Hello and a happy Sunday to you,
I am writing this newsletter to you while on a National Express to Cardiff on Friday lunchtime (How organised am I?!) When I looked at train vs coach prices a few weeks ago, I figured the extra bit of time on a coach was worth it for the £15 return vs £100-something for the train. “I’ll have time to catch up with loads of podcasts,” I thought, “I’ll be able to properly listen to music.”
Fast forward to now and I’m sat next to the coach toilet with no headphones as they broke this morning. I planned to buy some en route but got waylaid by trying to return a broken bag to Accessorize and nearly getting on a Megabus instead of the National Express, shock horror. So now, I’m sat here, bumpity bump, with four and a half hours to kill and no podcasts and no music. Thankfully, I brought my laptop to write The Uplift some time this weekend, so here we are. I’ve also got my book and my phone.
However, it’s actually a gorgeously sunny day and I enjoyed taking in every detail as we weaved through west London from Victoria; author Arthur Ransome’s blue plaque, rays of light shining on the golden November trees, the knitted Postman Pat dangling from the Royal Mail man’s parcel trolley and the familiar yet joyful wave as one bus driver passes another.
Now, we’re on the M4. The sun is bright and filtering through the abundance of clouds in that beautiful way that makes light look like it’s truly coming from the heavens. There is so much treasure, beauty and human kindness to be seen when one takes away all the usual distractions.
Being part of Donna Lancaster’s Deepening Into Life community and creating depth with a spiritual practice has really opened my eyes to things like this.
I’m excited to share some updates happening over here with you soon, but for now here’s the usual bits to hopefully lift your Sunday.
Uplifting News Stories
Heartwarming moment mother chimpanzee reunites with her newborn | New York Post
WhatsApp groups help get food to those who need it | BBC News
Missing dog survived on the streets for a month by befriending a fox | Manchester Evening News
I also loved this video shared on Twitter by James Melville.
Features Worth Sharing
Bad weather is good for you: take a walk in the wind and rain | The Guardian
‘For transgender people, existing is a protest’ Jordan Gray in conversation | Huck
Callum Scott Howells Reflects On His Journey From It's A Sin To Cabaret | HuffPost UK
I went to Warsaw and all I got was this lousy Substack | On The Street
Interesting Tweet Of The Week
Righto, that’s it from me. Hope you have a fulfilling week.
BB x
This is The Uplift, a newsletter by me, Becky Barnes. If you enjoyed it, feel free to buy me a coffee.
The Uplift features good news and self care. I also have a podcast about life advice.
I love this Becky thank you. I love the way you write xxx
Thank you for brightening my day x