Memoir

Self-knowledge and personal growth Relationships, work and leisure Values and ethical living

Photo of a sunlit forest trail with a person walking on a rocky path surrounded by tall trees.

Memoir

idea

My three decades alone, basking in the company of a mountain

I live alone in a mountain cabin. Is my solitary life an indulgence, a form of madness or a route to spiritual fulfilment?

by Susanne Sener

Photo of two people on a train reading Metro newspapers with headlines about royalty and sports transfers.

Love

idea

What I’ve learned about relationships as an agony uncle

I am an agony uncle. This is what I’ve learned about men, women and how relationships work in my 10 years of giving advice

by James McConnachie

Watercolour painting of a person writing at a table with a cup, clock and decorative objects in a cosy room.

Memoir

guide

How to heal through life writing

Learning to write about trauma helps you to process the painful experience, and gives you the life skills to overcome it

by Uddipana Goswami

A person in a cowboy hat sits on a rock watching a horse graze in a misty, sunlit pasture with a fence and hills in the background.

Memoir

film

After a mental health crisis, Karin finds peace among her beloved horses

Directed by Mimi Wilcox and Victor Tadashi Suarez

Black and white photo of a woman typing at a desk with a poster of Mao Zedong and framed art on the wall.

Memoir

idea

Learn the art of journaling and archive your life

Journaling is an art and a daily practice that allows you to write your life and find your way, one sentence at a time

by Sarah Boon

Painting of settlers in covered wagons crossing a grassy landscape with mountains in the background and people on horses nearby.

Identity

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I rebuilt my self-esteem by changing the story of who I am

I once clung to a dubious family legend to help me cope with a difficult childhood. I’ve since found a better story to tell

by Patricia Olsen

Photo of two men in dark clothing sitting and smiling at a round table in a dimly lit room with glasses.

Stories and literature

guide

How to tell a better story

Personal stories have the power to connect, entertain, persuade. Use a pro storyteller’s tips to pick and prepare a great one

by Micaela Blei

An image of a man’s face with a photograph of a smiling face projected onto it, creating a surreal, double-exposure effect.

Identity

film

A retired character actor contemplates what it’s like to get lost in a stereotype

Directed by Vera Brunner-Sung

Abstract photo of green plant with round buds, rocks and grass blended with light streaks for a textured, vibrant effect.

Altered states

idea

My synaesthesia is no mere quirk but a self-shaking strangeness

My initial is pale pink, the month of June is cerulean blue: synaesthesia gets my senses crosswired, and makes me who I am

by Catherine Taylor

Photo of two people outdoors in winter clothing with sun rays surrounding them. One person wears glasses. Bright sky in background.

Ageing

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How I met my mother: dementia brought back her true self

In dementia, my mother lived with the friendly ghosts of her past – and I got to know her as someone other than just my mum

by Ina Kjøgx Pedersen

A man in glasses and a red polka dot shirt smokes a cigarette while gazing out over the water from a yellow railing.

Memory and nostalgia

film

A patchwork memoir sewn from the odd memories that flicker then fade away

A film by Avi Zev Weider and David Chartier