This week I’ve been reading about ‘emotional contagion‘ and the ripple effects of emotions. Essentially the idea is that when one person expresses an emotion it can be mirrored by other people. So the emotion ‘spreads’ from one person to another. American social psychologist Elaine Hatfield was one of the first to scientifically define emotional […]
When you’re smiling… Read more »
The majority of us know we spend far too much time on our phones. But when everything is available to you with a simple touch or scroll, it’s hard not to, right? It’s just so easy and convenient. A 2022 study found that Australians were spending on average just over five and a half hours
Hanging on the telephone… Read more »
We’ve been watching the final series of The Crown this week. Last night we watched two episodes. The one where Diana, Princess of Wales, died in a car crash in Paris, and the one leading up to her funeral. It only struck me yesterday the irony of our timing. Yesterday, was 28 years to the
A migrant’s memories… Read more »
There’s something special about Spring… Perhaps more than any other season. Shrugging off the cold of Winter and starting to notice the days getting warmer, and longer. A sense of re-awakening. A restart or reset. New growth in plants… The birds are nesting, and wildlife is on the move. This time of year has long
Spring into action… Read more »
I remember as a little girl (probably around 7 years old) joining the Brownies. It was the young girls’ version of the Girl Guides. I was excited to wear the brown uniform with its yellow necktie. But I also remember being kind of terrified. A slightly older girl, Bridget, took me under her wing. I
It’s good to be me… Read more »
I’m sure you’ve had them… Those recurring dreams when you’re completely unprepared for something. My ususal one, is I’m about to sit an exam and I suddenly realise I haven’t revised for it. Or I’ve revised completely the wrong subject. Let me just put it out there, this was never me. I was a total
A sense of balance, we are told, is essential for our wellbeing. But there are many aspects to this. There’s our physical balance, our mental health balance and our overall life balance. It’s all a balancing act in itself. My star sign is Libra – the scales – which signifies balance. So you’d think I’d
All about balance… Read more »
I’m facing more surgery tomorrow. The third now on my right foot. The initial surgery was supposed to ‘fix’ the osteoarthritis pain in my foot & ankle. But of course, I had to be different. The second surgery was to try to help, but it didn’t really make any difference. So this really is a
A former student of mine has recently ventured onto the Balearic island of Ibiza. Despite being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognised for its cultural and historical significance, it’s probably better known as the party island of the Mediterranean. I visited there in my late 20s. In fact I went on a 2wentys holiday package
Thank you for the music… Read more »
I recently came across the word fjaka (pron fee-ah-ka). It’s a Coatian word, specifically from the Dalmatian coast area. Often described as untranslatable, it’s usually explained as complete relaxation or the art of doing nothing. A particluar state of body and mind. A sort of day-dreamy state. I prefer to describe this concept as not
