I have decided to write the occasional blog on books that I read. What better way to start than with a book written by my editor ‘Alison Williams’! It’s always good to check that your editor practices what she preaches, (said tongue in cheek!) I was not disappointed, it was brilliantly written and I loved…
I was walking my dogs early this morning when my phone battery died. I took this as a sign to think about this week’s blog post, since I couldn’t listen to my usual audible book app. My mind drifted to the people in my life, acquaintances, and friends. I’ve always been a little hung…
When I was in Sheffield spinal unit, back in 2019, I thrived on many of the challenges I faced. My goal was to get home as quickly as possible, so I threw myself into physio and muscle strengthening like a crazy person. I was determined to get my body back walking again. Ambassador for the…
So, I drew a blank with what to write about this week; mental health stigma, something about my recovery from a spinal cord injury, or any other ‘general stuff’. Why did I draw a blank? Perhaps because it’s fathers day and I feel a little low. But I started to think, why do people want…
This is a question some of us ask ourselves when we meet people in wheelchairs in everyday life, perhaps imagining what it would be like to be in their position. I remember my husband once telling me that as part of his training with Mencap, he spent three hours in a wheelchair to gain perspective…
Have you ever wondered how stigma evolves? No, I’m not talking about that sticky stem that attracts pollen and bees in the centre of flowers, but rather, the negative beliefs and attitudes that can build prejudice and stereotypes, especially with mental health illness. Evolution of Stigma Stigma evolves through fear or lack of understanding….
I posted the picture above on Twitter this week for a hashtag post with the word #stand. I thought it summed up a very good example of the word and on such a significant occasion. This got me drifting back to the time it happened in 2019 and remembering not only how difficult it was,…
My father once told me that ‘money cannot buy happiness,’ and I used to think, “easy for you to say – when you have a heck of a lot of it!” But then, after deeper discussion, he further explained how he believed happiness is in the journey to riches, not the result. It was the…
Marilyn had made more effort with her appearance than usual. She would never leave the house without her warpaint applied each morning, carefully choosing the right outfit to impress the mothers at the school gate. But tonight, was a special occasion; it called for her blazing red lipstick, extra thick lashes, and stiletto heels. First to…