Hello and a happy Saturday to you,
It’s been a couple of weeks since I sent a newsletter as I went to a funeral last week and also have a new job where I work on Mondays and Fridays. As I adjust to a new working pattern, I need to get organised so I can continue to write to you on time. Please send any organisational life advice my way!
Since writing Summer is finally here from Brighton, I’ve been enjoying the sunshine and have tried to be outside as much as possible. I hope you have too. Last weekend I went camping in Frome, Somerset with a group of friends and it felt incredibly nourishing to have quality time together. Since Sunday, I have been in Clevedon doing a dog sit minutes from the beach. I had forgotten how rewarding looking after a dog is. I’m finding joy in the way she runs ahead and looks back at me to check I am following on our long walks, watching her swim, and when she plays with other dogs.
I don’t know if it’s just being out of London but I’m also getting so much pleasure from how friendly everyone is. People smile and say hello and chat, and I am really enjoying those brief yet precious moments of connection with strangers. Perhaps I appreciate all of this more because of a year of reduced social contact. Anyway, my top tip is to look up, smile and say hi. And having a dog helps. Sometimes people talk to the dog but not you and sometimes you talk to people’s dogs but not them.
The sunsets are pretty good too.
I’ve been pretty busy with freelance work and feel I am getting into its rhythm following redundancy. I loved researching and writing this piece for The Flock: ‘Barbaric and inhumane’: Is it time gynaecological procedures came with pain relief? I also wrote a deeply personal piece for the i: Losing a year to the Covid pandemic convinced me to freeze my eggs. I felt a lot of anxiety ahead of its publication but was overwhelmed by the support of friends and strangers. Thank you. My two-day-a-week job is for the Big Issue, which is a publication I am so proud to work for. I’ve also been enjoying writing for the Evening Standard’s Homes & Property and have a couple of features coming up for them too.
I hope you enjoy the good news I have picked out this week and feel free to send any uplifting stories my way. Stay in touch via my Twitter, Instagram, or buy me a coffee.
And do forward The Uplift to anyone you think might enjoy it.
Becky
My Podcast This Week
Episode four of Life, Oh Life has dropped and my guest this week is the brilliant author and journalist Francesca Specter.
In 2019, Francesca coined her own term for meaningful time spent alone – Alonement, and has since created a brilliant podcast and book of the same name. Her podcast guests, who talk about finding joy and value in solitude, have included Alain de Botton and Vick Hope. Her book Alonement: How To Be Alone And Absolutely Own It, was published in March 2021.
In this episode we talk about New Year's resolutions and spending quality time alone. Francesca also talks us through how to face the fear of doing something on your own, which is also covered in her amazing book. We also discuss nightmare experiences when dining alone and what needs to change, how Alonement is not just for single people, living alone, and navigating the dating apps.
Listen on Spotify or Apple. And please do rate (five stars!) subscribe and share.
Uplifting News Stories
Prisoners Will Be Able To Visit ‘Old-Fashioned Jobcentres’ Inside Jail | The i
A Bakery Sparked Backlash For Making Pride cookies, So People Showed Up To Support | Mashable
Strangers Donate £700 To 90-Year-Old Who Orders Same Pub Lunch Every Day | Metro
Features Worth Sharing
Every Year, I Take A Long Walk With Friends. It’s One Of Life’s Greatest Pleasures | Guardian
Sunrise Social: 'It's Great For Your Mental Health' | BBC News
Tia Kofi's Message Of Hope For Pride Month: 'You Don't Exist In A Bubble' | HuffPost UK
This is The Uplift, a weekly newsletter by me, journalist Becky Barnes. If you enjoyed it, or my podcast, feel free to buy me a coffee.
The Uplift will arrive in your inbox every Friday, featuring good news, self-care and life advice.
A bit about me: I’m a journalist living in London. You can find me on Twitter and Instagram.