“Everyone has sad patches.  We need to accept who we are.  We are All individuals, with some rainy days and some sunny days.” 

That was part of my conversation with M. She walks the platforms at South Kenton and helps anyone feelingly poorly mentally and contemplating jumping.  

Spike has taught me a lot about being mindful and happy in the moment; but also the stoic side of dealing with rainy days which have to happen.  

One other tool I use is the “talk to everyone” technique. There’s a line of work which suggests that making human connections even small everyday ones gives us deeper meaning and contentment in our lives. It’s not necessarily always talking, but it is often through connecting at some level.  

And it’s by saying hello to M on the platform that I learned her role and heard her wisdom.  

 How to live a life, well lived. Thoughts from a dying man.       

If you'd like to feel inspired by commencement addresses and life lessons try:  Neil Gaiman on making wonderful, fabulous, brilliant mistakes; or JK Rowling on the benefits of failure.  and  Sheryl Sandberg on grief, resilience and gratitude .

On Autism: some thoughts from non-verbal ASD Naoki Higashida and his book Reasons I Jump. My own twee Things I learnt from autism, such as, Everybody is Somebody's Wierdo.  And below the last post on how one Mum doesn't use a high-functioning label any more.