Paying with Fish

Living close to the beach promised long, relaxing days, reclining peacefully and contemplating life, not prolonged screeching and jumping along the sand with a live crustacean taking residence in your pants.

Life in France for Viv is not what was expected. Perception based upon memory and recall alone is just not up to scratch. Who knew about the live lions parked in open containers in rural car parks. What about the monkeys tethered to grass verges eyeing you suspiciously? Why do horses have their heads poked through town house kitchen windows? Are they hoping for sustenance for the long night ahead? Just what is this obsession with drains blowing smoke up sewage pipes and making the colour of water especially grey? And just because there is a bus stop, can it be presumed that any type of vehicle has ever stopped there? Residence in rural France might just be a tad more tricky than first anticipated.

Paul Vitz: Psychological Mythbuster

American psychologist, Paul Vitz, was a pioneer critic of the ‘me, me, me’ generation and humanistic psychology which flourished alongside it. He stands out because of the cultural, psychological and spiritual depth of his critique. Mythbusters are rare and Vitz is a mythbuster par excellence, tearing apart several generations of selfism with insight, wisdom and wit. Other critiques came much later. He saw it all at the time.

This book takes the reader on a journey into the life and thought of a rare thinker, a questioner of ideological sacred cows, and one of the most original and gifted psychologists of the past century.

Paul Vitz was a visionary for his time in confronting and mythbusting humanistic psychology amidst ‘a tsunami of humanistic adulation.’ This book gives perceptive insights into Vitz's thought and times. Well worth reading!

– Catherine MacLaurin, Psychologist, Senior Wellbeing Advisor (SWA), Health and Safety Directorate, NSW Department of Education and Training, Australia

The American psychologist, Paul Vitz, has been a remarkably prescient and courageous critic of the humanist psychology movement, headlined by Carl Rogers. In this book, Wanda Skowronska has provided a thorough and convincing account of Vitz’s work. Her book deserves a wide readership.

– Colin Patterson STD, Dean and Permanent Fellow of the former John Paul II Institute, Melbourne, Australia.

In her book, Wanda Skowronska masterfully narrates the philosophical, theological, and historical context of the development of humanistic psychology, especially that of Carl Rogers, through the lens of Paul C. Vitz’s life and publications. This work critiques the influences of contemporary psychology’s humanistic origins of self-fulfilment theories and cultural Marxism and honours the lifelong work of Paul Vitz, who is undoubtedly one of the most significant Catholic psychologists of our times.

– Professor Craig Steven Titus, S.Th.D./Ph.D. Divine Word University, USA.

Pathways to Paradise

All is well when intelligence is used intelligently. Salvation is the ability which we all possess to come to terms with spiritual reality. To fully comprehend life and our obligations to it, we should seek to understand what obligations we owe to God and humanity. We should seek guidance from our immortal soul, which is of God and from God. The mind of mankind has, to an overwhelming degree, become conditioned to acquisition of material wealth. The inescapable fact is, there is no tow bar on a hearse.

Passionate

Do you ever feel confused, depressed or anxious? Do you think that you are going through some sort of crisis? Do you seem at odds with your partner, friends or work colleagues? But you can’t understand why this is happening? If so, Passionate will shed some light, as its author has experienced all these things and more besides, and has survived to tell the tale.

To achieve this, he experienced various therapies which helped to improve his mental health. But above all else, it was his discovery of attachment theory that was responsible for clearing his confusion and helping him to understand why his life had been so intense, so chaotic, and so passionate.

Originally applied to the early parent-child bonding process, attachment theory can also help explain why we have become who we are as adults. The author has applied this aspect of attachment theory to himself  – as he takes us on a roller-coaster tour of his life, with thoughtful self-analysis applied to every stage of the journey.

Passionate is not a quick fix for people unwilling to look within but it does show how positive mental health can be achieved through a better understanding of what exactly is going on in our lives and why. So, strap yourself in for a ride that might change your life!

Parkinson's Hasn't Got Me Yet

Willie McCarney’s early years were studded with a series of traumatic incidents culminating in the death of his mother, when he was still under 10 years old. Everyone has to learn to deal with the ups and downs of life but Willie seemed to be getting more than his fair share of hard knocks. A Japanese proverb advises: “Fall down seven times. Stand up eight”. Like a baby learning to walk, Willie was back on his feet after every knockdown, stronger than before. He studied hard, qualified as a teacher and later as a trainer of teachers. He got married. Three months after the wedding his wife was struck down with an incurable disease. To hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, takes strength. Willie was not going to allow himself to be crushed, not even when Parkinson’s came knocking at his door. This book is the story of his fight back which continues 10 years on. He argues that the more physically active you are, the easier it is to live well with Parkinson’s. He offers hope in the future.

Pandemics

Pandemics inflict significant harm on societies, often exacerbated by human activities that alter the natural environment. As cities expand, encroaching on areas once inhabited by wildlife, the risk of disease transmission increases. Bacteria have existed for 3.5 billion years and viruses for 1.5 billion years, while humans have only been around for 130,000 years. Coronaviruses have a long evolutionary history of over fifty million years, with some recent strains dating back to around 8000 BCE, indicating a prolonged coevolution with bats and birds.Advancements in technology during the 20th century have facilitated rapid global travel, allowing microbes to spread more quickly than ever before. The 1918 influenza pandemic, often referred to as the ‘Spanish’ flu, was particularly devastating, claiming between 50 and 100 million lives, or about five percent of the global population at the time. Major pandemics have historically led to significant social changes: the Justinian Plague contributed to the rise of Christianity, the bubonic plague heralded the end of serfdom, and the aftermath of the ‘Spanish’ flu saw many governments adopting socialized medicine.The concept began in socialist Russia and soon spread to countries like France, New Zealand, and eventually Great Britain. It took the return of battle-hardened soldiers from World War II to push this agenda politically in the UK. Post-war, the growing influence of the United States and the nascent World Health Organisation led to the decline of privileged classes and the establishment of the fundamental right to healthcare for every human being, irrespective of their background.As the world confronts the final stages of another global pandemic, the future remains uncertain. There are questions about whether new vaccines will effectively control the disease, leaving societies worldwide in a state of anticipation and adaptation.

