Behind the Green Curtain: The Weight of Memory

I test my memory every day. Not in a formal, structured way—just little things. Where did I leave my keys? Can I recall the details of a conversation from last week? What was that song I was humming yesterday? Small checks, daily reassurances that my mind is still sharp. But beneath it all, there’s fear.

My father died young, taken by a brain tumour. And so, in the quiet moments, the spectre looms. What if my mind starts slipping? What if I lose the sharpness that defines me? The ability to connect, to create, to remember?

This isn’t just about ageing. It’s about longevity. True longevity isn’t just extending life—it’s about thriving in the years we have. A long life means little if the mind fades before the body. And so, I’ve made brain health a priority.

The Mind as a Muscle

We talk a lot about physical health—exercise, nutrition, recovery—but what about mental fitness? The brain is a muscle, but we don’t train it like one. We assume it will keep ticking over, running in the background, processing our thoughts and memories without needing a tune-up. Until, one day, it doesn’t.

But here’s the hard truth: cognitive decline doesn’t start when we notice it. It starts decades before. It starts in the stress we ignore, in the nights we don’t sleep, in the distractions we flood ourselves with. It starts when we let life move too fast and fail to give our brains the time and space to breathe.

The article I shared here speaks to this deeply. It’s not just science—it’s a wake-up call. Every choice we make—from the food we eat to the way we move, sleep, and manage stress—has an impact on our cognitive future.

What If We Took Brain Health as Seriously as We Take Skincare?

We invest in SPF to protect our skin from wrinkles, but do we invest in brain care to prevent cognitive wear?

We follow workout plans to strengthen our bodies, but do we have a plan to strengthen our minds?

We track steps, calories, macros—but are we tracking our mental clarity, our memory recall, our ability to focus?

If we want to live well, not just long, we need to rethink how we care for our minds. This means better sleep, deeper thinking, real conversations, time away from screens, challenging ourselves to learn new things, moving our bodies to fuel our brains.

It means understanding that mental health isn’t just about moods and emotions—it’s about neurological well-being. It’s about taking daily action to protect the most powerful organ we have.

The Fear That Fuels Me

I’ll be honest: I worry daily about my brain health. I worry that one day I won’t remember the things that matter. That my ability to connect dots, to think critically, to tell stories, will start to blur at the edges. That I’ll lose the sharpness that makes me me.

That fear doesn’t paralyse me—it fuels me. It pushes me to stay curious, to keep learning, to feed my brain with the same care I give to my body. It’s why longevity is so much more than lifespan—it’s mindspan.

So, I want to start a conversation. How do we protect our minds as fiercely as we do our bodies? What are you doing today to preserve your future self?

Because I know one thing for certain: I refuse to let my mind slip away without a fight.

Finding Home on Two Wheels and Four

When I first agreed to tandem bike the Palmetto Trail across the Carolinas with Graham, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. It wasn’t just the physical challenge of cycling for miles each day—though that certainly kept me up at night. No, it was the idea of living in an RV for weeks that really filled me with dread.

We go on a long tandem ride every year, but the Palmetto Trail was a different kind of challenge. I worried endlessly: Would I feel trapped? Would the small space drive me mad? A kitchen and a loo practically on top of each other sounded far too close for comfort, and frankly, a bit too much like camping (which, let’s be honest, is not my thing).

But sometimes, the things we fear most are the ones that teach us the most.

Learning to Let Go

The first few days were an adjustment, to say the least. There were moments of doubt, irritation, and wondering what on earth I’d signed up for. But as the miles ticked by on the tandem and we parked up the RV in new spots each evening, something started to shift.

I began to appreciate the simplicity of it all. Life on the road strips away so many distractions. You’re left with the basics: a place to sleep, a meal to share, and the open road ahead. It wasn’t about having every comfort at my fingertips; it was about learning to find comfort in togetherness and adaptability.

Home Is Wherever You Park It

What surprised me most was how quickly the RV started to feel like home. Graham and I found a rhythm—both on the bike and in our little rolling house. There was something liberating about knowing that home could be anywhere we chose to stop for the night, whether it was a quiet forest trailhead or a bustling campsite.

Even the small things, like cooking a meal together or mapping out the next day’s route, felt grounding. The worries I’d carried about feeling confined faded into the background, replaced by a sense of freedom I hadn’t expected.

The Joy of Togetherness

Riding a tandem bike is an exercise in trust and teamwork. You’re quite literally in sync with someone else—pedaling together, steering together, stopping together. It’s not always easy, but it’s deeply rewarding.

Sharing this adventure with Graham reminded me how powerful togetherness can be. Whether it was tackling a steep hill on the bike or figuring out how to make the most of our small living space, we leaned on each other and laughed more than I thought possible.

A Lesson in Humility and Growth

This journey humbled me in the best way. It reminded me that the things we dread or fear are often the ones that push us to grow. It taught me that sometimes, we just need to get out of our own heads and give ourselves a chance to adapt, to trust, and to embrace the unexpected.

So, what’s next? Who knows. But after this, I’m feeling a little braver about taking on challenges that once felt too big or too uncomfortable. And maybe that’s the greatest takeaway of all.

What’s a challenge you’ve faced recently that turned out to be unexpectedly rewarding? I’d love to hear your stories—drop me a comment or send me a message!

The Importance of Being Humbled in Your Career

“The modern career is full of devastation,” Tim Denning boldly states in his article, Being Humbled in Your Career Is the Best Thing That Can Happen, Right? He describes a world where technology can replace you overnight, where change is relentless, and where the old dream of lifelong stability in a single company is all but dead. It’s a tough pill to swallow, isn’t it? Especially when you’re the one grappling with the sting of a career setback.

I’m not just writing about this—I’ve lived it. My career has been a kaleidoscope of highs, lows, and unexpected plot twists. One of my proudest achievements turned into my most rapid exit. That’s humbling, to say the least.

The truth I’ve uncovered in those moments? Sometimes, all you can do is get up, breathe, and put one foot in front of the other. Not because you know exactly where you’re going, but because you have to keep moving toward the new direction you sense is right.

Lessons from Being Humbled

Career setbacks don’t just test your resilience; they can shape it in ways you never imagined. Here are some hard-earned lessons I’ve gathered along the way:

Find Mentors Who See You
Surround yourself with extraordinary mentors who believe in you. The ones who’ve seen it all—successes, failures, and the messy in-between. Their wisdom becomes your anchor when the waters get rough.

Work with People You Respect
Life’s too short to work with people you don’t trust or admire. Seek out those with whom you share mutual respect and a positive chemistry. It makes even the hardest days more bearable.

Don’t Be the “Only”
Being the “only one” on a board, whether as the token woman or the transformative voice, can be isolating. Tokenism is a trap—don’t fall into it. Instead, seek spaces where you can thrive with genuine allies.

Learn from Innovators
Growth driven by innovation sounds great in theory, but very few achieve it sustainably. Find those rare individuals who’ve done it and immerse yourself in their brilliance.

Beware the One-Industry Experts
Beware of those who’ve spent their entire career in one industry. Adaptability is a muscle, and it atrophies without practice. Diversity of experience often trumps longevity in one sector.

The Gift of Being Humbled

Tim Denning’s words resonate deeply: “Setbacks destroyed my ego and took me out of my comfort zone. Only from there could I grow.”

Looking back, I can see how the humbling moments in my career weren’t roadblocks—they were stepping stones. Each forced me to reevaluate, adapt, and grow. They made me stronger, wiser, and yes, a little more patient with myself.

Now, I want to hear from you.

What was your biggest career setback? And what did you learn from it?