Pages Menu
TwitterFacebook
Categories Menu

Posted by on Dec 23, 2018 in Dodo Diary |

Dodo Diary Dec 2018: a better life, two years on

Dodo Diary Dec 2018: a better life, two years on

Since I last wrote my Dodo Diary, a wonderful thing happened… and two terrible things.

If you’re wondering why I haven’t been updating Emily the Dodo lately, let me explain.

One of the terrible things happened first. My sister Lucy told the family some sad news – she’d been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Words cannot express my horror and despair at the thought of losing her, but fortunately so far I haven’t had to face that dreaded day.

Lucy’s still alive, but the use of her hands was damaged by the chemo, so she won’t be drawing more pictures for my Dodo Diary. Instead, she has taken to blogging, as she can still just about type on the computer. Take a look at Lucy’s blog.

The wonderful thing came next – we sold our house and achieved my heart’s desire by moving to a Victorian cottage on the beautiful Isle of Wight. It’s the place I’ve always wanted to be – and now I’ve made it!

Read More

Posted by on Dec 19, 2016 in Motivation |

How to fix your sleep problems for a better life

How to fix your sleep problems for a better life

Is every day one big yawn?

Tackling your sleep problems can improve your motivation, build your energy levels and give you a better life.

Most people feel better and function more efficiently when they get around 7 to 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night. How much sleep are you really getting? How much do you need?

Read More

Posted by on May 14, 2015 in Self-Control |

Hoarding or treasuring? 10 great excuses to have a clear-out today

Hoarding or treasuring? 10 great excuses to have a clear-out today

Are you a collector – or a borderline hoarder?

When you look around your home, do you come up with 100 excuses why you should keep all your junk? Or can you say, hand on heart, that everything there is something you really need to own? And that everything you don’t actually need is something you love, that brings you pleasure every time you see it?

I thought not – nor can I!

Let’s be honest – we’ve all got far too much stuff. And a lot of it is a total waste of space, money and energy. So instead of excuses to keep everything, let’s find some excuses to clear out the clutter and make space to enjoy the possessions we genuinely treasure.

Read More

Posted by on Apr 20, 2015 in Creativity, Purpose | 2 comments

10 ways to achieve something worthwhile with your life

10 ways to achieve something worthwhile with your life

Sometimes we just feel dissatisfied with who we are and what we’ve done so far in our lives. Do you long to achieve something – anything – but you can’t think what?

If we don’t like the way our lives are going, we can break the mould. It’s time to develop our sense of achievement and harness our skills and experience to do something amazing.

Here are some ideas…

Read More

Posted by on Mar 17, 2015 in Purpose |

That Perfect Moment: Finding Where You Really Want to Be

That Perfect Moment: Finding Where You Really Want to Be

A moment frozen in time.

A sunny garden on the Isle of Wight, with a glass of fresh orange juice and a plate of toast and Marmite.

Alone, in a place of utter peace.

With the wash of the sea in the distance, birds singing, pears ripening fatly on the trees and gentle flower scents wafting on a warm breeze. An elderly ginger cat ambling around the flower-beds and a red squirrel climbing cautiously along the fence to investigate some nuts on the bird-table.

Perfect.

Maybe your perfect moment is different. Maybe it isn’t peace and solitude – perhaps you’re celebrating at a happy family gathering, or sipping tequilas on a palm-fringed beach with friends, or looking out at a crowded auditorium, finishing the best speech of your life, as the audience erupts in applause.

But we can’t always stay in those perfect moments. Life has a way of intruding. We have families, jobs, friends, responsibilities – and life won’t just be ignored while we sit around drinking orange juice in sunny gardens.

Read More

Posted by on Feb 17, 2015 in Motivation | 1 comment

Beware of the tigers: Create a plan to change your life and hack your way through the jungle

Beware of the tigers: Create a plan to change your life and hack your way through the jungle

Do you want to change your life?

It’s a jungle out there. You’ll have to take some protective clothing and mosquito ointment, don’t forget a stash of provisions to keep you going, you’ll need a map to find your way – oh, and look out for the tigers!

Setting out to change your whole life can be like mounting an expedition through uncharted jungle. All around you are obstacles you’ll need to get past, things which can tangle you up and hold you back.

You don’t know exactly what’s out there or even where you’ll end up, but you know it’s not gonna be a walk in the park. You’ll need to be intrepid, determined and ready to face whatever comes your way – but most of all, you’ll need to be prepared, so it’s important to plan carefully before you start out.

Read More

Pin It on Pinterest