The Loop with Lucy

The year 7-9 Community Problem Solving Team from Ravenswood Girls School have, once again, offered a unique insight into the challenges of Neurodiversity in a school environment. Abi, Millie, Mia and Grace talk us through their project and what their team of 11 have done for the competition this year. Unravelling Uniqueness is a wonderful celebration of how we can celebrate neurodiversity.

How often do we hide our true selves behind a mask of humour? All too often it gets us out of a crippling shyness or give us an opportunity to be more popular... Meet Philip Hills - a man unafraid to wear a tiara

There is a very particular skill brought to cleaning that leaves an imprint in the home which forms the foundation for how we live and move in that space. Do we appreciate that about the work we do, or the work we employ someone else to do for us? Check out this interview with Mary-Louise, June and Michael as they share what they all bring to the work they do... you will never clean in the same way again - or not appreciate the work your cleaner does on your behalf.

After the last post on death and dying - I felt there was an important question to ask - do we know how to live?! Let's be honest, there are handbooks for everything and most of them tell us we are have much to learn, so when Cynthia Hickman a psychotherapist wrote a 'Handbook for Being Human' I was intrigued. My interview with Cynthia talks to how we grow up in this world without buying into the fear factor that is fed to us left, right, centre, up and down!

Towards the end of the interview Cynthia shares how important we all are to the culture of our world. I so love her call for us all to be part of the change we want to see in the world - to change the culture of being human from the ground up. I see bulbs are sprouting already...

Are we ready to have a 'maturing' conversation about death and dying that considers the concept of loss and grief and how everyone's experience does not need to be the same? Jasmine, Deborah and Anita offer different lived experiences with one common theme - they did not own the person who passed - no matter the role they played in their lives and therefore their experience of grief was not as 'expected'.

Helen offers an insight into the generation for whom the internet has been their 'normal'. Her parents introduced her to online dating and yet it was certainly not all smooth sailing. What Helen offers is an insight into manipulation, what you put in reflects what you get out and meeting the right person when you are actually ready not when you think you are ready!

Hannah has been in the online dating scene for 20 years - she started young! She now has so much to share about what to watch out for and how to embrace all it has to offer

Let me introduce you to Marika, a woman who brings a steadiness to the discussion about online dating, she normalises the practicals of talking to people and when that moment arrives to be exclusive and commit to seeing where the relationship might go. She is also a stunning representation of someone who is unafraid to be themselves - “This is who I am in all my variety of expressions”

Susan who had never done anything like this before, "it was like starting all over again”. She offers her experience as an older person and takes some of the mystery out of it. Clearly, Susan would encourage us all to have a go at something new because even though something isn’t quite right and might not continue, there is still lots of opportunity to grow for all involved. Most importantly - what is your 'WHY', for Susan it was simple, you can’t not share all your gorgeousness with someone else.

Trudy started online dating at 40. She had experienced all the comments about having to meet someone, about feeling like it was never going to happen. Then she got speaking to a local farmer! Trudy went from Mr High to Mr Right with wonderful support and a little bit of coaching from family and friends! Top tip - make sure your photo matches what you look like now...