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

Memoir

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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

Two people on a train reading Metro newspapers, one headline reads “Real claim: We’ve got £85m Bale”, the other “Royalty: A new wave”.

Love

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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

Woman with long dark hair sitting at a desk, using a typewriter. Art of a smiling face in the background.

Memoir

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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 depicting pioneers with covered wagons and oxen travelling through a valley, with mountains, a river, and people on horseback in the background.

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

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

Altered states

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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

Two women outdoors, with sun shining behind them. One is older wearing glasses, the other has a colourful scarf.

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

Photo of a cityscape at sunset with silhouetted buildings and a person on a bridge in the foreground.

Pain

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Chronic pain forces a strange dance: performing wellness for others

Living with chronic pain has taught me that pain is boring for others and that our bodies are fragile containers for life

by Jude Cook

Abstract painting of a seated woman, depicted with vibrant and bold colours, including red, green, blue, yellow, and purple.

Psychoanalysis and the unconscious

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The power of slow therapy, revealed in two pioneering memoirs

Two therapy memoirs by Lucy Freeman, an overlooked mental health pioneer, remind us of the value of slow, convoluted therapy

by Elliot Jurist

Black-and-white photo of a woman in a dark dress, heels and pearls lying on a leather couch; she is looking upwards with a thoughtful expression.

Therapeutic relationships

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My failed analysis gave me confidence and taught me when to quit

What does successful psychoanalysis look like? I’d read all around Freud and I didn’t know, but then neither did my analyst

by Lisa Levy

A young woman in a contemporary apartment is reflected but partially obscured in the plate glass windows

Place

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The divided self: does where I live make me who I am?

At home in Delhi, I am a more social, interactive person. A quiet balcony in Frankfurt gave me space to be by myself

by Anandi Mishra

A close-up of a hand completing a jigsaw puzzle showing a street scene with shops and a clock against a black background.

Pleasures and pastimes

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On the consolatory pleasure of jigsaws when the world is in bits

It’s not memory that makes us human but meaning-making. When life falls apart, jigsaw puzzles help us put some pieces back

by Melanie McGrath

Photo of buildings by the Thames, with a bridge and Tower Bridge in the background. The riverbank is visible at low tide.

Stories and literature

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Time, like memory, is fickle: days wrap back on themselves

Time, like memory, is structurally fickle: days wrap back on themselves. The experience of it is hardly ever chronological

by Grace Linden