But not in the way you might have initially thought. I've been losing my mind very happily over the last 6 months or so...

Like many of us, I have a constant chatter pecking away in my head. Mostly I am so familiar with it that its presence does not even register. I use meditation to not only help me deal with the chatter but also to simply become aware of it. The chatter has been damaging me for too long, just another aspect of this hideous ill, and I am calling time on it.

However, even after committing to regular meditation (with regular pauses and no apologies, its life) I still found myself at times fretting, having whole conversations in my head, replaying problems of my own as well as age-related and very normal problems my children were having. Not helpful. Upsetting and damaging.

Then I fell into territory I hadn't realised was such a gift. I fell into paradise! I fell into Desert Island Discs (A BBC TV programme in the UK: http://bbc.in/1v36Gxy). There are parts of my working day when I need to be with people, be quiet, still and concentrate. And there are other parts when I can turn up sound and be more free as I work. In those times, I started listening to Desert Island Discs.

Not only have I heard some songs that I adore. Not only have I heard new songs to adore. Not only have I been enchanted by the host and her skilful, tip-of-a-pin precision interviews. I have also heard from people from all manner of walks of life and parts of the world, heard bits of their joy, their work, their sorrows, their history, their future, their honesty, their guilt, their life, their hopes and regrets. And for 30 minutes (which is a godsend to those of us who struggle with concentration due to this ill) I can do practical tasks which can run alongside audio well and I can listen, learn and lose my mind to the life of someone else. It has been a godsend.

Chatter silenced. Happy ears on. Peace becomes me. For a little holiday, I urge you to try it. Podcasts are available for historical episodes or you can tune in weekly. And I will be extremely interested to receive your 8 chosen tracks, your book and your luxury.

Love from

The room above the garage.