There comes a point in life where you assume you’ve learned the major lessons. You’ve survived bad perms, heartbreaks, friendship implosions, jobs that aged you permanently, men who communicate exclusively through silence, and at least one phase where you thought acid-wash jeans and neon leg-warmers were a good idea.

You think “Surely now I get to coast.”

Apparently not. Because this year felt like the universe handed me a group project called Unexpected Personal Growth and despite repeatedly saying, “No thanks, I’ve already suffered enough for the curriculum,” I was enrolled anyway.

So in honor of another rotation around the sun, or as a friend of mine describes it, the anniversary of my epic vaginal descent, here are the lessons I’ve learned, relearned, ignored, relearned again, and may still completely fail to apply in real time.

Planning a trip to Egypt? Discover the ultimate 10-day Egypt itinerary, travel tips for first-time visitors, what to see, where to shop, and why this bucket list destination is absolutely worth it.

I’ll be honest.

For someone who’s travelled as much as I have, I was a little nervous about Egypt. Maybe it’s the current tensions in the Middle East. Maybe it’s the low-level anxiety so many of us are carrying right now. But whatever it was, I went in cautious.

And left completely blown away.

Have you heard that old backhanded blessing, or is it curse, “May you live in interesting times”?

Well. "Interesting" feels like a polite understatement. Most mornings, I open my socials the way I’d open a suspicious container in the back of the fridge. Cautiously. Holding my breath. And bracing for a fresh serving of global WTF.

Since the world has officially chosen ‘Unhinged Chaos’ as its aesthetic for 2026, I’ve decided to respond in kind.

With perspective. With humor. With bite.

Over the decades I’ve spent roaming this planet, I’ve curated a small, slightly deranged treasure chest of hard-earned nuggets of wisdom. Some of it is comforting. Some of it is deeply inconvenient. All of it is unfiltered—like me. This is not your mother’s life advice. (Unless your mother was a total badass who didn't take any shit.)

Every single day on Instagram, I’ll be dropping one sharp truth, one savage reflection, or one quotable recalibration to help tilt the scales back toward sanity. So, if you like what I’m doing here, click that Insta link and follow along for your daily dose of Unf*cking.

Less “Live, Laugh, Love.” More “Live, Learn, and Hell Yeah.”

And to jump start you, here are ten of my faves.

Without question, the holiday season can be a real strain at the best of times. There’s the commercial pressure of gift-giving, the aggressive calendar of festive parties, and the sudden reappearance of relatives you’ve successfully avoided since Easter. Add twinkly lights and a soundtrack of relentless cheer, and suddenly everyone’s pretending it’s magical while quietly Googling “how early is too early for wine?”

Sure, the season looks pretty. Fairy lights do their job. Tinsel sparkles. But for a lot of us, the holidays are the most challenging time of year to be single, alone, grieving, or simply not where we thought we’d be by now.

This Isn’t a Political Post (But You’ll Probably Think It Is)

I have a confession—an embarrassing one at that. But I’m not going to lead with it. Because it just might be my Get Out of Jail free card the next time I go to the States. And after this post, I just might need it.

I’m not a political person. This is not a political post. Although I’m well aware that saying it’s not political is often the international signal for here comes something political. It’s like prefacing a conversation with, “No offense, but…”

I loathe talking politics. There’s nothing worse at a dinner party—except maybe karaoke.

Dinner Parties, Traffic Jams, and Unsolicited Opinions

Opinions get louder, veins pop, and suddenly you’re defending free trade over dry chicken to a man wearing his baseball cap backwards. It’s exhausting.

Welcome to the great international dating paradox. Who does it better?

As a single Canadian woman living in London, I’ve had my fair share of dates on both sides of the pond. And while I’d love to claim expert status—I mean I did kinda write an award-winning book, In Search of Mr Darcy: Lessons Learnt in the Pursuit of Happily Ever After—on the subject of men, I don’t know everything about this subject (phew). But you better believe I can talk about it.

I enlisted my girl gang—a highly qualified team of romantic research analysts to make this discussion even juicier. We’re focusing on city men and speaking in generalities, so if you’re easily offended, I suggest you swipe left.

If you’ve ever wondered how British and North American men compare when it comes to romance, charm, and commitment, buckle up. This is a head-to-head showdown of British Men vs. North American Men, complete with all their quirks, charms, and questionable texting habits.

