I left school at 18 with one A-level, good typing and shorthand speeds, and few ambitions beyond earning a decent salary. Two years earlier, my dad had suffered a stroke that left him partly paralysed and unable to return to his managerial job. All I could think about was financial independence. I knew I couldn’t rely on my parents to support me in that way. I’d worked hard for my … [Read more...] about Dear Alan, you changed my life. I hope I can be the Alan in someone else’s life
My Personal Stories
Why the Olympics symbolise my own triumph over adversity
One of the benefits of writing regular blogs – which I have been doing on and off since December 2011 – is that you can scroll through your archive and get a glimpse into your mindset at particular points in your story. This is what I wrote in June 2012, in the run-up to the London Olympics: “I sense that I’m not alone in feeling that 2012 is a momentous year, one in which people are starting … [Read more...] about Why the Olympics symbolise my own triumph over adversity
Why 1981 was my Year for the Ages
We’ve all lived through those years in our lives – those golden, razzle-dazzle years when everything seems to come at us in an exhilarating, heady rush. I had one of those years 40 years ago: 1981. To understand why, let me take you back to 1980 and my appointment as a staff writer (under the pen name Betty Page) for Sounds in June of that year. Following that momentous event, I’d quickly … [Read more...] about Why 1981 was my Year for the Ages
Dispatches from my ancestral home
I’m sitting on a rough wooden bench looking out at the Worm’s Head, one of the most famous landmarks on the Gower Peninsula. It is looking particularly stunning today, resting underneath a blue sky striped with faint clouds and aircraft trails. It is a distinctive promontory that Queen of Dragons Daenerys Targaryen might have used to demonstrate her power. (I later discovered that the name is … [Read more...] about Dispatches from my ancestral home
Why you have to let the white space speak
A few years ago, I read an interview with one of Obama’s speechwriters. I’ve forgotten their name, but I’ll never forget their quote: “You have to let the white space speak.” It’s a quote I often share with participants in the public speaking trainings I facilitate, to illustrate the value of pacing and pausing, and the fact that the space we put around our words is as important as the words … [Read more...] about Why you have to let the white space speak
How to stop worrying and start living: a tribute to my friend Julia
For most of my adult life - and maybe even before that – I thought of myself as a worrier. Even during periods of my life when things were going smoothly, I used to become suspicious and find something – anything – to worry about. But a couple of things eventually shifted that mindset. One was a quote by the spiritual teacher Ram Dass, who said, “Worrying is like praying for what you don’t … [Read more...] about How to stop worrying and start living: a tribute to my friend Julia