When was the typewriter first invented? Typing instruments go as far back as the 16th century, but it’s widely regarded that the first typewriters were invented in the early 19th century. Initially developed as a device for those with impaired vision and hearing, some early incarnations were far from the models that were to become …
What are glimmers and how do they affect your body? Shortcuts to moments of joy, peace and other positive emotions are glimmers – a term coined by Deb Dana, a clinician, consultant and lecturer specialising in complex trauma. While triggers are widely understood as signals to the nervous system of a potential threat, fewer people …
Read moreHow to identify glimmers and improve your mental well-being
Why thinking about other people is the key to good manners ‘I hate that concept of etiquette as something archaic – rules to judge people,’ Deborah says. ‘That’s the opposite of good manners. I think manners is thinking about other people. With that, you can’t go wrong.’ Approached in this way, communal living – be …
What makes Lundy Island a sanctuary for wildlife? Lundy’s kelp forests, reefs, sandy sediments, sea caves and shipwrecks provide space, peace and nourishment for dolphins, spiny lobster, pink sea fans, sunset cup coral and Atlantic grey seals. Important seabird colonies, including Manx shearwaters, guillemots, as well as puffins, have also flourished following the eradication of …
Read moreWhat makes Lundy Island an important nature reserve?
What are the signs of good communication in a relationship? In general, it’s when interactions, whether on a one-to-one basis or within a group, are direct and allow space for each person to communicate openly. It’s also characterised by tolerance, honesty, empathy and the ability to listen to and respect others’ views and thoughts, while …
Read moreHow to deal constructively with triangulation in your friendship or family circle
Do cold showers improve mental health? In theory, exposure to cold can increase the neurotransmitters in the brain that are known to improve mood, such as dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. Research as to whether this translates into reality, however, is limited. One very small study, published in the journal Medical Hypothesis, showed improved mood after …
Read moreIs it really true that cold showers are good for you?
Why the reality of success can often differ from the idea of success Clare says ‘When you set your sights on an ambition, you’re more often than not playing out your own internal narrative about what you think achieving the ambition will be like. The reality can often be something very different from the projections …
Read moreHow to have a healthier perspective on career success and disappointment
Why are melodramatic people and art so often dismissed? Exaggerated, histrionic, over the top – a melodramatic person creates life in vibrant colours, for there is no incident too tiny to be symbolic of Great Things. Emotions are heartfelt and opinions expressed in extreme ways. And while this can be entertaining from a distance, up …
Read moreWhy embracing melodrama and big emotions can be healthy
In this issue: Are you secretly hiding? – Moments of distraction – Live and learn – In praise of melodrama – Take a seat – Small changes, big results – Signs of the time – Magic touch – Great expectations Everyone’s different. It’s a common refrain. And it’s true, every one is different. A combination …
In this issue: Circle of calm – What’s age appropriate anyway? – Comfort zone – Moving target – Inner parent – Well-travelled road – Create your own writing retreat – Life stories – Side by side – Presence of mind It might be a primary-school friend who can put a name to the face of …