Oscar's Story

Mr. Pariyal shared Oscar’s Pedigree file with a reverence akin to the way we share janampatris (horoscopes). Oscar’s pedigree status was pretty impressive and his grandfather seemed to be the outstanding one for winning dog shows on intelligence, obedience besides his alpha male looks.

Oscar’s father had a rather strange name – “Casper” – and had not followed in his illustrious father’s footsteps. Casper had either not participated in dog shows or failed to make a mark in them. Oscar’s parents and grandparents were based in Bangalore.

The little Labrador had travelled afar to make Mumbai his home.

We consoled ourselves that sometimes genes skip a generation and Oscar would be like his illustrious grandfather. We were not disappointed; he had intelligence in ample measure and the only thing he needed was obedience.

On Life's Terms

Does it feel like you are fighting against life? Like life is not going the direction you want it? Do you feel like this drives you to act out, misuse food, drugs, alcohol or commit crime?

It could be time to stop living life on your terms, and start living on life's terms.

On Life's Terms is a 4-stage program, using well established psychological theories, which will help bring your awareness on what your role is in your life, exploring what other people's roles are in your life and how you can begin to live life on life's terms.

No One to Fall Back On...

...behind every successful woman is herself!

Let me take you on a journey.

Come with me and see what you discover about yourself and how brilliant and talented you are.

Whether you are working, running your own business or thinking about your next step in life, explore the possibilities, learn new skills, expand existing skills, celebrate being a woman and join the collective tipping point.

Wouldn’t you like to discover more about yourself and become the woman you were born to be? Why not join me and find out:

What makes your heart jump for joy

What impact you can make on this world

How strong you are

How magnificent, powerful, brave and courageous you are.

Are you a woman who is ready to take that step? The step into her power, owning and making the most of her place in the world?

Together, we really can and will change the world if we want to! Do you want to?

Myths, History, and Art

Sir Basil Markesinis has held tenured senior posts at the Universities of Cambridge, Oxford, University of London, Leiden (in the Netherlands) and the Law School of the University of Texas at Austin where he is now Emeritus Professor of Comparative Methodology. He has also held for a number of years part-time Chairs at the Universities of Paris I (Sorbonne), Paris II (Assas), Munich (Germany), Ghent (Belgium), Siena, Genova, and Rome (Italy), the Michigan Law School (at Ann-Arbour) for two years and the Cornell Law School for four years. He has authored or co-authored 56 books, over 150 legal articles, and close to 100 articles on geopolitical issues in journals and newspapers in three continents. His most-recent work is his three-volume illustrated treatise entitled Ancient Greek Poetry from Homer to Roman Times, Jan Sramek, Verlag (2017). His academic work has earned him Fellowships at the Academies of Athens, Belgium, Britain, France, the Netherlands, Rome (Lincei), as well as the Athens Archaeological Society and the American Law Institute. For his work in promoting international relations and the study of various European Cultures, especially through his creation of the Leiden Institute of Anglo-American Law (in 1987); The Oxford Institute of European and Comparative Law (in 1996) of which he was Founder, fund raiser, and first Director; and the Texas Institute of Global Law (in 2000), he was awarded the Insignia of the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy; the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of France; the Insignia of the Grand Cross of Service with Star of the Republic of Germany, as well as the insignia of Commander of the Order of the Légion d' honneur of France. In 1997 on the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor, he was appointed Hon. Queen's Counsel; and in 2005, on the advice of the Prime Minister, he was knighted by H. M. Queen Elizabeth II for "exceptional services to international relations."

My Mind Made Me Me

My Mind Made Me Me is a powerful and thought-provoking guide to understanding and improving your mental well-being. Written by an expert in the field, the book takes a holistic approach, delving into the connection between your mind, memories, childhood experiences, and mental well-being. The author draws on the idea that true wealth is found in good mental health, regardless of one’s financial status.

The book offers personal insight into the possible reasons for your attitudes, prejudices, motivation, values, and mental health. It explores how our thoughts affect our feelings, behaviour, and ultimately our mental well-being. With real-life examples and practical exercises, the book encourages readers to give themselves permission to be happy and mentally well. The author uses the example of Prince Harry, discussing how his attitude towards the media may be linked to his young childhood experiences and his exposure to his mother's dubious relationship with the press. The author encourages readers to take a deeper look at their own childhood experiences and how it may be affecting their current mental health and behaviour. This book is a must-read for anyone looking to improve their mental health and gain a better understanding of themselves.

Musings of a Grieving Mam

It’s humbling to realise that everything I’ve taken for granted over the last 13 years, touching Lils, holding her, being beside her, I now have to ask permission to do it.

That now, other mothers’ hands have the unspoken right to touch my daughter.

I have to ask permission to perform the most basic of ‘mum duties’ for my own child.

My. Own. Child.

16 days in the head of a mum during her teenage daughter’s battle with HLH.