The Mean Season: How Music Can Boost Your Happiness—ScIENTIFIcally

If you’re anything like me, this time of year can feel overwhelming. I’ve officially nicknamed it the Mean Season — that period from Thanksgiving to Valentine’s Day when life seems to pile on the pressure. Our credit card bills are due from overspending at Christmas, our clothes don’t fit from overeating and over-drinking, and the sun has not been seen since October. To make matters suckier, we are guilted into making (and then breaking) New Year’s resolutions before the ice even melts. Yup, this season has its challenges. And if you’re single, you get to cap it all off with a front-row seat to all the lovebirds, armed only with a box of chocolates and a stack of rom-coms. No wonder Bridget Jones ended up cry-singing "All By Myself" into a hairbrush.

It’s hard, plain and simple. But don’t worry, I’ve found a little something to help us all out. To make the lack of sunlight and the relentless bone chill of winter just a little bit nicer. And don’t thank me, thank science.

Solo travel is one of the most enriching experiences and the most incredible gift you can give yourself. Whether you're embarking on your first solo journey or a seasoned solo traveler, it’s always helpful to have a few tips to ensure your trip is smooth, safe, and enjoyable. So, let me share my top solo travel tips, favorite destinations, and essential advice for solo female travelers.

1. Pick Solo-Friendly Destinations

Choosing the right destination is crucial for a successful solo trip. Some places are naturally better suited for solo travelers due to their welcoming atmosphere, ease of navigation, and safety. So, do your research and plan something you have always wanted to do but within your comfort zone. These are a few of my top places.

I recently experienced something that left me utterly gobsmacked and believe me, I've seen a lot in my years of globetrotting. I was checking out of a lovely hotel in Mykonos, Greece—sun, sea, and... sticker shock.

A Shocking Tipping Request in Mykonos

As I handed my credit card over to the front desk, the clerk slipped it into the card reader and handed it back to me. And there it was—like a surprise party you didn't want—an American-style tipping prompt. What percentage of my bill would I like to tip?

I was genuinely flummoxed, staring back at the two tanned, guilt-wielding staff members. "Sorry," I stammered. "Tip for what, exactly?"

"Well, you know, if you were happy with our service," one replied, referencing the dinner reservation they made for me at Scorpios. Hang on, isn’t that the concierge's job?

In utter disbelief, I clarified, "You want a tip on the entire hotel bill? Including the already-inflated high-season room rate, taxes, and the tips I’ve already left?" They did.

Of course, I didn't pay it. The sheer absurdity of it! But it got me wondering—would they ask a local Athenian for a tip? Not a chance, according to my Greek friends.

For all you youngsters, Traveler's Checks were, at the time, the safest way to travel with “cash.” Let's say you wanted to travel with $500. Instead of cash, you’d head to Thomas Cook, order your Traveler's Checks, sign them in front of the cashier, and again when buying something. Every store or restaurant accepted them. In fact, I don’t recall a single retailer turning one down on that trip to Corfu. They were safer than cash because they required a matching signature and a piece of ID to be cashed. But decades later, not only have Traveler's Checks gone the way of TV antennas and Diners Club, but you also no longer require cash of any physical kind to travel. I came on this trip without a single euro (although a little local currency is not a bad idea; I just wasn’t that organized) and instead used Apple Pay backed up by a couple of credit cards, just in case they needed me to insert a card or if I somehow failed to charge my phone.

This got me thinking about…

12 Things We No Longer Use and What Has Replaced Them

There are few people on this earth, especially if you are over 40, who can say they've never had their heart broken. It’s almost a rite of passage. Heartbreak has tremendous power. It can hurt, enlighten, destroy, strengthen, shatter, sadden, transform, illuminate, empower and…change lives. It has inspired countless songs that can rip your heart right out of your chest (shout out to Leonard Cohen). It has left poets broken and beautiful, and it has been pretty much the plot in every rom-com I’ve ever obsessively wept over (shout out to Nicholas Sparks and The Notebook.)

I mean, if you are living life, how can you avoid it?

I am just going to say it. Online dating is exhausting, tedious, disappointing, soul-sucking and, for the most part, exceedingly boring.  

It is like the movie Groundhog Day, only you are trapped at the same monotonous cocktail party with the same boring small talk—over and over and over again. It makes me want to get a dog, start eating carbs and call it a day. 

Now, for all you happily coupled folks, those who have been living with the same guy who has been leaving the toilet seat up for years or the used teabag in the sink, you can skip this blog post. We can catch up on the next one when I may (or may not) have something a little more relevant to say.

However —you might want to stick around because this post might do one of two things. Either it will make you happy you are not single, or two, get you thinking….hmmm???—doesn't this game look a little more interesting than getting sprayed with Nigel's (or Doris') flying toenail clippings? 

So let's play Online Dating BINGO — Over 50 Edition.