Life Change Lady

Yes I'm all about female empowerment BUT I've realised being an HSP man has as many challenges, if not more than being an HSP woman

As only 20% of the population those born with the personality trait of high sensitivity need to manage their worlds carefully because we live in the world designed by the other 80% for the other 80%.

Simple things can be a challenge for us, every day. For me, one challenge is bright lights and wherever I have been employed I've had the fluorescent tube light above my head removed.

Why?

Because the energy it emits feels like a weight pressing down on my head. Usually there is more than enough light in the area without that one tube and if not I substitute with a freestanding uprighter.

And that 20% is the same for all creatures from fruit flies to human beings AND it's gender equal, male and female, again for all creatures.

Think you could be one of us HSPs? There's a short questionnaire which could give uou greater clarity and understanding. Click the link to find out:- https://drive.google.com/file/d/17aPIPDrYSCA8upQA9QJuyD4MsLSMwI3f/view?usp=drivesdk

OR message me and I'll send it over to you. 💜

"My name's Arthur. I'm 72. I work at Second Chance Thrift Store on Maple Street. Been pricing donated clothes and organizing shelves for 9 years. Most people drop off bags without looking at me. I'm just the old man sorting through their leftovers.

But I notice everything.
Like the boy who came in last November, shivering in a torn hoodie. Couldn't be more than fourteen. He touched a winter coat on the rack, navy blue, barely worn, then checked the price tag. $12. His shoulders sagged.

He walked to the counter with a thin jacket instead. $3.
"That coat would fit you better," I said, nodding toward the navy one.
"Can't afford it," he mumbled.

After he left, I couldn't stop thinking about him. Minnesota winter was coming. That thin jacket wouldn't cut it.

Next week, he came back. Headed straight for the navy coat, touched it like it was gold, then walked away. This happened three more times.

Finally, I pulled the coat off the rack. Took it to the back room. Put a "SOLD" tag on it.
When he came in the following Tuesday, I was waiting. "Hey, kid. Someone bought this coat but never picked it up. Store policy, after two weeks, we have to discount it." I handed it to him. "It's $3 now."
His eyes went wide. "That's not... you're lying."
"You calling me a liar?" I said, pretending to be offended.

He bought it. His hands shook as he counted three dollar bills. Put it on right there in the store, zipped it up, and his whole face changed. Like he'd found armor.
"Thank you," he whispered.

I did that seventeen more times that winter. A single mom needing work shoes. An immigrant family needing blankets. A homeless woman needing socks. I'd move items to the back, mark them down, create "store policies" that didn't exist.

Then a customer caught me. Watched me do it.
Instead of reporting me, she donated $100. "For your store policies," she said with a knowing smile.
Word spread quietly. Regular customers started funding my "pricing errors." They'd buy $50 gift cards and leave them at the register. "For whoever needs it."

Last week, a young man walked in wearing that navy coat. But he wasn't fourteen anymore. He was in his twenties, college sweatshirt underneath.

"You're Arthur, right?" he said. "You gave me this coat seven years ago. Told me it was store policy." He smiled. "I knew you were lying. But you let me keep my pride."
He handed me an envelope. Inside was $500.

"I'm a social worker now," he said. "I help homeless youth. Because someone showed me that kindness doesn't have to be humiliating. It can look like a store policy."

I'm 72. I price used clothes that smell like other people's lives.

But I learned this, Dignity matters more than charity.
Help people without making them feel small.
Lie about the price. Bend the rules. Make up policies.
Let them walk out with their head up.
That's what changes lives."

Let this story reach more hearts....
Credit:Astonishing
By Mary Nelson

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough, and we'll be more content when they are.

After that, we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage.We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our partner gets his or her act together when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice holiday, when we retire.

The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when?

Your life will always be filled with challenges.

It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway.

A quote comes from Alfred D. Souza. He said,

"For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, or a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life."

This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way.

So, treasure every moment that you have and treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time...and remember that time waits for no one.

So, stop waiting until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until winter, until your song comes on, until you've had a drink.... there is no better time than right now to be happy.

Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

Work like you don't need money,

Love like you've never been hurt,

And dance like no one's watching.

Copyright © 1997 Crystal Boyd

Artwork: Sarah Treanor

At any age - life doesn't end when the story changes, it simply begins a new chapter 💜

My name is Clara Jensen, I’m 72 years old,
and last spring, I did something my daughter politely called
“a spontaneous decision that clearly skipped the planning stage.”

