Exciting times ahead (and the future of Road to Zest)

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Exciting times ahead (and the future of Road to Zest)

As I published my recent blog post, Dermot and I knew some (or most) of you would understand what I was referring to when I said that the path to reaching one of our long-term goals will be slightly different from the way we initially thought it would be but that we’re so excited that we are eventually going to get there. I’d love to eventually be able to show anyone on similar journeys that they’re not alone. But as exciting as our next steps are, with everything that’s going on, I’ve decided that rather than continuing to publish a blog post every Sunday, I will post as and when the time feels right. Here’s why.

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What makes Malta's very own Titanium Man happy?

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What makes Malta's very own Titanium Man happy?

When I met Jacob – aka Titanium Man – for the first time about a year ago, it was really clear that he’s no ordinary teenager. Jacob and his family have lived through things most of us don’t even live through in our worst nightmares. But Jacob’s mother Sarah always says that you can either choose to be bitter or be better in the face of difficult circumstances. And it’s hard to put into words to what extent Jacob’s family have chosen the latter after what they went through. Here’s their amazing story, as well as the top 5 things that make Malta's very own Titanium Man, Jacob happy.

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How to be a little bit kinder to yourself

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How to be a little bit kinder to yourself

As I was recovering after being chronically ill, I realised that in general I really wasn’t kind enough to myself. I tend to be my own worst critic and I’m usually quite hard on myself. I think so many of us are compassionate towards others but not as much to ourselves. Which is wrong. Why shouldn’t we be a little bit gentler with ourselves too? Especially when we’ve got a lot going on. So here’s some advice on how to be a little bit kinder to yourself. 

Photo by Sean Mallia

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Some advice for those days when things seem to be falling apart

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Some advice for those days when things seem to be falling apart

A year ago Dermot and I were in Italy for our first holiday in a very long time. And in that moment it really felt like everything was falling into place. But we actually received some difficult news about 6 months later which made it feel as though one long-term goal would never materialise after all. I can’t deny that for some time I felt crushed. But now things seem to be falling into place again. The path to reaching this goal might turn out to be slightly different from the way we initially thought we would get there. But the beauty is that we’re going to get there and we’re so excited about it. And here’s some advice for those days when things seem to be falling apart.

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Why we should all be kind to each other

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Why we should all be kind to each other

As we await the election results in Malta today, I came across this quote by Ellen DeGeneres and it rang so true. “I would love for the world to be happier.  I think it's our one thing that we all share.  We focus so much on our differences and that is creating, I think, a lot of chaos and negativity and bullying in the world.  And I think: what if everybody focused on what we all have in common -- which is -- we all want to be happy.” And here’s why we should all be kind to each other, not only today in Malta but in life in general. It can really change things for all of us.

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Malta’s 8-year-old superhero, Jake Vella

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Malta’s 8-year-old superhero, Jake Vella

Jake is a young and determined triathlete who spreads inspiration everywhere he goes. His battle with ROHHAD-NET, a rare life-threatening condition, causes him to gain weight no matter how much he diets and exercises.  When his father Josie recently completed the Garmin Ocean Lava Malta 113k Triathlon, he walked for about 3 km due to a puncture because he knew Jake was waiting for him at the finish line and didn’t want to disappoint him. And to me, this just sums Jake and his family up. They always remind me that while we have no say in whether life is tough or not, we do get to decide how to act in the face of difficulty. Here’s their amazing story.

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My reflections as Road to Zest turns 1

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My reflections as Road to Zest turns 1

Road to Zest turns 1 this weekend. So today I’d really like to thank you for joining me on my journey this year and for your support always. A year ago as I published my first blog post I had no idea what to expect, but I remember thinking that if I could give just one person hope that he/she could recover the way I did, it would make it all worthwhile.So a year later it feels really amazing to have spoken to quite a few people who have started or are planning to start or considering starting DNRS after reading about my recovery. And here’s a look back at the 10 most popular posts this year and why I need your help for the coming year.

