Blog
Welcome to the windmills of my mind
My life is a bit of a patchwork. I have a multitude of interests, spanning a wide range of topics. And so, my blog reflects this patchwork identity of mine: a place where I share with you my thoughts, passions, worries, questions, hopes, and dreams. Looking forward to reading your comments. Dina
Agape Heart & Soul coaching officially launched at the Expat-Expo Basel!
I officially launched my private Coaching Practice today (January 29, 2023) at the Expo-Expat Basel – and what a glorious day it was!
Let go, and let God
It’s been 4 months since my last post. Life somehow took over, I guess, releasing an avalanche of events and emotions, which are still unfolding.
At first, I thought I would write to you about what it is that’s been keeping me busy. But then I thought: each one of us is carrying their own cross. Why should my current circumstances be any heavier or more “special” than yours. So, instead …
“You will never make it without anti-depressants” she said. (part II)
In my first post titled “You will never make it without anti-depressants” (part I), I spoke to you about my burnout and what helped me through it. And for three years, I felt content, complete, and hopeful that I would never have to go through something like this again.
All was Quiet On The Western Front… until
“You will never make it without anti-depressants” she said. (part I)
“You will never make it without antidepressants.”
These were my psychiatrist’s “words of encouragement” during our first session, when I uttered, between my tears, that I wanted to try to get through this without medication.
The five years prior to this meeting had been anything but a walk in the park.
Where do I belong: Ode to a chaotic world
I wrote this poem in a moment of deep sadness, feeling a sense of loss – lost in the world we live in, the values it espouses, the fears it harbors – loss of where to fit in. And so I dedicate this poem to all those who, like me, feel lost in today’s world.
“The grass isn’t greener on the other side, it’s greener where you water it”
Two things prompted this post: My friend’s, Jennifer, blogpost on Gratitude, and a quote I read yesterday – “The grass isn’t greener on the other side, it’s greener where you water it”. This post is an ode of gratitude to the many Blessings in my COVID-impregnated life.
New Year poems for a new beginning
2020 has been one strange year to say the least. So, in the spirit of last week’s Christmas poems, I thought I would share with you some of my favourite New Year poems as we welcome 2021.
The true meaning of Christmas: a new take on an old story
Christmas is meant to be all about celebrating God and his present to this world: the birth of Christ. Our Redeemer & Saviour. But, in a secular world, that’s precisely the bit we ignore, discard, or simply relegate to an ignorant superstitious past.
Christmas poems to inspire the uninspired in Corona 2020
These are four of my favourite Christmas poems by William Arthur Dunkerley. My hope is that they may inspire you during this year’s 2020 Corona Christmas.
20 truths to debunk old myths about parenting children
This post is for caregivers who wish to tread off the beaten path and explore new ways to connect with their child.
Improve your writing: 7 tips for writing picture books
Coming out of the 2015 SCBWI conference, these are my top 7 tips every picture book writer should know.
For every Parent and Child, I too have a dream
This is my second post, inspired by Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech. This time it’s all about parenting.
The gifts of grief
No life is devoid of pain and sorrow. But why? What’s the purpose?
So I imagined: What if Grief wrote us a letter. What would she want us to know? Here’s what she had to say.
C.S. Lewis Quote on Beginnings & Endings
“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can…
What if Martin Luther King had yet another dream?
Martin’s speech “I Have A Dream” was one I wished I had written. Full of heart. Full of power. Full of passion. Full of naked truths. And so I wondered, what would Martin say about today’s state of affairs? And what about the internet?
So I opened my Scrivener and started writing. To my surprise, the words just flowed. I could hear Martin’s resounding and vibrant voice in my head delivering the following speech:
Transitions are the chrysalis from which new life can form… & you don’t need to go through them on your own
Coaching people in transition or in search of meaning is a true passion of mine, because I know that, when we choose to go through that uncomfortable, at times painful, space – that’s when we make the most meaningful shifts in our lives. And it’s a journey we are not meant to take alone. Dina