The Hello You Sunday Supplement, Issue 19

Bringing you sunshine ...

Hello, you. How’re you doing?

Me? I’m doing OK, but the news and current events are getting me downer than a down thing. Hence, I have a pledge for you regarding the Hello You Sunday Supplement, with effect from today:

Everything I send you will be as positive, uplifting, helpful and fun as possible.

Here’s how I came to that decision (to save me typing it all out again), plus some notes on an event I was honoured to attend on Thursday evening. The clue is in today’s subtitle!

First of all: Why not join the Hello You family by subscribing, if you haven’t already?

If you’re new here: the Hello You Sunday Supplement is a weekly delivery of links to articles that I think you’ll find interesting to read whilst enjoying your Sunday morning coffee, or procrastinating about weekend chores.

Do a friend a favour. Hit this button, and share the Sunday Supplement with someone?

And do me a favour? Hit ‘Like’ or the little heart symbol at the top or bottom of this email?

OK, let’s get to the good stuff. Put the kettle on, slam some bread in the toaster, and we’ll get stuck in? Starting off, as always, with …

Something to listen to while you read

This should help your Sunday drift past. Half an hour of cool ambient sounds from the Nineties

What went right this week

There was an ‘epic ocean victory’, a new prostate cancer test showed promise, and coffee drinkers got a boost, plus more good news from the good people at Positive News

Here comes more good stuff. Please click, read and share?

Watching TV this weekend? This group will roast you if it's hung too high (I love this! I agree strongly, and I'd happily join in the merciless roasting)

How I beat overwhelm: I kicked my news addiction – and discovered ways to make a proper difference

National Trust to restore nature across an area bigger than Greater London

'... they feel This is our station. This is our sound. This is local. This is us. It’s a very special [radio] station with a very special relationship to its audience'

Four tips for picking up that musical instrument you might have put down a long time ago

You can still burn out doing what you love

Just delete them

Artful opportunities: five ways to be creative every day

At age 65, she released her first album and changed American folk music forever

The most unsettling walk I’ve ever taken

We have to do the rigorous accountability journalism that pisses off people in power (rolls up sleeves in anticipation)

Focusing on resilience as a solution to the mental health crisis risks shifting responsibility for mental health onto those affected, rather than calling out and changing policies and systems contributing to poor mental health

More of the good stuff in a moment, but first …

---

Hello You 81: Getting off the SAD list

Do you find it difficult, plodding on through the dark and cold of winter? Your mood plummets, and you struggle to cope with life? You sleep more, you eat more, and you do less, particularly of the things you usually enjoy?

You’re not alone. This is Seasonal Affective Disorder, and it clobbers a lot of us, pretty much from Halloween through until the start of spring.

‘Where’s the joy? Find the glimmers’

Shropshire-based executive coach Sarah Clein posted a list of the ways she copes with her SAD, on LinkedIn a couple of months ago. When we met for a chat in an Oswestry café just before Christmas, we talked through it. So if you struggle at this time of year, take a listen to Sarah explaining how each item on the list helps her in this episode of my podcast Hello You, and you might find some of them help you, too.

Hello You is about people, stories and ‘the complexities of life’. To make sure you don’t miss anything, whether it’s an episode of the Hello You podcast or the Sunday Supplement, why not subscribe? If you really love what I do, you can take out a paid subscription (and I’d be very happy and grateful) but you don’t have to. Hello You will remain free for everyone, for ever. You might just help keep it - and me - going, though

OK, back to your weekly good-stuff round-up!

---

Two attention-grabbing headlines in one page, including Gen Z Is Scared Of Billy Joel

Are you flaking? Have you flaked?

What we sow when men are taught to be heroes rather than neighbours

Young Londoners design emojis to celebrate Black and mixed-race hairstyles

'When journalists take the time to explain ... it signals respect for the intelligence and curiosity of their audience' (I've been saying this for years! but was told people can't listen for more than four minutes so I have to stop and "... here's Kylie")

Urgent need to revive England's network of hedgerows

This year, I predict that you — yes, you — will stand up, speak up, and do the right thing

How to quiet your inner critic and be kind to yourself

Nine benefits of reading actual print books, according to actual science, actually

If you read watch one thing this week, make it this

Ask Bill: Bill Nighy - surely one of the people any of us would most want to hang out with for a while - turns agony-uncle and dispenses some great British advice on everything from coping with imposter syndrome to being effortlessly well-dressed and more, e.g. 'If you want to get hip to the social zeitgeist, just open the front door'

Final Thought, à la Jerry Springer

'... the best idea I have seen about how we can love better is to practice curiosity, because when we do this we say: I want to understand you more. Tell me about yourself. I’m curious about you not because I want to change you, but because I want to see you in your full humanity. To care for you. To love you'

How was that for you?

I hope you enjoyed the Hello You Sunday Supplement, Issue 19. If you have thoughts, questions, suggestions, whatever then leave a comment

And I’m always glad to hear from you

Once again, I’d be thrilled beyond words if you could hit Like on this, or wherever you’ve found it, or both. And my joy would be complete if you would subscribe

… and share Hello You with a friend, colleague or family member

Thank you for being there

Take care of yourself, and take care of the people around you. I hope they’re taking care of you, too