What is it about footwear that is so memorable? I still remember the sandals I wore to primary school – traditional Clarks with spongy soles and a T-bar, and the silvery sparklers I paraded around in when I was crowned May Queen. That was when shoes were fun and easy. When I got to my teens, things got woeful and complicated. All of a sudden shoes were important, shoes spoke volumes about who … [Read more...] about Story of the Day #2: Sole to Soul
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Story of the Day #1: A Warm Glass of Flat Cola
I am setting myself a new target: to write a story every day. I may not publish every one of them, but it’s a way of kick-starting myself back into the spiritual practice of writing from which I had become disconnected during a summer of divine discontent. Here is the first story. All of them will be autobiographical, because part of my purpose is to help people understand that their story can … [Read more...] about Story of the Day #1: A Warm Glass of Flat Cola
The universe is expanding, so live a bigger story…
Last night I watched a documentary about mapping the universe. What was extraordinary about this story for me was not only the skill and determination of the cosmologists involved to take on such a seemingly overwhelming project, but that they were willing to allow themselves to dream this big. And what I also took away was that, when it comes to this vast, unimaginable scale all that … [Read more...] about The universe is expanding, so live a bigger story…
Enter the Compassionate Ninja…
I’m a writer, OK? I’ve been a professional writer for more than 30 years. That’s what I do - I write. That’s how I communicate. That’s how I spread my ideas. That’s how I can show up without showing off. But guess what? I also have a voice. Not a voice that hides behind words, but a proper voice that makes sounds and everything… Before I was a writer, I sang: a semi-professional backing singer … [Read more...] about Enter the Compassionate Ninja…
The thrill of appearing outside yourself
There’s no getting away from the fact that I was a shy child. All through my school years my reports praised my conscientiousness and good standard of work but repeatedly criticised me for not speaking up. A typical comment was: “Beverley is a quiet girl who would benefit from participating more in class discussions.” My teachers didn’t seem to consider my shyness might be a factor in this, or … [Read more...] about The thrill of appearing outside yourself
I hurt, therefore I am telling a story
I learnt a big lesson about pain and suffering this week. Pain - both physical and emotional - is unavoidable in life, because we have a body. Emotional pain - in the form of sadness, grief, fear, anger or a messy combination of all these darker feelings - is damned uncomfortable but it’s actually nothing to be afraid of. If you are prepared to turn towards the pain with great compassion, to … [Read more...] about I hurt, therefore I am telling a story