This will most likely be my last blog as, after 11 years, 225 blogs & a book I’m running out of words. And if I needed proof, I really couldn’t decide what to write. Today (18th June 2024) is Finding Joy’s 6th birthday & in a quest for inspiration I read through my journal from the time she was published & these words really jumped out: ‘Maybe it was all about love, Maybe I did love myself enough to do the work & ask questions, Perhaps that was the case all along.’ To be honest reading them was quite emotional (especially as they’d slipped my mind) & I spent some time pondering everything I’ve done over the past few years. The phrase, “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” (Søren Kierkegaard) popped into my mind & I realised the one thing; the big thing I’ve learned (am still learning) is the importance of self-love. Everything I’ve done flowed from self-love Looking back, I see that everything I did flowed from self-love. It propelled me to ask for help, to do the ‘work’ to process my childless grief & the loss of both parents, it encouraged me to explore & to follow my curiosity, and most importantly it enabled me to be confident about who I am, tell my story & find my joy. This realisation was quite a shock as, although I touched on self-love in Finding Joy, it wasn’t something I’d consciously considered & … Read more
What will your contribution be?
This year World Childless Week runs from 13th to 19th September & I’m very proud to continue to be an Ambassador. I hope you’ll join me in celebrating our community … Read more
The Unexpected Gift of Sharing Our Stories
Today I have a guest post for you by Kathleen Guthrie Woods who is a long time member of the childless community & you may have come across if you … Read more
Finding Joy, 3 years on
18th June 2021 marks 3 years since the publication of my book, Finding Joy Beyond Childlessness so I decided it was time to read it. Yes, I know I wrote … Read more
What really comforts you?
Let’s be honest; many of us are struggling in one way or another right now, I certainly am. I got through last year in one piece, but the last couple … Read more
200 blogs later & I’m still chipping away!
This is my 200th blog (woo hoo). The first, published over 8 years ago on 7th March 2013 was entitled ‘Childless or Childfree – what’s the difference & does it … Read more
What if being childless were an opportunity?
In my recent talk for the Childless Collective Summit, I asked the question ‘What if being childless were an opportunity?’ And before you recoil in horror, let me explain… This … Read more
The Childless Collective Summit
To say that I’m excited to be telling you about the Virtual Childless Collective Summit, happening between March 18 & 21 is an understatement. It is THE MOST EXCITING EVENT … Read more
Unlocking Big Magic; Conversations about creativity, Divinity and beyond
I make no apologies for jumping straight in with a short, sharp dose of tough love & two big questions. Who can you be that you couldn’t have been if … Read more
Unlocking Big Magic; Conversations about creativity, Trust
I’ve been waiting for this chapter since we started because one concept in it changed my life when I first read the book 5 years ago. I had that in … Read more
Unlocking Big Magic; Conversations about creativity, Persistence
This week on Unlocking Big Magic we discuss another knotty subject. The title of the chapter & our conversation is Persistence & we talk about that, but for me the … Read more
Unlocking Big Magic; Conversations about creativity, Permission
Whose permission do you need? This week on Unlocking Big Magic we dig into permission. The whole book is about spotlighting & then dismantling the different ways we stop ourselves … Read more
Unlocking Big Magic, Conversations about creativity, Enchantment
I’m going to start by being completely honest & admitting I’ve had a bit of a s**t week; after a few days the reality of lockdown hit me & I … Read more
Unlocking Big Magic; Conversations about Creativity. Courage & Fear
Would you describe yourself as a creative person? Or maybe you’d like to be more creative & put up all sorts of barriers to stop yourself. I can’t draw or … Read more
Finding certainty in the most uncertain of times
THAT time of year is upon us &, in addition to everything we normally have to contend with by being childless at Christmas, this year there’s an added layer of … Read more
Why it’s time to change the story
We’re definitely in Autumn & I wanted to write a blog asking you to reflect on what you’ve learned these past few months, what story it’s time to let go … Read more