People are more important than things
Possessions can clutter our lives and drown out what truly matters. This article invites you to reclaim the value of people — with compassion, presence and authentic connection.
Pearls of wisdom your mother gave you but you did not always listen to. A reminder of what they were…..
Possessions can clutter our lives and drown out what truly matters. This article invites you to reclaim the value of people — with compassion, presence and authentic connection.
Modern life, with all its busyness, can create isolation. But throughout history, women have come together in circles, rituals, and shared wisdom, drawing strength from one another. Reclaiming this sacred bond is not just nourishing – it is essential for the soul.
Too often, women feel the pressure to be everything to everyone – strong, capable, always holding things together. But in sacred community, you don’t have to perform or prove yourself. You can simply be – messy, vulnerable, real.
In sisterhood, your joys are celebrated, your struggles are witnessed, and your voice is honoured.
When women hold space for each other, something magical happens – the soul exhales, knowing it is safe.
There is a unique power in coming together with like-minded women on a spiritual path. Whether in a women’s circle, a retreat, or simply a deep conversation with a trusted soul sister, the energy of shared intention amplifies growth and healing.
The experience of unkindness is not the lesson.
No one wants you to experience pain.
The learning comes from how you choose to respond to the unkindness.
Your response can reflect in how you behave with others, but equally important is how do you behave to yourself. Do you allow the unkindness to strike at your heart and to unduly affect your energy and well-being?
Of course, you should consider what the other person did or said to you. Try to be clear on;
Whichever basis the unkindness came from, with this knowledge you can act more wisely with yourself. In both scenarios you will need to comfort and nurture yourself. But the learning will be different depending on the scenario.
If there was an element of truth in the unkindness,
Sadness often goes hand-in-hand with loneliness. You can feel lonely in an unhappy relationship, family or city. Humans are tribal by nature so loneliness is the hardest of conditions. I experienced loneliness as a widow in my 40s. With two children life was very busy but inside I had an aching loneliness. I count my blessings that I fell in love again and my husband came with a large, boisterous and loving family.
Over Christmas and the New Year festivities many of us have enjoyed time with friends and family – even if there were some irritations along the way. Sadly many have spent this time alone. Or a person who normally lives alone, who has spent time with people, is now faced with going home to a lonely life. How daunting is that?
The 2nd January can be a sad time for many.
If like me when I was a widow, you feel lonely, rather than sit at home feeling sad, try to do things which bring you into contact with other people.
Smile at the world and the world will smile back.
Join a club or a chat with a neighbour can make a world of difference to how you feel about your day.
I know it’s not easy, I have been there.
Each little step you take will ease your situation. It does take effort and perseverance to move forward but it will be worthwhile.
If you are home bound, you can always call Esther Rantzen’s – The Silver Line, telephone number 0800 4 70 80 90 for a chat. Some call just to say ‘Good Morning’ and ‘Good Night.’
For those of you lucky enough to have people who care for you, be grateful for them. Dr Chatterjee suggests an exercise to boost your positive feelings. True happiness comes from the heart.
The Love List – write down five things you love about someone close to you.
It could be for a partner, friend, child, colleague, you can take a different person each day or stay with the same person. In close relationships we often focus on the things that irritate you rather the things that bring you joy. This simple exercise changes the focus onto the positive things in the relationship and often changes how you feel about it. So often people do not reflect on their relationships in this manner until its too late and the person is lost to them in some way.
If you are aware of a person who lives alone, perhaps a neighbour, colleague, friend or relative; take some time in January to give them a call, better still visit them, go for a coffee or set another place at your dinner table. It will help them to get past the January Blues. When you give, you often receive as well.
How do you feel?
If you relate to this article and need some more help and guidance in your life
It was a good thought to send me to school with and one I particularly remember today. When you are open and feel happy, you radiate such a lovely positive energy people will respond to you without even thinking.
Don’t believe me?
Give my suggestion a try. Spend today smiling at people – walking down the street, in the queue at the supermarket, in the park, at the office. Wherever you come across a stranger, smile at them. Make it a lovely big smile rather than a shy grimace.
I would bet my last penny; most people will smile back, and it will make you feel good.
Maybe you don’t feel there is much in your life to smile about. But just give it a try anyway. In my experience, smiles breed smiles and with each extra smile you will feel more positive, connected to others and generally have a greater sense of well-being.
How we are and the energy we naturally radiate affects those around us. A stranger may be feeling sad, or lonely or many other emotions that can make you feel down. Your smile can help to uplift them in the moment you face each other. What a lovely gift to give someone. Remember to
So how does this work?
Whether you believe in the Law of Attraction or not, it still operates. Universal energy, if nothing else, is consistent and reliable. We connect with universal energy through our emotions. Therefore, if you are an angry person who is aggressive in the way you live your life, the universe will send you angry people and situations. Likewise, if you are a loving person, you will attract loving people and situations.
By consciously smiling you are radiating a gently, loving energy which is why other people respond and smile back at you. As you connect to universal energy with love, it is further amplified. The person you smiled at will feel better and may then smile to another person. And so, the smiles and loving energy goes on….
In a world full of chaos, each of us can add love to our world with just a little thoughtfulness and very little effort. What a difference it would make.

In a plate full of goodness, you need a little treat.
Wherever you are in the lockdown, be kind to yourself.
I love chocolate…
If you relate to this article and need some more help and guidance in your life – get in touch with Alison. Here are her contact details.
Click to contact me Here
Tel: +44 7966 137568 Email: [email protected]
Available face-to-face or via a video call depending on location.
In our busy 21st century lives, there is a trend towards families eating their meals from trays watching TV rather than sitting to a table and facing each other. Likewise teenagers, if allowed, will take their food and eat in their bedrooms.
Eating a meal at a table together as a family strengthens the family bond. Over the meal conversation will flow backwards and forwards between parents, between parents and children. By sharing their day’s news, family members are more involved with each others lives. This gives opportunities to support one another and for parents to guide a child.
Listening to the conversation between parents is another opportunity for children to learn how to behave with another person and to love and support that person. The simple act of eating a meal together provides many opportunities to learn for all involved.
Children may resist family dinners but as they become adults they will come to value them. They may even repeat the process with their own children. Children can learn much at the family dinner table. This can include listening to and participating in parental discussions on economics, world issues, and what it means to be living a life. Children gain the opportunity to assess and form their life values.
Dinner is wonderful opportunity not to be missed. Even if siblings want to fight and argue over dinner or parents disagree with children, (yes I have been there…) do not despair, it will pass and you will gain the benefit of being together even if you agree to disagree.
Life is often about compromise so practising it at home is good.