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Yesterday I let my emotions run away with me and I took to Instagram stories to defend myself in the wake of a situation that had been targeted at me that I felt was incredibly unjust and unkind. Following a year of extremely difficult emotional, physical and health-related incidents and a further six months of being subjected to some horrible stuff that I won’t get into here, I gave into my victim mindset and succumbed to self-pity, pessimism and pain

(you’re a pro with words AND numbers, and good at art AND movement), but mainly because you are a kind, nurturing and lovely little girl who rushes to your classmates’ aid when they need help or are upset, who always helps to tidy up and who adds value to the world of others every day through your enthusiasm and gusto for life. I don’t quite know how to express this, but I need to let you know that you saved my life this year. It’s funny how much we’ve collectively been through as a family in your short time alive, and I know there’ll be more to come in the future, but this year has taught me that we can get through anything that life throws at us. Every day, you fill our days will love and loudness …laughter and seeing your little cheeky face in the mornings is always the best part of my day.

For far too long, I’d been flitting between wallowing in the sadness of the past year, and experiencing extreme anxiety about what the future might hold, while all the time allowing the simplicity and perfection of the present moment to completely pass me by. While this is not an entirely new or revolutionary concept, his clear communication on the subject and the way that he has written the book as a series of answers to pertinent questions about the how and the why of living in the present helps to open the reader’s eyes to a whole new way of living. So leave your analytical mind and falsely-created sense of self at the door and cosy in with this book, which will help you to become better-connected to the true and authentic essence of your being. Thanks for helping to open my eyes, and thank you for being you xxx Look out for my 30 second book reviews every month, featuring spiritual or enlightening books that I have been reading that will help to change your mindset and change your life.

One month on from my inspiring interview with Lauren, who bravely tackled some huge life changes following her BRCA diagnosis, and I’m back with the second post of my Women and Resilience series, which features women who have shown inspirational strength in their endeavours to overcome traumatic, life-changing or debilitating life events, and are thriving in a world where the odds haven’t always been in their favour. Today, two inspirational ladies, whom I am also honoured to be able to call friends, bravely share their stories of the physical and mental health challenges that they experienced while going through one of the biggest changes that exists in life: pregnancy