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As I published my recent blog post, Dermot and I knew some (or most) of you would understand what I was referring to when I said that the path to reaching one of our long-term goals will be slightly different from the way we initially thought it would be but that we’re so excited that we are eventually going to get there. I’d love to eventually be able to show anyone on similar journeys that they’re not alone. But as exciting as our next steps are, with everything that’s going on, I’ve decided that rather than continuing to publish a blog post every Sunday, I will post as and when the time feels right. Here’s why.

When I met Jacob – aka Titanium Man – for the first time about a year ago, it was really clear that he’s no ordinary teenager. Jacob and his family have lived through things most of us don’t even live through in our worst nightmares. But Jacob’s mother Sarah always says that you can either choose to be bitter or be better in the face of difficult circumstances. And it’s hard to put into words to what extent Jacob’s family have chosen the latter after what they went through. Here’s their amazing story, as well as the top 5 things that make Malta's very own Titanium Man, Jacob happy.

As I was recovering after being chronically ill, I realised that in general I really wasn’t kind enough to myself. I tend to be my own worst critic and I’m usually quite hard on myself. I think so many of us are compassionate towards others but not as much to ourselves. Which is wrong. Why shouldn’t we be a little bit gentler with ourselves too? Especially when we’ve got a lot going on. So here’s some advice on how to be a little bit kinder to yourself. 

Photo by Sean Mallia

A year ago Dermot and I were in Italy for our first holiday in a very long time. And in that moment it really felt like everything was falling into place. But we actually received some difficult news about 6 months later which made it feel as though one long-term goal would never materialise after all. I can’t deny that for some time I felt crushed. But now things seem to be falling into place again. The path to reaching this goal might turn out to be slightly different from the way we initially thought we would get there. But the beauty is that we’re going to get there and we’re so excited about it. And here’s some advice for those days when things seem to be falling apart.

As we await the election results in Malta today, I came across this quote by Ellen DeGeneres and it rang so true. “I would love for the world to be happier.  I think it's our one thing that we all share.  We focus so much on our differences and that is creating, I think, a lot of chaos and negativity and bullying in the world.  And I think: what if everybody focused on what we all have in common -- which is -- we all want to be happy.” And here’s why we should all be kind to each other, not only today in Malta but in life in general. It can really change things for all of us.

Jake is a young and determined triathlete who spreads inspiration everywhere he goes. His battle with ROHHAD-NET, a rare life-threatening condition, causes him to gain weight no matter how much he diets and exercises.  When his father Josie recently completed the Garmin Ocean Lava Malta 113k Triathlon, he walked for about 3 km due to a puncture because he knew Jake was waiting for him at the finish line and didn’t want to disappoint him. And to me, this just sums Jake and his family up. They always remind me that while we have no say in whether life is tough or not, we do get to decide how to act in the face of difficulty. Here’s their amazing story.

Road to Zest turns 1 this weekend. So today I’d really like to thank you for joining me on my journey this year and for your support always. A year ago as I published my first blog post I had no idea what to expect, but I remember thinking that if I could give just one person hope that he/she could recover the way I did, it would make it all worthwhile.So a year later it feels really amazing to have spoken to quite a few people who have started or are planning to start or considering starting DNRS after reading about my recovery. And here’s a look back at the 10 most popular posts this year and why I need your help for the coming year.

Sometimes things happen that completely change the direction we thought our life was taking. At first it can be hard to accept. We end up asking “why” a lot. But I really believe that in time – even if we can’t see it now – some of the most difficult and unexpected situations still end up having a beautiful silver lining. Yet some days it might be hard to even think about the silver lining. Because that’s what life is: a rollercoaster of experiences and a rollercoaster of emotions. And here’s some advice and support to stay strong in hard times.

Corinne’s first wedding anniversary last week reminded me how amazing it was that I got to be at her wedding from start to finish last year. Something which had seemed beyond impossible before starting DNRS 3 months earlier, when I was housebound due to multiple chemical sensitivity and chronic fatigue syndrome. So I thought it would be nice to look back on what I had written a year ago (before I started this blog) to show anyone who’s just getting started in their DNRS journey or anyone who’s thinking about starting DNRS what could be possible for them. So here’s what I wrote just before and just after the wedding.

Photo by Matthew Mirabelli Photography

A friend recently told me that someone asked her how it’s possible for a person to become able to eat only a handful of foods. And I can totally see where that question’s coming from. Because now that I can eat anything again, even I find it hard to believe that there was a point when I could only eat 8 foods. But having learned about the brain’s ability to adapt and change itself – both for the better or for the worse – how I suddenly became able to eat only 8 foods actually makes “perfect sense”. Here’s how it happened.

