The 'joys' of having the ultimate narcissist in your life. The nagging doubts that, in your lesser moments, you are perfectly capable of leaving others feeling the same way about you.

Traditional views of success (by most measures) are corroded and the pressure builds when it comes from a life, half lived and divorced from neglected passion.

True moments with those we love quiet the noise and give true meaning.

Ultimately, shared experience is everything. Experience can make us brothers almost in spite of ourselves.

Connecting with the people and places of a happy childhood, or revisiting those memories, has such power to calm and sustain us.

Escape into obsession and taking control of even the smallest things in a stressful life - almost anything - can be such a release and fundamentally recharge a flagging soul.

Change for the better does happen and deep optimism can strike when you least expect it or even when all logical signs are to the contrary.

Not every challenge can be helped or calls for a solution. We all face difficult times when sometimes the best we can do is to find shelter and comfort in the moment together.

My Pop was a tail gunner in WWII and the most extraordinary but fundamentally “ordinary” and kind family man. I understand there are reasons why his heroism was not recognised at the time, nor since officially. I want to honour his courage, without glorifying the awful circumstances that called for it.

I’ve constructed a life around clever and careful use of language. It brings many benefits but also builds walls and crutches. When words fail, or get out of the way, walls can come down and it is often the shortest way to true connections. Words can be overrated.

It is so frustrating feeling passed over or “spinning your wheels” and that you also haven’t helped by going along with things for too long. But so much of life is all about timing and you’ve just got to roll with it.

The hopelessness of knowing someone you love is in pain and something has come between you. When all you can do is to be there and hope they believe in you and reach out when they need help.