I moved into a bookstore.

Not metaphorically — literally.
After forty-nine years of marriage, one long career in accounting,
and a quiet suburban house that always smelled faintly of furniture polish,
I packed up two suitcases and rented the tiny apartment above a secondhand bookstore in Copenhagen.

After my husband passed away three years ago, the days all blurred together —
coffee, laundry, the evening news, repeat.
My daughter said, “Mom, you need a hobby.”
So I joined a yoga class. Lasted one week — too much bending, not enough coffee.
Then, one rainy Tuesday, I walked past a handwritten sign:

“Help Wanted — Bookshop Assistant. Must love tea, books, and conversation.”

I walked in.
A man in his thirties with paint on his hands looked up.
“Ever run a bookstore before?” he asked.
I said, “No. But I’ve balanced more checkbooks than you’ve read novels.”

He laughed — and that was that.

Now my days are nothing like before.
I open the shop at ten, sweep the front steps, and brew a pot of Earl Grey.
Regulars drift in like old friends.
We talk about everything from poetry to politics to whether cats dream in colour.

My daughter still doesn’t quite understand.
“Mom, you’re seventy-two! Don’t you want to rest?”
I tell her, “Darling, I’ve been resting for forty years. It’s exhausting.”

In the evenings, we host “Silent Reading Nights.”
People sit among the shelves, reading together in peaceful quiet.
Sometimes a young couple will whisper over a poetry book,
and I’ll smile because love still sounds the same in every generation —
soft, hopeful, and slightly nervous.

One night, a student left me a note on the counter:

“Thank you, Clara. You remind me that growing old doesn’t mean fading away.”

I kept that note pinned above my desk.

These days, I help order new titles, run the shop’s Instagram,
and every Friday, I post a photo of our best-loved books under the hashtag .
Apparently, people enjoy the ramblings of an elderly woman surrounded by dusty hardcovers —
I now have 52,000 followers who call me “the Bookstore Grandma.”

Do I miss my old house? No.
There, the walls echoed.
Here, the shelves whisper.

💛 The Lesson:
Starting over doesn’t have an age limit.
You don’t stop growing when you grow old —
you just grow differently.

So move, laugh, volunteer, fall in love with something new.
Because life doesn’t end when the story changes —
it simply begins another chapter.

Are you looking forward to the S.W.A.N.S. Event on Sunday 12th?

It's time to pick the talks you're going to 💜

Happy Monday everyone - hope your week has begun well.

Think we all look forward to the weekend and next Sunday is very special as it's

✨💜The S.W.A.N.S. Autumn Spiritual and Wellbeing Fayre and I've been invited to give a talk at 1.30pm.🥳✨💜

They have an amazing mix of mediums, healers, therapists and stalls on offer as well as different talks and demonstrations throughout the day.

Please find below all the information you will need to make the most of your day.

The venue address is : East Worthing Community Centre, Pages Lane, Worthing, BN11 2NQ.

Sunday 12th October 2025 - 10am until 4pm

Parking: there is a small carpark at the centre however there are no parking restrictions on a Sunday so there is plenty of on street parking for free in the local vicinity (please see map below for surrounding roads nearby) there are also some parking bays marked in green on the map. The Range carpark next door also offers 3 hours of free parking.

The East Worthing train station is a 6-7 minute walk from the centre.

We will have Tan's Tasty Cakes / Patisserie 43 serving tea, coffee, sweet treats and light bites.

💜TALK TIMES 💜

11.00am - Kerry Wilton - A Demonstration Of Intuitive Readings & Mediumship.

11.30am - Tee Hinkers - A Talk On Every Day Crystals.

12.00pm - Pauline Walsh - Demonstration of Clairvoyance.

12.30pm - Brian Walker - Psychic Surgery Demonstration.

1.00pm - Stephanie Boulding - Healing Our Inner Child Well-Being Workshop

1.30pm - Linda Randall - HSP - A Talk About Being A Highly Sensitive Person.

2.00pm - Sarah Hexter - Mind,Body ,Rhythm Demonstration.

2.30pm - Luisa Villar - A Sound Bath Experience.

💜Raffle💜

The raffle will take place at 3pm .
We are holding a grand raffle with all proceeds from ticket sales going to the three charities we support so bring some loose change along with you (wadars, turning tides, and red balloon)
A big thank you to our stall holders for their prize donations 🙏

If you leave before the raffle is drawn please keep your tickets and check this page as we will share any unclaimed tickets here,so you will need to send us proof of your matching ticket to claim your prize,so hold on to them.

