If you could bring back ONE thing from your childhood that doesn't really exist anymore, what would it be? Could be a food, a TV show, a shop, something you did after school, the way weekends felt... anything. I'm sure some of these answers are going to bring back memories I'd completely forgotten about! My answer is in the comments ;)

You know the stuff. The expensive candle you don't want to burn. The nice bottle of wine you're saving. The new outfit waiting for the right occasion. The fancy dinnerware that spends 360 days of the year in a cupboard. I've definitely become more of a "just use it" person over the years - living with MND probably has something to do with that. When I was diagnosed, I was given 2–3 years to live, so the idea of saving everything for "someday" started to seem a little ridiculous. I'm now nine years down the track, which I'm very happy about... but I still don't see much point in owning lovely things and never actually enjoying them. Although I suspect there are still a few things lurking in my cupboards that would prove I'm not quite as good at this as I think. What are you saving for a special occasion that you should probably just use?

I came across some research recently about resilience and stress, and one thing really stood out to me, something I've been very aware about for a long time... the people around us matter. A lot! We often talk about resilience like it's something we have to find or build within ourselves. Be strong. Keep going. Push through. And yes, some of it does comes from you. I've always been a pretty determined person. But if living with MND has taught me anything, it's that determination will only get you so far. I know what I'm capable of. I know what I still want to do. But without the people around me helping me make those things possible, my life would look very different. Sometimes the thing that gets you through isn't some amazing inner strength. It's the friend who checks in. Someone who makes you laugh when you've had enough. The person who knows when you need help without making a big deal about it. Or just knowing you've got people in your corner. I think we underestimate how much we help each other get through the hard stuff. So maybe resilience is a bit of a team sport after all!! Who are the people in your corner? And whose corner are you in?

For those of us in the Southern Hemisphere, spring is finally here!! Already we can sense it in the air... days are getting longer, things are starting to grow again and it feels like a good time to shake off a few of those winter cobwebs. I always think there's something about spring that gives you a little push to start fresh. It doesn't have to mean a complete overhaul of your life. Maybe it's getting outside more, getting back into a routine that's slipped over winter, cleaning out something you've been avoiding, or finally getting started on something you've been putting off. But I know we have community members on the other side of the world too, and you're heading in the opposite direction! Autumn is arriving. The days are getting shorter, things in nature are starting to slow down and prepare for winter. And maybe there's something useful in that too. Not every season needs to be about starting, growing and doing more. Sometimes it's about slowing down, letting go of a few things and making a bit more space. Whichever side of the world you're on, a change of season can be a good reminder to check in with yourself. What do you need from this next season - a fresh start, or permission to slow things down a little?

I had to change my mind on something the other day and it made me think about how we sometimes see changing our mind as a bad thing... like being inconsistent or the idea of 'getting it wrong' is a negative. But I think it's important that we challenge those thoughts and instead try to see changing our mind as growth. There are plenty of things I see differently now than I did ten years ago. For example, I used to think exercise had to be high intensity to be worthwhile. Now I know that gentle, consistent movement is absolutely just as valuable (consistency is key!). I used to think asking for help meant I'd somehow failed. Living with MND has completely changed that. I've learned that accepting support doesn't make you less capable. In many ways, it allows you to keep doing the things that matter most. And technology is another one. Years ago, I never imagined I'd be communicating through eye-gaze, speaking at conferences around the world, or helping shape this community in the way I do now. If you'd told me that would become part of my life, I probably wouldn't have believed you. Changing my mind didn't mean I was wrong before. But, it's meant life has given me new experiences, and I was willing to learn from them. I think that's part of resilience too. Not holding onto old beliefs just because they're familiar, but being open to seeing things differently as we grow is so important! ❔What's one thing you've changed your mind about recently? It could be something about your health, work, relationships, getting older, or just life in general. I'd love to hear what's shifted for you.