Why you must always be the birthday queen

Midlife – and all the stresses that come with it, like divorce, redundancy and bereavement – can take its toll on long-established female friendships. As we saw in the last series of The White Lotus,

Thought-provoking culture, insightful science and inspirational snippets to bring you up to date on all things uplifting, hopeful and happy-making

When it feels like you might be working ...

A mum has divided opinion by asking for cash and placing a no present rule at her son’s birthday party, saying it was to avoid waste and clutter. So we ask…

Chatting with a barista in the coffee shop, nodding at that woman you see every day as you walk your dog. Sociologists call this type of connection ‘weak ties’, but their impact is anything but weak, writes Kellie Gillespie Wright.

Does small talk at the buffet and mingling on the dance floor fill you with dread? Uncover the strategies to help address social angst