As I watched the swearing-in of POTUS 46, I wept like a baby - just like I did when the networks called the US election for Joe Biden back in November. They were tears of exhaustion and relief that, finally, 45 no longer has the power to wreak damage on the world. After an anxious wait during which American democracy was shaken to its core, Trump finally departed the White House (I had to … [Read more...] about At last, a leader who believes in ‘we’ rather than ‘me’
truth
Why we’re suffering from truth decay
One of my back teeth started aching this week. I’m wondering if it’s a reaction to the rapid decaying of truth that’s impacting politics and culture today, both in the UK and the US. I was aware of the term post-truth (Oxford Dictionaries’ Word of the Year in 2016), but hadn’t heard of truth decay until Obama started mentioning it in the interviews he’s been doing recently to publicise his new … [Read more...] about Why we’re suffering from truth decay
Suddenly One Summer
It is the summer of 1976 - one of the hottest I have ever known. I am 19 years old, and personal secretary to a genial grey-haired transport specialist at the Department of the Environment who is counting the days to retirement. I have been doing this job since I left school at 18. It’s comfortable and undemanding, with a reasonable salary. I have no cause to imagine that my career will not … [Read more...] about Suddenly One Summer
Don’t edit your truth
“I pray for the courage to speak my unedited truth because I believe that otherwise I cannot be of true value to anyone else.” So speaks happiness expert Robert Holden in his book Success Intelligence. This is what he does before giving a talk - which he does about 100 times a year - when his mind is telling him stories about looking good and gaining acceptance from his audience. … [Read more...] about Don’t edit your truth
I’m fine. No really… Well, actually, I’m not fine at all
It’s a conversation you probably have several times a day. Except it’s not really a conversation at all. "Hi, how are you?" "I’m fine thanks. And you?" "Mustn’t grumble!" You’ve scored points for being polite and sociable but none for content or meaning. And if you don’t really feel fine at all, and actually you’re masking depression or sadness, … [Read more...] about I’m fine. No really… Well, actually, I’m not fine at all