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The Magic Is Inside Us: An Open Letter to My Best Friend on Our 15 Year Anniversary

The magic is inside you ... there ain’t no crystal ball! — Dolly Parton Wednesday May 6, 2026 Dear Fran. Today is our fifteenth anniversary as friends. Fifteen is a big number. Not as big as 5,479 which is the number of days we’ve been friends but big nonetheless. Remember in the beginning when I insisted on marking each succeeding month of our friendship? I’ve always had a tendency to overdo things. To be too much. You’ve done well to put up with me! I couldn’t have known we’d still be friends all these years later but from the moment we met your presence in my life was something I wanted to celebrate. That hasn’t changed, though I don’t say it so often. Fifteenth anniversaries are traditionally marked with crystal. Apparently it symbolises the “clear, sparkling, and transparent nature” of the relationship as well as its beauty, strength, and durability whilst simultaneously reminding both parties “to handle their lasting bond with care, as crystal is fragile.” So mu...
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Q&A with Aimee Wilson, Project Lead of Gracie’s Way, for Dying Matters Awareness Week

TW: Mention of suicide, abuse, and rape
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Our Top Posts of the Month (April 2026)

Check out our top blog posts for the past month. Posts are listed by the number of page views they attracted during the month, most popular first.
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A Quiet Seat at the Table: Eight Ways to Help Your Introverted Friend Enjoy Your Event

Introverts, in contrast, may have strong social skills and enjoy parties and business meetings, but after a while wish they were home in their pajamas. — Susan Cain A few months ago I shared a post inspired by Fran’s approach to things she’s unsure or anxious about. It wasn’t a theoretical exercise for me. As I mentioned in the article I’d been invited to a wedding in April. “I’m already anxious about it,” I confessed. “But it means a lot that my friends want me there and I’m looking forward to celebrating their day with them.” Social anxiety isn’t fun. And it’s not only weddings. I’ve felt anxious attending funerals, parties, mental health events (I’m aware of the irony), even get togethers with friends. If the plans involve more than two other people it’s a safe bet I’ll be uneasy about it beforehand. I called it social anxiety but I can be more specific. It’s the conversations that are the issue. I’m generally okay talking one-to-one. But as soon as there’s a third perso...
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Behind the Mic: Our Top 5 Podcasts and Speaking Engagements

The one thing you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. — Neil Gaiman, Make Good Art My friend Sophie May was recently interviewed by Tasha Hargreaves for the Bold Brave Business Owners podcast. You can listen to the episode (“It’s more about progression than perfection”) here on Spotify . Sophie and I are relatively new friends, having met online a few months ago. I was fascinated to learn more of her personal journey and the digital marketing business she began earlier this year. Her hopes, vision, and passion came across powerfully and will undoubtedly be of interest and help to many. I look forward to showcasing more of her story and experience here at Gum on My Shoe in the near future. It occurred to me that many of our friends and readers haven’t met me or Fran in person and may never have heard our voices. I thought it would be fun to share a few of our favourite speaking engagements. There’s a full list on our portfolio page...
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Update: What's Been Happening at Gum on My Shoe?

As many of you will recall our blog had a total makeover back in January. Fran and I thought it would be nice to update you on what’s been happening behind the scenes since then and highlight a few successes. New Look Same Passion As we said at the time the revamp was to improve the experience for our visitors and didn’t in any way represent a change in our mission, values, and goals. We remain focused on sharing honest conversations about mental health and the power of supportive friendships. Check our announcement post A Fresh Look for Gum on My Shoe for a reminder of what changed and what didn’t. The revamp seems to have gone down well. Here’s what our dear friend Andi shared with us. I found the new website very easy to navigate AND I can’t put my finger on it, but it’s warmer, like I’m in a room with you & Fran & your guests as opposed to viewing a virtual site. I like it a lot! Thanks, Andi! Let us know what works for you, anything that doesn’t, and what you...
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You Can't Have Everything: Decluttering for Mental Health and Wellbeing

You can’t have everything. Where would you put it? — Steven Wright This blog post was inspired by a letter from my friend Maya who lives in Cornwall. She described the aftermath of Storm Goretti which had brought extensive damage to the region. “Weather wise,” she said, “we’re still being rattled around by the wind: things blown all over the place; bins and recycling bags going for walkabout (or blowabouts), scattering litter that people seem not to care two hoots about where it ends up.” She then introduced a term I’d never encountered before. “Ever heard of ‘plogging’ by the way? I hadn’t! It’s the act of picking up litter while jogging!” It turns out plogging originated in Sweden around 2016. The word is a portmanteau of “jogging” and the Swedish phrase plocka upp (pick up). It sounds fun but I can’t imagine myself jogging. That’s not to say that litter collecting is the preserve of the fit and healthy. As if to prove the point Maya included a photo of Orinoco from the t...
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