Mindfully Messy

2-minute read The truth is: ❌ I’ve got a stressful freelance job that depends entirely on me❌ Constantly hustling for clients and opportunities❌ A predictable long-term relationship ❌ A flat that constantly wants fixing❌ And a body with a chronic illness I know, not the usual tone of this newsletter, Reader. But that’s definitely one way to tell my story! It's called the "Maria is struggling" story. And frankly, it's a little exhausting, don't you think? Now, here’s another version: ✨ I’ve...

2-minute read We all have it. That invisible backpack stuffed with “Am I okay?” questions. Mine usually sounds like an over-caffeinated flatmate who spent the night playing videogames and now refuses to shut up: Did I say the right thing?Am I wearing the right pants?Do they secretly hate me?Have I done enough today?Should I be drinking more water?Wait… is this mole new?? Am I dying?? Should I Google it? No, do not Google it. And what do we do with this voice, Reader? We chase the next “okay”...

2-minute read How are you, really, Reader? I’ve been offline more than usual lately. Intentionally slowing down. After a few months filled with travel, teaching, and wonderful (and full) moments, I’m craving a quiet August. One that feels spacious. #mood Sometimes life nudges us, softly or not-so-softly 🤪 to pause. When that happens… how do you respond? If you’re in the mood for something gentle to accompany a walk, a train ride, or just some quiet time with your tea, Reader, here’s something...

2-minute read If you've been in this community space for a while Reader, you probably know I like to keep it real. Partly because I believe real connection lives in real vulnerability. Partly because I believe that the whole point of having a more joyful life isn’t about fixing our struggles (you might have realised we cannot outrun struggle). It’s about learning to sit in the mess and feeling every day a tiny bit more comfortable in the uncomfortable 🌊 Sharing my personal chaos with you...

2-minute read I was raised to be a gold-medal-level people pleaser, Reader. Olympic-tier. Truly elite. I in my 20s dominating an Acts of Service Pentathlon For those of you who are not familiar, here’s a quick demo of the discipline: Q: Do you want a coffee?A: Are you already making one for yourself? Because if not, no problem, I’ll just quietly dehydrate. Q: What do you prefer?A: I have no preferences. Happy to go with what you prefer. I am easy, I don't really have needs anyway. Q: Can you...

2-minute read Hot take from someone who left her stable, well-paid corporate job to “follow her calling”… 👉 I don’t actually believe in the concept of “calling.” Yep. I said it. Brb, waiting for the spiritual police to kick down my door any moment now 🚨 For a long time, I really thought one day I would have this crystal-clear moment of cosmic clarity. Like, I’d be sipping my £7 oat latte in a hipster cafe and suddenly hear: “ 🔊 “YOU. WERE BORN TO FACILITATE MINDFULNESS AND HOST WORKSHOPS ON...

2-minute read Last week I spent three days in Brighton, just a couple of hours from home, and... Not gonna lie, I actually RELAXED. Unapologetically me Like, full-body exhale, brain-on-airplane-mode relaxed. ✈️ No phone. No existential fridge staring. No stack of dishes judging me from the sink. And while floating, I had a thought: Why is it so much easier to unwind when we’re not at home? Sure, being out of emails and Slack notifications helps. ❌💻 But I think it goes deeper, Reader. Let me...

2-minute read You’re at the cinema. You’ve waited months to see this movie. You’ve got your popcorn, your drink, your perfect seat. The lights go down. The opening scene starts. And then… Chewing. Loud chewing. You narrow your eyes and shake your head, wondering, “Are they eating with their mouth open? Are they... mic'd up? Is this part of the soundtrack?” You try to stay calm. Someone behind you moves. Your seat jiggles. A phone screen lights up like the sun. Someone whispers. Your...

2-minute read A couple of weeks ago, I was in Valencia for a conference, and my friend Timea invited me to share the room with her for some bonus pyjama-party time. 💅 The room was pretty standard at first glance, but then Reader… We started noticing little touches: Chocolate on the pillow, air spray, night kits, champagne, different kinds of hands and refreshing foot cream and just a lot of fancy sh*t ✨👀 including a Japanese toilet that honestly would deserve its own newsletter 🚽 Every night...

2-minute read No, my account wasn't hacked, Reader. And yes, this is a brief football story. ⚽ Last night, I had some friends over to watch a football match. A big one, apparently. Arsenal vs. Real Madrid. My friends were very excited, they explained to me, because this specific matchup hadn’t happened in decades, and Arsenal is right now in peak form. Most of the room was cheering for Real Madrid, but then… something impressive happened. Declan Rice, one of Arsenal’s players, pulled off a...