I spent several years in my younger professional life supporting children and adults with learning difficulties, in their schools, homes and in the community. Along with certain behavioural and neurological differences, many of the service users also had physical and mobility challenges and differences. Our goal was to assist these people to live as independently as was appropriate to each person, and to live their fullest, most meaningful lives based around their individual

It has taken me a long time to understand the practice and process of relaxation, and the journey still continues. It’s a word we often hear, an elusive physical, mental and emotional state that still holds many secrets. Biologically speaking, relaxation is associated with the parasympathetic nervous system - the yin to the yang of stressful sympathetic nervous system arousal. It’s that time when we feel safe, our breath deepens, our stomachs growl and prepare to digest food.

I'll start by saying we need to be stressed sometimes. It's a natural biological function that helps us to perform, and meet challenges in a productive way, that ensures our safety and success. These moments are those rare occasions such as job interviews, exams, running to make a flight, proposing to your partner! Pushing on to the end of a long hike.. or de-icing your car before you can leave for work in the morning. Stress helps us to stay on top of our game instead of dec

Some of you may be familiar with the poem by Robert Burns, Auld Lang Syne, which has become a popular anthem for ringing in the new year. At midnight on New Year's Eve, we would stand in a circle, cross our arms and hold hands with our neighbours, whilst singing this song, and it would often bring to me a feeling of melancholy yet also deep connection with my fellow partygoers, as we experienced and celebrated the passing of time. This poem speaks of good times had in days go

Coming up to the time of Thanksgiving, we might ask ourselves what we are grateful for in our lives. It’s also a time of tradition, with some expectations about how to celebrate this occasion, either from a cultural perspective, or a set of personal traditions that come from your own community and family. Thanksgiving can look and feel quite different for each person. In the same way, what lights us up with gratitude is unique to each of us. After years of simply enjoying cul

Growing up in the UK, this time of year always reminds me of the Harvest Festival. Around the end of Summer, we celebrated the Harvest Festival at school by filling the assembly room with decorations of corn, sheaves of wheat, vegetables and fruits, and every student made a contribution (no matter how small, and often in the form of canned goods!) to be shared in the community. This festival was a celebration of all the hard work dedicated to having an abundance of resources