The life advice edition with Rosie Wilby
"When things feel tough, reach out to other people"
Hello there,
This week, I’m just back in Canterbury after an incredible two weeks in Brighton and Hove that included plenty of sunshine, sea swimming and stroking a cat.
As I try to ground myself and find my rhythm after a quick two nights at my sister’s in London, I am grateful to Rosie Wilby for taking part in another Life Advice edition of The Uplift. (Last week we had the amazing Samantha Baines.)
Rosie is a comedian, author and podcaster whose fabulous podcast The Breakup Monologues (new series out now on all good podcast platforms) has live recordings coming up soon on a tour with locations including Cambridge Junction and Norwich Arts Centre. I went to a live double recording of the pod last year and it was jolly fun. I can’t recommend going along enough.
I first came across Rosie when she spoke at Sunday Assembly London about her book The Breakup Monologues: The Unexpected Joy of Heartbreak a couple of years back when I was just going through my own heartbreak. The book brought a lot of comfort and lols. It’s now available in paperback too. She also has another book called Is Monogamy Dead?: Rethinking relationships in the 21st century.
The life advice edition of The Uplift aligns with the questions I asked on the first series of my podcast Life, Oh Life. Here are Rosie’s answers.
In life, what is the best advice anyone has ever given to you?
I think some of the best advice has come from all the mentors and fellow creative people I have met who always encouraged me to write things down. Documenting painful or challenging experiences can be a way of starting to process what has happened and ultimately heal and grow. This has been true when I was writing songs in my twenties, writing comedy and storytelling shows in my thirties and writing books in my forties. Not all of this material needs to be released publicly. It’s the process that is just as important as the feeling of being seen by audiences (although this is pretty great).
If you could go back and give yourself some advice to yourself at a certain point in your life, when would you go back to and what would you tell yourself?
After my big breakup in 2011, I am sure it might’ve been comforting to be visited by an older version of me who was married and more settled. But if I hadn’t experienced such pain at that moment, then maybe I wouldn’t have gone on the interesting creative journey that I have. So perhaps my older self wouldn’t have wanted to give too much away!
What's your best life advice for other people?
When things feel tough, reach out to other people. Communicate and connect in whatever ways feel comfortable to you, whether that’s reaching out to a professional person like a therapist, or to friends, or to your community. It’s likely that someone will have experienced some very similar feelings. You’re not alone.
Thank you so much Rosie for taking part. Do follow Rosie on Twitter and Instagram too for all her latest updates and please support her podcast, tour and books if you can.
Uplifting News Stories
Robots help seagrass restoration | BBC News
Nadine White’s documentary Barrel Children: The Families Windrush Left Behind extends run due to popular demand
Small acts of kindness are frequent and universal, finds study | Positive News
Matt Haig announces next book: The Life Impossible
Stuff Worth Sharing
Jayde Adams’s new sitcom Ruby Speaking on ITVX is an absolute delight
New series of Chez Spector’s podcast Alonement
This amazing photo of a baby being delivered on King’s College Hospital steps
Recommended
Donna Lancaster’s Deepening Into Life is happening in person for the first time later this year. You can do all the sessions or dip in for some. I did it three times online when it was called an “online gym for the soul” and it has changed my life. Let me know if you’d like me to share more about it. Details here if you feel curious.
Donna also has two relationship workshops coming up in London; Building Healthier Relationships – Part One on Sunday 30 July and Healing Through Relationships – Part Two on Sunday 26 August. More deets here.
On Saturday 15 July, Sarah Grattan of Yoga Health and Wellness, has two spaces left on her Reiki 2 workshop. Details here.
More Life Advice
Samantha Baines - "Just go for it"
Selina Barker - “There’s a real power in owning what you want”
Corinne Peacock - "Stop trying to live someone else’s life or by someone else’s rules."
Bernadette Russell - “Be kind, Be curious, Find the joy.”
Giles Paley - Phillips - "Reach out, listen, encourage and be kind."
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If you read down to here, please press the heart and leave a comment. What would your answers be if you answered these life advice questions? Are there any other questions you think I should be asking?
Until next time,
BB X
Lots of great advice. Thank you so much for sharing & taking your time with your offerings x
Salient advice re the necessity of reaching out to your community, chosen family et al. Thanks for writing and sharing.