In the last few months, I’ve needed water. And when I say I’ve needed water, I don’t mean that I've been excessively thirsty. I mean I’ve had a need to immerse myself in water. Like a calling, an urge, a desire to be in, on or under water. Almost a whisper from my body that that is where it needs me to be. Being a ‘nature’ child, I’ve always been around water. I’d spend hours of my day as a child swimming in the ocean. I’ve always needed to be around the sea and have been esp

You've done the work. After a lifetime of people-pleasing, putting other people needs before your own and becoming less of yourself as a result of it, you’ve finally articulated what you need from other people. It might have been saying no to someone overloading with you with more tasks in the workplace. It may have been declining a party invite from a party-hard acquaintance. It might have been a conversation about what you won’t put up going forward with from your partner.

Many people get beyond excited during the festive season. The celebrations, the sparkly decorations, time off from work, nostalgic family recipes and gift-giving bringing smiles to faces everywhere. But in my attempt at keeping things real, there are a few people who don’t particularly like certain aspects of this time of the year. Namely, some of the people they must spend time with. One may think of me as the psychologist Grinch, but if you could give me a mince pie for eve