intuition versus instinct

Finding a Not-Nutty Man Over 50  Dating after 50? It’s not for the faint-hearted, it’s for the funny, the fearless, and the fully self-aware. Finding an emotionally available, self-aware, not-completely-baffling man sometimes feels like hunting unicorns.  Maybe they’re in  Bunnings , out  hiking , or somewhere  sipping kombucha  and journaling their feelings. They exist, but you might need a sense of humour, a little patience, and a decent pair of reading glasses to spot them. After decades of life, love, and a few well-earned eye rolls, I’ve noticed some patterns that make the hunt for a  not-nutty man over 50 ... at least entertaining. 1. The Baggage Carousel Never Stops Turning By the time we hit 50, everyone’s got a suitcase (or seven). Some men are still unpacking theirs, loudly. Others drag it behind them like an emotional anchor, hoping you won’t notice. The goal isn’t to find someone without baggage (good luck with that); it’s to find the man w...

📡 Lost in Translation: When We Stop Feeling Each Other Communication used to be a full-body experience. You could  feel  what someone meant, in their eyes, their breath, the way their chest rose before a hard truth or softened in care. You didn’t need to decode tone, emojis, or dots on a screen. You could sense meaning through your own body. Now, so much of what we call communication happens through devices, through filtered words, notifications, and carefully timed replies. And honestly? It’s messed  up  how much gets lost in translation when we’re no longer  feeling  each other. Somatic Truth vs. Digital Words When we communicate face-to-face, our nervous systems co-regulate. Your body reads another person’s body, the subtle cues of tone, micro-expressions, and presence. It’s an unspoken language that tells you what’s true, what’s safe, and what’s real. In digital spaces, that entire sensory field collapses into text. No breath. No timing. No somatic res...

   Healthy Home Habits: Reclaiming Rest, Presence, and Nervous System Balance In a world that’s always “on,” our homes should be places that help us switch  off . Yet, many modern comforts Wi-Fi, screens, smart devices, and constant notifications keep our nervous systems subtly activated, even when we think we’re resting. Creating a calm, restorative home environment doesn’t require a major lifestyle overhaul. It starts with small daily choices that support your body’s natural rhythm, reduce stimulation, and invite stillness back into your space. 1. Lay Down, Look Up, Support Your Spine and Let Your System Settle Find a quiet moment each day to lie flat on your back with your spine supported. Let your shoulders release, your gaze drift upward, and your breath slow down. This simple posture signals safety to your nervous system. It activates your  parasympathetic  response — your “rest and digest” mode, which allows your body to soften, regulate, and recover from...

Stolen Smiles and Hijacked Minds: Travel, Technology & the Eyes-Down Era There was a time when cafés were full of conversation,  spontaneous eye contact with strangers, laughter bubbling up between sips of coffee, and moments of shared presence between people simply being together. Now, as I travel the world, from the grey streets of London to sun-warmed courtyards in Southern Europe,  I notice something eerie. People still sit together. But the spark is gone. Heads down. Eyes glued to small glowing rectangles. Couples, families, friends, sitting side by side in total silence. No smiles. No spark. Just scrolling. In the digital age, we’ve all become connected, yet deeply disconnected. We’ve been told the phone helps us “stay in touch,” “work remotely,” “capture memories.” But as a long-time traveller and someone deeply attuned to human behaviour, I can’t help but notice what it has actually stolen: our presence, our posture, and our joy. The Psychology of Eye Position ...

  Travel as a Meditation: Finding Presence in Motion There’s something extraordinary that happens when we travel, not just the places we see, but the  way  we see. Stripped of routines, possessions, and the familiar, we become acutely aware of the moment we're in. There's no laundry list of tasks. No endless to-do's. No habitual roles to play. Just the simple question:  Where am I now?  And  what is this moment offering me? That, in its purest form, is meditation. Presence. Awareness. The Art of Letting Go Travel demands that we release control. It invites uncertainty, missed buses, lost translations, new foods, unfamiliar beds. Plans shift, things go wrong, and sometimes they go wonderfully right. But in either case, we’re asked to surrender. And when we do, when we stop clinging to the plan and allow ourselves to flow with the current  something softens inside. We begin to live not five steps ahead, but fully  here . In that space, we experience...

