Adapting, Growing, and Thriving: Lessons from the Woodland
The Changing Seasons at Blue Bell Wood The sun is shining, and for the first time in months, I’ve shed my usual woolly hat, a small but delightful sign of the changing seasons here at Blue Bell Wood. The primroses are blooming, and I’m eagerly anticipating the arrival of the bluebells in the coming months. […]
Feminism Then and Now: What’s Changed, and What Hasn’t?
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown’s recent piece in The Independent calls for a revival of feminism. I welcomed it. Like her, I came of age in the 1970s, when feminism was a movement, not a brand. We didn’t just talk about equality, we fought for it. We challenged the system, questioned norms, and rejected the idea that our […]
Embracing the Beauty of Hard Work in the Woods
Finding Joy in Nature Spending time in the woods has a way of grounding us, bringing clarity and a deep sense of connection. Today was no exception. I arrived at my woodland retreat early in the morning, eager to get started on a new project. This time, I was working with Justin to build a […]
Marking 67½: Looking Back, Looking Forward
Today I am 67 and 26 weeks Halfway through my 67th year, I find myself reflecting, not just on this moment, but on the years that have shaped it. Looking back to 60 and 65, I see distinct chapters, each defined by transformation, adventure, and self-discovery. Looking ahead to 70 and beyond, I feel a […]
Why Some People Crave Self-Insight More Than Others
The Self-Insight Motive: Why Do Some People Crave Self-Knowledge More Than Others? The human desire to understand oneself has persisted for centuries, spanning ancient philosophy, religious traditions, and modern psychology. Given the popularity of astrology columns, self-help books, and personality quizzes, it seems that most, if not all, people are intrigued by the idea of […]
Rethinking Life Expectancy: Beyond the Oversimplified Narrative
Introduction The claim that life expectancy has more than doubled over the past century is widely cited in media, policy discussions, and public discourse. While technically accurate, this statistic is misleading without proper context. As a researcher who obtained my PhD at 64, specialising in retirement adjustment and meaningful ageing, I have watched this narrative […]
Future Self
Hi, it’s Dr Denise and I’m in my wood; I just wanted to do a short video to talk about something that I’ve written about this week . That’s about ‘Your Future Self’, and if you read the article, you will see how AI has aged me, and I look dreadful. Let’s hope that’s not […]
Imbolc: Embracing New Beginnings in Career and Life
As the wheel of the year turns to Imbolc on February 1st/2nd, we witness nature’s first stirrings of spring. Those earliest primroses pushing through frost-touched earth remind us that even in life’s wintertime, new growth is always possible. This ancient Celtic festival, marking the midpoint between winter solstice and spring equinox, has long been celebrated […]
The Rewards of Solitude: A Deeper Reflection
I want to return to the topic of aloneness which I covered in this article. This was prompted through an article by James Marriott in todays Times Newspaper and one from The Atlantic. John O’Donohue’s words continue to guide us: “Each one of us is alone in the world. It takes great courage to meet […]
How to Spark Joy and Enrich Your Life Every Day
Joy in Later Life I have a few things on my mind at the moment, and this morning I wondered why I’m feeling tired. I suspect a lot of mental energy is being spent on thinking through different things and making decisions. Perhaps that’s more exhausting now than it was when I was younger. When […]