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Some advice and support to stay strong in hard times

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Some advice and support to stay strong in hard times

Sometimes things happen that completely change the direction we thought our life was taking. At first it can be hard to accept. We end up asking “why” a lot. But I really believe that in time – even if we can’t see it now – some of the most difficult and unexpected situations still end up having a beautiful silver lining. Yet some days it might be hard to even think about the silver lining. Because that’s what life is: a rollercoaster of experiences and a rollercoaster of emotions. And here’s some advice and support to stay strong in hard times.

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A look at one of the defining moments in my recovery journey: one year on

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A look at one of the defining moments in my recovery journey: one year on

Corinne’s first wedding anniversary last week reminded me how amazing it was that I got to be at her wedding from start to finish last year. Something which had seemed beyond impossible before starting DNRS 3 months earlier, when I was housebound due to multiple chemical sensitivity and chronic fatigue syndrome. So I thought it would be nice to look back on what I had written a year ago (before I started this blog) to show anyone who’s just getting started in their DNRS journey or anyone who’s thinking about starting DNRS what could be possible for them. So here’s what I wrote just before and just after the wedding.

Photo by Matthew Mirabelli Photography

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How did I suddenly become able to eat only 8 foods in 2015?

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How did I suddenly become able to eat only 8 foods in 2015?

A friend recently told me that someone asked her how it’s possible for a person to become able to eat only a handful of foods. And I can totally see where that question’s coming from. Because now that I can eat anything again, even I find it hard to believe that there was a point when I could only eat 8 foods. But having learned about the brain’s ability to adapt and change itself – both for the better or for the worse – how I suddenly became able to eat only 8 foods actually makes “perfect sense”. Here’s how it happened.

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How being chronically ill taught me to really live in the moment 

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How being chronically ill taught me to really live in the moment 

I was out for a run in Bournemouth a couple of weeks ago and as the sun was rising, the scene was so beautiful that I kept stopping to take photos. I kept promising myself that each photo would be the last and that then I would get on with my run. But I just couldn’t do it. And I laughed at myself for stopping so many times. But I also laughed a bit at my old self: the person who wouldn’t have allowed herself to stop. Who would have wanted the run to be so “perfect” that she would hardly even have noticed the beauty of the sun and the sea. And so in a strange way I’m grateful for having been chronically ill. Because it really taught me how to slow down – or even stop – and be in the moment and enjoy the beauty around me. Here’s how things changed for me and how you too can start to really live in the moment.

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My experience at the life-changing DNRS seminar in the UK

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My experience at the life-changing DNRS seminar in the UK

I was at the DNRS seminar in the UK two weeks ago when 16 people who had collectively been suffering from debilitating and poorly understood chronic illnesses for a total of 280 years started to believe and understand that recovery is actually possible after all. It might sound too good to be true – but I remember so clearly when it happened to me too. I had accepted the reality of my chronic illness and had stopped dreaming before DNRS. So the fact that I can now travel again with ease and actually get to be at the DNRS seminar as a coach is beyond anything I could ever have dreamt of. And here’s what being at this life-changing seminar meant to me and what it could  mean to anyone suffering from a mysterious, chronic illness.

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15 quotes for some extra motivation when the going gets tough

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15 quotes for some extra motivation when the going gets tough

Being in London for a short holiday with my parents really reminds me how lucky I am to have been given a second chance at life. But things weren’t – and still aren’t – always easy because sometimes life just happens, as it does for all of us. So here’s a collection of 15 quotes which always help to motivate me when the going gets tough.

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Open letter to a survivor

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Open letter to a survivor

Here's my letter to anyone who has faced a major setback and bounced back. To anyone who can smile despite everything they’ve been through. To anyone who makes the best out of a tough journey. To anyone who can appreciate things they took for granted before things became tough. To anyone who might or might not have beaten the odds, but who is doing everything they possibly can to do so. This is a letter to all survivors.

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9 things I'm grateful for as I celebrate my 3rd birthday since the onset of my chronic illness

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9 things I'm grateful for as I celebrate my 3rd birthday since the onset of my chronic illness

I wrote this blog post as I was celebrating my 32nd birthday, which was also my 3rd since the onset of my mysterious chronic illness. As it was also my 1st birthday since recovering fully through DNRS, I thought it was a good time to make a list of things I'm grateful for, since the whole journey made me realise how many things I took for granted before my illness started. So here’s my 32nd birthday gratitude list.

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