Hello and a happy Sunday to you,
It’s been six months since I last wrote to you and after struggling to sleep all night because I’m so blocked up with the latest bug, I decided to get up at 5.30am, seize the day and finally send you a newsletter.
People keep signing up to The Uplift despite it having been dormant so thank you for the encouragement. I’ve also been inspired to write by Donna Lancaster, Melissa Hemsley and Emma Gannon all launching on Substack - I love Melissa’s choice of newsletter title: “Things that make my heart sing” - beautiful!
Some news
This year has been challenging and unexpected in many ways - after getting Covid in February, my health just hasn’t returned to a balanced place and I’ve found myself susceptible to every bug going - from sniffles to hand, foot and mouth (I KNOW!) I’ve recently decided to invest in some functional health support and investigations and I am determinedly looking forward to that starting soon.
Earlier this year, my dear mum was also diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent chemotherapy every other week during the summer. She is facing this trying and scary time with bravery and strength, while negotiating continued NHS waits.
This year, while doing my own processing and inner work, I came to the decision to quit my job and left at the end of August. Since then, I have been training as a counsellor, volunteering and taking stock of where I am heading next, while trying to live authentically and trust in life. I’m not going to pretend it has been easy to motivate myself and get out of bed every day without structure but I am keeping going and being kind to myself.
Some things that are supporting my journey
Everyone’s life journey involves finding what works for them. Here are some things that are working for me. I hope you find the tools that work for you.
Deepening Into Life: Since doing the Bridge Retreat online with Donna Lancaster and Gabi Krueger in 2020, I have found their offerings, including transformational workshops and trainings truly resonate with me. Donna also offers a spiritual community called Deepening Into Life (her workshops can also be accessed via that link). Donna’s incredible book The Bridge: A nine step crossing into authentic and wholehearted living was released this year if you want to explore her work. In fact, I interviewed her for The Independent and you can read the article Can a book really change your life? This one just might here.
Dates With Wonder: One of the practices from Deepening Into Life that truly nourishes my soul is a date with wonder (30 mins a week minimum). It’s about getting out in nature, switching off the tech and savouring what unfolds as if you might be seeing it for the first or last time. Here’s an Instagram clip of Donna explaining it on my podcast Life, Oh Life, last year.
Nourishment. One of the gifts from my somewhat gruelling egg freezing process last year is that it made me think about truly nourishing myself. This year, Melissa Hemsley’s gorgeous book Feel Good made me fall in love with nourishing myself all over again. I made a mediocre Instagram reel about it here. Here’s a recent yummy meal I made from the book:
Cooking for one when you’re single and live alone can be a challenge in my experience, so I also love that Miguel Barclay does every budget-saving recipe in portions for one person.
Clearing space. I am breaking the habit of buying and gathering and clearing space by continually tidying and sorting, giving away loads of stuff to charity shops, unsubscribing from emails, stepping away from WhatsApp, trying to spend less time on social media and clearing out old dating app matches from my phone contacts.
Brilliant books. Books that have particularly resonated this year include Beth Kempton’s The Way Of The Fearless Writer, Fearne Cotton’s Bigger Than Us, Yung Pueblo’s Inward, Clarity and Connection and I am currently reading his latest; Lighter: Let Go of the Past, Connect with the Present, and Expand The Future.
While my focus has tended to lean towards self-development and non-fiction, I also devoured Poorna Bell’s fictional debut In Case Of Emergency and my current fiction on-the-go is Salma El-Wardaney’s fabulous These Impossible Things.
Going inward. From Jamie Clements’s breathwork course after a moving experience during his live workshop at Happy Place Festival to trying floatation therapy at Floatworks, I am experimenting with new self-care practices.
Cultivating joy. From spending time with family and friends who nourish my soul (especially my niblings and close friends’ gorgeous children) to singing in a gospel choir, I am making sure there is joy and creativity in my week. I’ve also taken up a new hobby: flower pressing. Here’s my first attempt!
Moving my body. From dipping into bioenergetic shaking and dancing around my flat to using my yoga and gym memberships a bit more, I’m finally building energy and developing my physical and mental resilience. I’ve also committed to more regular personal training sessions with my friend and trainer Marios Iacovou. Things like moving one’s body might sound really simple to some people but one of my default coping strategies when my inner saboteur hits is to stay still and lie down a lot!
Uplifting News Stories
Still with me? You’re right this is supposed to be a newsletter sharing uplifting news. Thanks for bearing with me this morning and reading the things I have chosen to share after The Uplift’s unplanned hiatus.
And now… here are some stories to hopefully lift your spirit.
Comedy Wildlife Photo finalists – in pictures | The Guardian
Flight Free UK thanks Eurostar travellers for not flying | (Video via Twitter)
Family helped by philanthropic plumber send back heartwarming note | (Video via Twitter)
Strictly's Jayde Adams reveals 'overwhelming' response to her sister's story | Bristol Post
Dog who spent 5 years in kennels finally finds forever home | My London
Grandma made Ouija boards for her funeral: ‘Let’s keep in touch’ | Today
Features Worth Sharing
Five small but radical ways to improve the world now | Positive News
How to set boundaries in friendships | Deepening Into Life
Tiny homes: Off-grid living allowed couple to take risks | BBC
Gabor Maté explains why no two siblings are raised the same | Upworthy
If you spot an uplifting news story or feature worth sharing, feel free to post it in the comments below.
OK, that’s it from me, that was a long one. Hope you have a nourishing Sunday and don’t get caught in the rain (unless you want to) ☔️ .
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.
Lovely - and indeed uplifting - to hear from you again, Becky. Lots of love to you from Andrew and me from Nha Trang, Vietnam.🪷🇻🇳🕊 God bless you accros the miles❣️
Loved this 💛 thank you x x