The Happiness and Positivity Coach

Last week in photos, in no particular order - gorgeous Winter sun runs, my fabulous Dad turns 80, an ill child , hair styled by aforementioned child.

So lucky to still have my legend of a Dad (who really is still a lad) at 80! Ensuring i keep running because i need to lose the weight that HRT has gifted me, hair tamed by Clara as i needed to see the colour, coldsore outbreak courtesy of MS disease modifying treatment. Also attended brilliant Glitter and Goals, had some great conversations, failed to take photos - standard. Lovely catch up with a bestie, failed to take the photos!

Roll on next week!

Women of a certain age. The amazing has crushed that line, proving exactly what she’s capable of and destroying the narrative that women over 50 are on a downward slope to ageing fast and past achieving anything new.

To be honest, it’s not a narrative I’ve ever given much thought to, not just because its a load of tosh, but because the women in my family and those I surround myself with, just don’t subscribe to it.

At around that age, my mum was brave enough to walk away from her marriage and start again. Whilst I never understood it at the time, both her and my dad are very happy with other partners and have been for a long time. At a similar age, my maternal grandmother bought her own house (unheard of in the 50s ) and moved her entire family from central London into the suburbs. It was a decision she made totally on her own as she ran a successful business with her family. Turns out she didn’t enjoy it that much and moved back shortly after, but she still lived her life by her own terms.

My paternal grandmother found herself widowed reasonably young as she’d married an older man - together they had discovered a passion for travel and cruising. Not to be deterred, she continued holidaying with one of his sisters for many years to come and saw a good chunk of the world.

And at 53, I find myself halfway through a degree (why did i do this 🤦🏻‍♀️) with a 12 and 11 year old. I’ve friends of a similar age that still go clubbing and ran their first marathon over the age of 50.

We don’t all have to run 5 marathons (although I’m in awe of Sara), but we should recognise that midlife is and mostly always has been a powerful time for women. Time to realise our worth and be brave with our choices 👊🏽

Now best get my PJs 😜before the sob fest that is

I love this article, so many women in their 40s and 50s struggle with their confidence, which limits their life experience. Well done to this woman who took herself out of her comfort zone :

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/sep/15/the-one-change-that-worked-i-went-to-a-festival-by-myself-and-made-peace-with-being-perimenopausal?CMP=fb_gu&utm_medium=Social_img&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawM07rxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFXa2EzVDYxT0NOckVXM1htAR6YkHISROZyuglenol-UOJkaYGHDHRTRG2rXz0AJUA2rTMpp8gLb2siSoNaIw_aem_ebOuS-2FgMgimUzePnnWOw =1757935376

The one change that worked: I went to a festival by myself and made peace with being perimenopausal As I reached my late-40s, I’d become anxious and risk-averse. A solo trip made me realise who I was again – and taught me to embrace the thrill of trying something new

Hope everyone is keeping well, it’s been a while, as I’ve fallen out of love with social media and been concentrating on getting more balance in my life, Pretty much ticked that box. - managed to maintain regular yoga sessions, attend a delicious strawberry moon ceremony with ( thanks guys it was divine) and get out with the family to explore a bit more of Epping forest.

Over the past few months, I’ve also finished another module in my degree course and worked really hard with my husband on our business . I’ve also spent hours commuting my daughter back for her final year at primary, seeing her through the dreaded SATS, arranged a Year 6 camping trip for 117 and hosted birthday sleepovers for 8 kids at a time (not recommended). And I’ve managed some brilliant social stuff and turned 53! I’ve finally looked at ny pensions and written a will. So despite feeling overwhelmed and like I’m spinning around in ever decreasing circles (reference to an excellent 80s sitcom
there), I’ve actually got s**t done.

Sometimes we might feel as if we’re not achieving a lot, but it’s really important to recognise and remind ourselves of our achievements.

What have you achieved recently? Bet it’s more than you think.

This is big!

Sorry not sorry

On World Mental Health Day Im going to talk about the impact of living with MS.

Im fortunate in that Ive only noticeably had 2 attacks, many years apart. During the first when I lost my vision in one eye I thought I had a brain tumour, the anxiety and panic was very real. The second (almost literally) knocked me off my feet with dreadful balance issues and vertigo, but I knew exactly what the cause was, yet still the shock of a second attack 16 years after the first was substantial. I felt like it took years off my life. I also temporarily lost some empathy along the way- Id listen to people moaning about the menopause and think “gosh i wish that was my only issue”, now I’m closer to it myself that has changed!

Did you know one if the biggest symptoms of MS is depression? The shock of the diagnosis and being told you need treatment is huge on its own. Plus there’s not a person who has been diagnosed with MS that doesn’t suffer from their own unique set of symptoms on a day to day basis. Most people of my age remember when there was pretty much no treatment for it and the outlook was very bleak. Luckily due to excellent care from the National Neurological Hospital and support from charities such as (who have literally raised £millions for research) the future is not so bleak.

However, depression can often be physiological , depending on which part of the brain is affected. Plus living with the day to day uncertainty is massive, no-one knows how things will work out, there are no guarantees that the meds will work forever.

Despite all of that, in a way that’s very difficult to put into words, living with MS has made me grateful and I appreciate my life even more. Every day of feeling well is a bonus, every MRI result that says ‘no new lesions’ is like winning the lottery!

👋🏼 I’m still here, it’s been a while as we settle in our new life in Buckhurst Hill! So far, so good, but wow such a lot of change! My beautiful boy finished his final year at primary school. He is living proof of what you can achieve with a positive mindset and a good amount of effort. He has absolutely thrived at primary school and is so excited to move on to his next challenge.

Think all this coaching malarkey is rubbish - well kids actually get taught it at school nowadays. They learn how to talk to themselves and others kindly, and are taught to always approach tasks and goals with a growth mindset. Mine complete gratitude diaries as part of homework and let me tell you - this stuff works. I feel my children are so fortunate to be taught these life skills from a young age, unlike my generation!

Want to catch up with the kids ? I’ll start sharing some insights and free resources over the coming weeks - stay tuned!

Sharing this because i love it…

THE WOMEN BEFORE

It is not just your mother who may walk with you in spirit, it is her mother too. And her mother’s mother. And her mother’s friends, who loved by choice and not blood. And the women before them. Generations and generations of female energy, watching in admiration as you forge ahead living better, feeling better, accepting better, than they ever did. As they were much hoped you would.

So, when you feel low, lonely or unloved. Remember them, feel them. They are with you, and they burn brightly with their boundless light, in everything you do. You, my friends, are the ‘moment in time’ of many women gone before, and you will lay pathways, like they did, for those who come up next.

What a beautiful, unending legacy.

Donna Ashworth
From ‘Wild Hope’ 🤍
UK: https://amzn.eu/d/aP1ODbw
USA: https://mangopublishinggroup.com/books/wild-hope/

Art by the fabulous Annie Hamman Art