💜 Catering by Tan's Tasty Cakes / Patisserie 43
Yummy food and drinks including homemade Sausage rolls, cheese straws, pastries, cakes and cookies , plus a selection of hot and cold drinks available. We also have seating inside and outside for you to have some lunch or a break in between the talks & demos.

💜STALLHOLDERS💜

💜Julia Pillai of Crystal Earth - Crystals, tumble stones, rough and carved pieces, pendulums.

💜Tee Hinkley of tinkershealing - Crystals, angel cards and spiritual gifts.

💜 Brian Walker of Energy Healing with Brian Walker - Psychic Surgery and Healing

💜Pennie Gray of Luna Dreams - Dream catchers and keyrings.

💜Pauline Walsh - Clairvoyant readings.

💜 Kerry Wilton of The Celestial Healing Sanctuary - Psychic readings.

💜 Tricia Webb of Release Your Butterfly - Reflexology treatments.

💜 Kerry Strudwick of Crystal Creations - Crystals, jewellery, resin figures,tote bags.

💜 Nicola Bamforth of Creation Tree -
Shamanic drums, rattles,dream catchers,beaters,wands, cards and painted stones.

💜 Jean Young of Genie Travel - Well-being holidays.

💜 Lauren Gilpin of Sacred Spirit Holistic Therapy - Reflexology,reiki, angel healing, Indian head massage, oracle cards.

💜 Zoe Williams of Serenity Flower Remedies - showing and talking about Bach flower remedies.

💜 Hayley Richards of Enchanted Trees - Dream catchers , smudging fans, hand painted horseshoes.

💜 Carla Thorne of Hey Sassy - Jewellery,gemstones & reiki infused pieces.

💜 Sharyn Brazier - Clairvoyant readings.

💜 Michele Massey of Teal Aura - Indian Head Massage, Hand Massage,Chakra Stones ,Crafts & Cards.

💜 Megan Stroudley of Astrology With Meg's - Astrology Birth Chart Readings.

💜 Carole Smith of Karma Violet - Cards & Mediumship Readings.

💜 Laura Blackford or Klara Tea - Loose Tea,Hot Chocolate,Tea Accessories & Homeware.

💜 Chris Warden of Craft Cabin Chichester - Arts,Crafts & Clothes.

💜 Sharon Tat Nealgrove of Annie's Grotto - Jewellery,Lucky Bags and Trinkets. Also raising funds for their Christmas grotto for SEN/Disabled children and young people. Annies Grotto appeal

💜 Jenn Thongtan of Green Leaf Hypnotherapy - Hypnotherapy Taster Sessions.

💜 Clementina Dan of Sweet Dreams Jams - Jams, Chutneys & Pickles.

💜 Sarah Clifford of Jupiter Sun Healing - Tarot & Oracle Card Readings.

💜 Sarah Stuart of Moonheart Newtiqueu - Spiritual Items/ Witchy / Pagan.

💜 Karen Barker - DoTerra Essential Oils - Free Class And Trying Items.

💜 Hannah Mather of Hannah's Hampers - Bespoke Hampers,Gifts & Treats.

💜 Claire Ball of Difference In You - Nutrition Advice and Wellness.

💜 Civane Enticknapp of ćia - 925 Silver and Stainless Steel Beautiful Handmade Jewellery.

✨It's going to be an amazing day,we look forward to welcoming you all ✨

💜 PLEASE SHARE FAR AND WIDE, TELL YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY AND NEIGHBOURS 💜

https://www.facebook.com/groups/3313962315551343/?ref=share

A date for your diary lovelies. Always a great event, with lots of beautiful things to see and interesting talks with opportunities to experience things you're curious about. 💜

https://facebook.com/events/s/-autumn-spiritual-wellbeing-fa/1143182277410181/

You are amazing, a modern day Wonder Woman, remember what you have acheived and the legacy that you are creating, every day. Celebrate and love you a little bit more, you deserve it 💜

This statue, titled "El Esfuerzo" (The Effort) or "La Carga" (The Burden), is located in Barcelona, Spain, on Carrer de la Princesa near the intersection with Via Laietana.

The sculpture was created by artist Jaume Plensa. It depicts a woman carrying a large burden of household items, symbolizing the weight of domestic responsibilities often borne by women, while children cling to her, representing the generational impact . ,