Philosophy Friday

Firstly, a big thank you for all the appreciation shown to yesterday's Snow Day. 

Working with the editor this week, we've talked about blip, about it's role in my life, how could we not, you'll be unsurprised to know it gets a few mentions, it's been a foundational part of my recovery. 

Philosophy Friday 
2024 was personally awful on many levels. Almost exactly a year ago this weekend I started to have symptoms that suggested I was seriously ill. Then, in the midst of test after test I got the news that two people I thought I'd helped recover had ended their lives, and our largest funder announced they wouldn't be supporting us after September. It pushed me closer to the edge than I've been in years—back into the dark, threatened to overwhelm everything I’ve fought so hard to rebuild. What made it worse was the sudden loss of people I thought were friends, their absence cutting deep, making me believe I was unloved, alone.

But of course that's not true.

Just as it felt like I would break, the world reminded me of something I’ve learned over a lifetime: resilience doesn’t come from denying the pain but from remembering the quiet, gentle love that still exists in the world. It’s there, in the soft gestures of strangers, the unexpected kindness of those who care, and the quiet moments of grace that remind me why I hold on. That love, however seemingly small or fleeting, has carried me through storms before. 

It led me to these words, (often wrongfully attributed to Hemingway), words that speak to the truth of what we all need most when the darkness closes in:

In our darkest moments, we don’t need solutions or advice. What we yearn for is simply human connection—a quiet presence, a gentle touch, the knowledge we are not alone. These small gestures are the anchors that hold us steady when life feels like too much.


You don’t have to fix me. You don’t have to take on my pain or push away my shadows. Just sit beside me as I work through my own inner storms. Be the steady hand I can reach for as I find my way.
My pain is mine to carry, my battles mine to face. But your presence reminds me I’m not on my own in this vast, sometimes frightening world. It’s a quiet reminder that I am worthy of love, even when I feel broken.
So, in those dark hours when I lose my way, will you just be here? Not as a rescuer, but as a companion. Hold my hand until the dawn arrives, help me remember my strength.
Your silent support is the most precious gift you can give. It’s a love that helps me remember who I am, even when I forget.