I felt the hate of the world on my shoulders — Today marks the first day of my (new) life. I never intended to leave the police. I was in it for the long haul. I was there to fly through the ranks and serve my country. I was dedicated to bringing about justice and helping the vulnerable. Nominated as the…

Being nice is so passé; kindness is where all the cool kids hang out — My world turned upside down and inside out when I lost my K9 soulmate. I fell into a deep, dark hole with limited oxygen. Her departure changed me. The acute stages of grief were disorientating. It felt like I was starting life from scratch and learning how to live again…

My take on the meaning of feminism. — I sometimes wonder if I am the product of marital rape. You see, I was born in the early 80s, my parent's relationship was already hostile, and in Scotland at that time, it wasn’t until a court ruling in 1989 that rape within the confines of marriage was recognised as…

What if we focused on what we have to gain instead of what we stand to lose? — It took me two years to pull the plug on an unhealthy relationship. I knew I wasn’t happy. But when considering what my life would look like if we split up, all I could see was difficulty and suffering. I chose long-term misery over short-term discomfort. But this was not…

It’s all about ikigai — “Take your passion, and make it happen”. If not for that pesky extra word, this line in Irene Cara’s song “What A Feeling” would be a perfect six-word story about purpose. Part of what makes us human is the need for purpose. Centuries ago, the general human purpose was all…

Using these words implies some women are an anomaly of their gender — When did you last hear a man described as strong or outspoken? The sad news of the death of Rosalynn Carter, former first lady, is tainted by the choice of words used to encapsulate her. …

This isn’t just any Christmas advert; this is the fabulous and inclusive M&S advert — “It’s the most wonderful time of the year…” Really Andy Williams? Is it really? These days, Christmas has become a brand monopolised by companies that peddle their products and services. They’ve created a shopping frenzy based on spreading weaponised fear that Christmas just isn’t Christmas without a certain type of…

Mastery is achieved through practice, and practice brings us closer to perfect — “The best is the enemy of the good.” — Voltaire In our quest to be the best at something, we become consumed with finding a way to be the best that we forget to practice what we actually want to be the best in. But there are no shortcuts. Perfectionism…

What do we do when life becomes all work and no play? — There’s a sort of Emperor's New Clothes feel to a viral TikTok video I watched recently. The TikTok is by a Gen Z female who goes under the name of Brielleybelly123. The ridicule and pushback she has received in response to her raw and honest TikTok is nauseating. But she…