Writer, Anne Lamott, speaks with often hilarious self-deprecation. She says “My mind is like a bad neighbourhood, I try not to go there alone.” It makes me laugh now, but there was a time I would not have found it funny. Over a decade ago, I found myself in a maelstrom of defeat. The funding …
This piece was published in The Age faith column May 1, 2022 Following two knee surgeries, my neighbour asked me to join her for regular fitness walks. On this autumn morning, her American Staffordshire Terrier came with her. The Staffy’s begging eyes had won the day. After walking at a clip through a swathe of …
Compassion in Aged Care This story appeared in The Saturday Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, Brisbane Times and WA Today, on Saturday 12 September. Warm thanks to artist Kathy Westfold for permission to use her watercolour image. Like many families with frail elderly parents, I have been watching the unfolding COVID-19 crisis in aged care …
Padraig O Tuama launched my book Tender, stories that lean into kindness, just on a year ago.You can hear his speech here.
A new decade has dawned amidst smoke and heat and peril. What can we ask when we know much of it will be hard, even harrowing?
Some things don’t heal. There is a respectful knowing that doesn’t try to force healing or hope on people.
