The words “self-soothing” might evoke an infant sucking on their thumb, but it is actually a very important skill to master as adults. Whatever our age, temperament and preferences, I believe that self-soothing is a super skill to cultivate for all of us and can really make a difference to our quality of life and our capacity to operate. “Your relationship with yourself sets the tone for every other relationship you have.” Robert Holden What is Self-Soothing? Self-soothing is like a menu from which we can select the best response to a situation that we find difficult or triggering. It is a practice of self-reliance and safety to welcome and process emotions while connecting to our body and space, bringing comfort and kindness to ourselves. Self-soothing is a great way to come to terms with past trauma that may need to be heard and resolved. Self-soothing brings us maturity, balance and resourcefulness, and by helping us to understand ourselves better, it helps us to understand others b...

Mid-morning in the garden. The pungent, peppery smell of nasturtiums fills my nostrils.  Vanquished at last by the frost, they have done well, flowering right into December. Their leaves, round and proud a few weeks ago are now oddly deformed in a melted, soaking look. Sleet falls in slushy drops, white dusting on the hills. Geese fly overhead, cry their wild and raw calls. Hearing them always takes my heart. I have such a fondness for these beautiful birds, they fascinate me, the size of them, their gentle eyes, their exquisite greyness and the melancholy beauty of their flight. Here and there some leaves are still intact. Vast amounts of cold rain and hail have destroyed most of them, now breaking down to feed the earth and continue their cycle.   Incredibly, a full blossom lingers in the hydrangea bush, fallen bright pink in the glistening brown. The adorable tips of daffodils and crocuses are poking out, sweet little noses just out to take a deep breath, after spending las...