Accusations or self-appraisals of having the wrong body type or shape are becoming an increasing feature of life in the western media. In the relatively liberal western democracies, it is now the norm to display all or large areas of the human body as an expression of being confident or…
The American actress, Jessica Biel, gave voice to a view which many women probably wish they had the courage to share. Speaking of her fashion choices when she was younger, she stated, “I wish I would’ve explored some different shapes, and not gone sexy all the time…I think if you…
A huge stride forward was made in the fight against the body shaming trend which has come to dominate our image-obsessed popular culture. It was because one woman, using her celebrity influence, recently dared to speak out. American singer, Demi Lovato, responded to a journalist’s online comments that she had…
The often cringeworthy reports of celebrity divorces being played out in acrimonious detail on the home pages of mainstream news media, does not do marriage any favours. On a sub-conscious level, the unsuspecting public may silently swear off embarking on such a risky venture, or see it as merely a…
The word ‘legacy’ brings to mind the monetary and material gifts which testators normally leave behind to their chosen beneficiaries in their wills. It rarely occurs to us that a more meaningful legacy consists of the intangible gifts or footprints of the soul which are often etched for a lifetime…
In her recent memoirs ‘Brutally Honest’, Melanie Brown (originally of Spice Girls fame) revealed the harrowing domestic abuse at the hands of her ex-husband. The recently released documentary ‘Leaving Neverland’ shares the disturbing accounts of two young men who detail the sexual abuse they claim they suffered as children, at…
The often-sanitised image of those in the public eye, can often lead to disillusionment when other facts come to light which call into question this image. We want those in the public eye to show us what it’s like to be a ‘hero’ exuding courage, self-sacrifice and honour and putting…
Every sector of human activity has established a hierarchy of awards to recognise exceptional achievement. Awards can be given at the end of a race or competition, or on a rolling annual basis. The beginning of January saw the start of the prestigious film awards season where the Golden Globes…
Sticks and Stones: Words and the Power of ForgivenesssAs a child, there was a popular refrain my school mates and I would sing – “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never harm me.” Those words of defiance could be brazenly thrown in the face of a…
With Christmas on the horizon, children across the world are in a heightened state of anticipation over two central characters. Whether Jesus or Santa Claus has the pride of place in their hearts and homes, depends on what they have been taught and the traditions they have practised since birth.…
