hiding behind trees or in the midst of shrubs to … [Read more...] about Why There’s No Point Guarding Against The Future
Why It’s Hard To Say No.
In the park Flynn, my sisters Lurcher spots him first and takes off like the wind, hurtling through the trees and off down towards the lake where the path meanders, with the others soon in hot pursuit. “It’s Stuart,” I say, with a resigned half-smile. I know what’s coming. “That bloody man. He’s … [Read more...] about Why It’s Hard To Say No.
Why I Sometimes Miss Being Sad
Out for a birthday dinner with my family, we are celebrating the end of my son’s teenage years. Talk turns to the recent documentary about Michael Jackson’s alleged child abuse and a discussion about whether the most despicable crimes render art worthless, and I wonder how much art is borne from … [Read more...] about Why I Sometimes Miss Being Sad
How To Be Good Enough At Perfection
While reading an article about a 30% rise in perfectionism I think about the number of times I’ve told my teenage daughter to be less demanding of herself, and then I realise I have rewritten this paragraph at least six times. Once, in a woodwork class at school, I was asked to plane a piece of … [Read more...] about How To Be Good Enough At Perfection