As an author I know the value of writing & even more important I know the power of story.

Let's take a journey down memory lane.

How much do you remember about the last 3 months? Do you remember everything you did? Or is it a bit of a blur and you remember just a handful of moments?

When I think back, I almost always find that time has flown and I remember much fewer things than I'd expect – was it really nearly 5 years ago that we first went into lockdown?

In this episode, borrowing from the work of Matthew Dicks, the author of Storyworthy, I am going to outline & encourage you to learn & utilize a method to keep track of your days in an interesting way. I’m going to begin it myself.

Don't worry, I'm not going to suggest writing a diary! And I’m going to share a process for creating this new habit.

There have been many occasions in my life where I’ve felt lonely. Some of these times I remember as incredibly painful; other times, I’ve relished in my solitude.

During some periods, I’ve even forced myself into seclusion, which comes easily to me as an introvert.

One thing all of these solo experiences have taught me is that it’s okay to be alone. In fact, with solitude, there’s a lot of self-growth to be had.

In this podcast I want to share the value of solitude, yet also distinguish it from being alone or feeling lonely hence the title: Solitude: Not a Synonym for Loneliness

I’ll chat about solitudes benefits, why some folks fear solitude, and of course I’ll share my experiences with solitude over my lifetime.

In this podcast I’ll chat about life’s mess - we’ve all been there or perhaps you’re sitting in one right now.

It may sound strange to hear, but I’m going to advocate for you to embrace the mess - perhaps at times champion it.

Your defects and weaknesses make you authentic. Don't focus on your shortcomings. Never assume that others just see those things. In actuality, the traits you dislike about yourself are probably what people are drawn to. You are so unique because of your many freckles, boisterous personality, tell-it-like-it-is demeanour, and total openness.

You could believe that these perceived weaknesses lessen your awesomeness, yet the contrary is true. These characteristics set you apart from the competition. Someone loves every single thing about you; even the things you wish you could change. The understatement of the century is that we are our own harshest critics.

Put yourself in your closest friend's shoes whenever you begin to feel inadequate or like your life is going in a different direction from where you want it to. If they were present, what would they tell you? And be truthful with yourself. You know they would tell you that you are much more than you realize.

They'd convince you that people genuinely find your quirks to be cute and endearing. You wouldn't be allowed to be so harsh on yourself. They'd be accurate, too. Everything in yourself that you wish to change is precisely what makes you so special. Why on earth would you want to resemble someone else? It's preferable to stand out by being distinctive than to blend in and follow the crowd. You're simply too great for that.