I was out for a run in Bournemouth a couple of weeks ago and as the sun was rising, the scene was so beautiful that I kept stopping to take photos. I kept promising myself that each photo would be the last and that then I would get on with my run. But I just couldn’t do it. And I laughed at myself for stopping so many times. But I also laughed a bit at my old self: the person who wouldn’t have allowed herself to stop. Who would have wanted the run to be so “perfect” that she would hardly even have noticed the beauty of the sun and the sea. And so in a strange way I’m grateful for having been chronically ill. Because it really taught me how to slow down – or even stop – and be in the moment and enjoy the beauty around me. Here’s how things changed for me and how you too can start to really live in the moment.

I was at the DNRS seminar in the UK two weeks ago when 16 people who had collectively been suffering from debilitating and poorly understood chronic illnesses for a total of 280 years started to believe and understand that recovery is actually possible after all. It might sound too good to be true – but I remember so clearly when it happened to me too. I had accepted the reality of my chronic illness and had stopped dreaming before DNRS. So the fact that I can now travel again with ease and actually get to be at the DNRS seminar as a coach is beyond anything I could ever have dreamt of. And here’s what being at this life-changing seminar meant to me and what it could  mean to anyone suffering from a mysterious, chronic illness.

Being in London for a short holiday with my parents really reminds me how lucky I am to have been given a second chance at life. But things weren’t – and still aren’t – always easy because sometimes life just happens, as it does for all of us. So here’s a collection of 15 quotes which always help to motivate me when the going gets tough.

Here's my letter to anyone who has faced a major setback and bounced back. To anyone who can smile despite everything they’ve been through. To anyone who makes the best out of a tough journey. To anyone who can appreciate things they took for granted before things became tough. To anyone who might or might not have beaten the odds, but who is doing everything they possibly can to do so. This is a letter to all survivors.

I wrote this blog post as I was celebrating my 32nd birthday, which was also my 3rd since the onset of my mysterious chronic illness. As it was also my 1st birthday since recovering fully through DNRS, I thought it was a good time to make a list of things I'm grateful for, since the whole journey made me realise how many things I took for granted before my illness started. So here’s my 32nd birthday gratitude list.

I can still remember driving home from the first fitting for our bridesmaids’ dresses for Corinne’s wedding after having been housebound for months. I felt so free and empowered and realised in that moment that I could actually recover if I kept at it, although I knew that I still had a LONG way to go. Still, trusting the process and believing I could do it wasn’t easy. But there were 10 things which I believe really made things easier for me and which can help anyone overcome most obstacles that life might present.

When I think back to what my life was like just over a year ago when I was chronically ill, I still find it hard to believe that by the time you read this, if all goes well, I’ll have completed a 13 mile race. Before I started DNRS just over a year ago, I would go to sleep wondering whether I would be well enough to get out of bed the next morning. So as I write this today I still can’t quite believe that I’ve prepared all my stuff to get up for a half marathon tomorrow! Here’s all about what this means to me and what it could mean to others suffering from mysterious, chronic illnesses – even if they have no intention of ever running a half marathon down the line (I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea :) ).

Photo by Alan Falzon

Being chronically ill taught me quite a few lessons and more than anything it taught me to slow down and appreciate the little things in life. It also helped me realise that in actual fact the little things are the big things. Now that I’ve recovered fully, I still like to occasionally remind myself of the things my chronic illness taught me, because life can be so rushed that it can be easy to forget. So here’s a letter to my 29-year-old self, to the person who hadn’t yet learned any of these lessons.

I know no one likes being ill. But after being chronically ill for so long and then recovering, things like colds and flu upset me a bit more than they should and a bit more than they used to. And since this cold has been dragging on for over a week, I’m not in the best of moods today. So instead of one of my usual blog posts, here’s a collection of 15 uplifting quotes which always cheer me up when I’m feeling down.

Photo by Rene Rossignaud Photography

Don’t let this photo mislead you. I won’t be taking part in the BRND WGN & University Ring Road Races this year. This photo actually shows the only time I ever actually ran in one of the races on the day. It was tough having to switch back to organiser mode as soon as I finished my leg of the relay and tagged my colleague Louis, who was up next. So this year, much as I’d love to run it again, I’ll “just” be sticking to the role of organiser. But being able to plan the races last year and then even getting to be there was a big defining point in my recovery. So here’s why I can’t wait for the BRND WGN & University Ring Road Races (and 10 reasons you should be there too).