Albania: Breathtaking Views, Bizarre Vibes & One Perfect Day in Greece September 30 – October 10, 2025 When I told people I was going to Albania, the reaction was oddly specific:  “It’s like Croatia before Instagram ruined it,” “Maldives-style beaches for half the price,”  and  “You’ll love it...beautiful and super cheap!” Reader, I did not love it. And it wasn’t super cheap. It certainly was beautiful!  I’ve travelled a lot... from the Highlands of Scotland to treks across Sri Lanka, and wild adventures in India... but this trip was one for the books. Not necessarily the  scrapbook , but definitely the  survival memoir . ✈️ Sept 30 – Takeoff Terror & Albanian ATMs I survived Ryanair (barely). We landed early thanks to a tailwind,  or divine intervention and I had the joy of a middle seat between a cheerful legend and a man whose breath could legally qualify as chemical warfare. Tirana airport greeted me with a $28 coffee-and-juice combo (infla...

Children on Love: Honest, Hilarious, and Heartfelt 💗 A group of professionals once posed a simple question to a bunch of 4–8-year-olds: “What does love mean?” They expected sweet answers. What they got was profound. These little ones offered insights that were sometimes funny, often wise, and always deeply human. Here’s what they said: “When my grandma got arthritis and couldn’t bend down to paint her toenails, my grandpa started doing it for her, even after his hands got arthritis too. That’s love.” Rebecca, 8 “You can tell someone loves you by the way they say your name. It just feels safe in their mouth.” Billy, 4 “Love is when a girl wears perfume and a boy puts on aftershave and they go out and smell each other.” Karl, 5 “It’s when you give someone most of your French fries without asking for any of theirs.” Chrissie, 6 “Love is what makes you smile when you’re super tired.” Terri, 4 “My mum makes coffee for my dad and always tastes it first to make sure it’s just right. That’s l...

  The Mind Medicine Room The  Mind Medicine Room  is a calming mental practice that can help reduce anxiety, support recovery, and enhance self-healing. It works beautifully alongside conventional medicine, and in the case of minor ailments, may even help you manage without it entirely. The more you practise this visualisation, the more effective it becomes. Step One: Full Body Relaxation Begin with a deep progressive relaxation. Start at your toes and move upward through each part of your body. Gently tense and release every area until you feel deeply relaxed. Once your entire body is at ease, take three slow, deep breaths. Step Two: Visualise the Corridor Now, picture a corridor—not too long. At the end of it, you see a door in a colour of your choice. Your name is printed on the door, and beneath it are the words: “MIND MEDICINE ROOM” Only you possess the key to this door. Place the key in the lock, open it, and step inside. Lock the door behind you to create a secure,...

Intuition, India and Individuality. The hands that woke me.  I have always believed that intuition outweighs intellect, and sometimes we are fortunate enough for it to surge so powerfully that it guides our actions entirely. Perhaps that is the essence of impulsiveness. Before analysis can even begin, the deed is already done. Later, of course, the rational mind catches up, weaving stories around what has transpired. Awakening the senses has long fascinated me. Having spent considerable time in India, I can only say I was continually overwhelmed. Words barely do it justice. It is as though a thought arises and the reaction, the very energy of that thought, manifests almost instantly. Instant karma. Whether that is spiritual, psychological or simply the intensity of being immersed in a culture so different from our own, India has always demanded that I become aware of my thoughts. Imagine someone steals your bag and your immediate response is anger. Before long another frustration a...

  What is Instinct? An instinct is a natural behavior or response that doesn’t need to be learned.  It happens automatically, without conscious thought. For example, babies cry instinctively, and ducklings follow their mother by instinct. Both animals and humans learn many things from their surroundings, but instincts are innate. What Makes Someone or Something Unique? Having a quality or characteristic that clearly distinguishes a person or thing from others is what makes them unique. This difference is often noticeable and easy to recognize. Characteristics of Instincts Instincts are marked by traits such as universality (common to all members of a species), innateness (present at birth), adaptability, purposefulness, and often perfection from the very first performance. They involve complete mental action without prior experience. Jung’s Groups of Instincts Carl Jung identified five main instinctive drives: creativity, reflection, activity, sexuality, and hunger. Among thes...