Photo by Jeffrey Cassar

Before I started this blog, I remember thinking I didn't have the right photos for my website. As a perfectionist, I must admit that sometimes I want things to be so “perfect” that I just don’t get them done.  But I finally made the decision that I’d start the blog with the photos I had and eventually try getting some proper photos taken. While my best friend Becky – an amazing photographer – travels the world, last weekend Sean Mallia, another really amazing photographer, took my photos for the blog. This photo shoot reminded me of that moment when I wanted to wait to have the right photos before starting the blog. I’m so glad I didn’t put off getting started for so long. And here are 9 simple steps which can help you overcome perfectionism too.

Photo by Sean Mallia

The past couple of months haven’t been the easiest as Dermot and I received some difficult news. Nothing we won’t get through, but quite challenging just the same. And while on the whole I feel I’ve been coping pretty well, there was actually a point this week when I thought I wouldn’t write a blog post this weekend because I just didn’t feel up to it. But then I decided it would be a good time to put down some tips for getting through tough times. I really hope my tips might help you even just a little bit if you’re going through a tough time also. Obviously all situations are different, but here are the 10 things which are really helping me get through this.

For this blog post I wanted a photo taken before my illness started. When it never even crossed any of our minds that difficult times might lie in store. And I don’t mean difficult times just for me. I always say that I believe it was actually worse for those around me. 5 months ago, I wrote about my journey through Dermot’s eyes. And because some of you had asked and because my parents walked with me through the storm in every way possible, here’s my journey and recovery from a chronic illness through my parents’ eyes.

To say I had hit rock bottom by the start of 2016 was putting it mildly. But exactly a year ago, I sat down to watch the DNRS DVDs for the first time. I still had huge doubts about the whole thing but I remember saying that if it at least helped me improve by 10%, it was worth giving it a try. Little did I know how my life was going to change! Rather than improving by just 10%, here’s what happened in the year since I started neural retraining. 

Today I feel so grateful that things which made me so ill when I had multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) are now so normal again. Apart from so many other things, I can now hug my loved ones again without worrying about reacting to any of their perfumes or toiletries. When I had MCS, I was lucky that although such strange things were happening, everyone around me was extremely supportive. But since unfortunately that isn’t the case for so many sufferers, hopefully this might make you smile and might also help to raise awareness about such a poorly understood condition. So here are the top 10 uncanny things that happened when I had MCS.

Photo by Rebekah Kamsky Photography

I started 2016 housebound, which is why this photo of me and Dermot in Italy last June means so much to me. In fact, being able to travel again was one of my recovery goals when I started DNRS in 2016.  I believe setting tangible goals is really important not only when it comes to recovery from chronic illnesses through DNRS but also for life in general. And when it comes to setting New Year’s Resolutions, I really believe that turning them into actionable and achievable goals rather than leaving them up in the air as something you hope to one day achieve is the way to go. So here are 9 steps which can help you to keep your resolutions and achieve your goals in 2017.

Sadly, the grandfather of one of my best friends passed away a couple of days ago. It was exactly 19 years less a day after my own grandfather had passed away so it obviously reminded me a lot of our Christmas 19 years ago. It also made me think of others who have lost a loved one at Christmas time. And of course even if they would have passed away before Christmas time, the first Christmas in their absence is never easy. I’m definitely no expert on the subject, but here are the 11 tips I would give to anyone celebrating their first Christmas after losing a loved one. 

The nausea I feel in Madrid alarms me at first. But it’s not long before it becomes clear that this is no reaction to the tapas, paella, sangria or anything else. This is gastric flu. So while it’s a relief that it’s just a normal bug, gastric flu obviously wasn’t part of the plan for our holiday in Madrid: our first family holiday in almost 2 years. And here are the mistakes I almost made which could have ended up ruining our holiday – mistakes which I consider to be the top 5 mistakes to avoid when things don’t go the way you would have wished them to. 

I’ve always loved Christmas and everything that comes with it. But last year somehow when everything got stripped back, sad as it was, that’s when I realised that although there was no Christmas tree in our living room, I had all the essential things and nothing else mattered. There was something about having none of the usual things at Christmas time that showed me just how much I actually had. And here’s how I rediscovered the true magic of Christmas and the 10 lessons I learned when I was chronically ill.

I think the most important lesson I learned through being chronically ill was that being too busy and living such a rushed life wasn’t beyond my control.  And as I started recovering, I decided that I was going to do things differently this time round. Most importantly, I made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t go back to being overly busy. It’s still something I need to work at, but with these 9 strategies, I definitely manage to find much more time than I used to previously for the things that matter most.