by Dee | Sep 25, 2018 | Featured, GloWellness
When I met author Sharon McGovern at her house in Grays, Essex recently I was warmly greeted by a sharp, kind, intelligent woman – a writer, wife, mother and philanthropist who has survived against the odds, and is living proof that we as human beings have the capacity to endure the deepest of pain and come out the other side.
Sharon’s story began when she was four years old, after her biological father had left home, and when her step father, Mick Garvey, moved in.
For the next 13 years, Sharon suffered unthinkable abuse and bullying, which she was forced to keep secret from her mother and young brother, for fear of their own demise at the hands of this terrifying man.
It was only years later and after a failed marriage, the birth of three beautiful children and meeting her real life partner was Sharon ready to confront him.
At the same time Sharon had a premonition. ‘It was not a dream, it was different. I saw a small cell, with a window high up, and a man with his back to me sitting on a hard chair. Beside him stood four prison guards, all in uniform, and all with the same face, like clones. I was standing in the doorway to the cell when suddenly the man turned and looked at me. It was my step father. I knew they were waiting to take him somewhere. I also knew the place where he was imprisoned was not in this country, but was in France, Spain or Italy.’ Sharon eventually tracked him down in Spain, where he had been locked away for a serious criminal offence.
This was another frightening but incredibly brave chapter of Sharon’s life when she finally faced Mick Garvey in court in the UK after several years. She saw his face go ashen as she walked into court, as he witnessed her resolve to finally get justice for herself and her family. He was charged of seven accounts of rape and indecent assault, and sentenced – but eventually died in prison.
Many people over the years have asked Sharon if this finally laid ghosts to rest and brought some sort of solace and closure to her years of abuse.
‘Closure, I heard the word ‘closure’ many times in my life to bring Mick Garvey to justice, and afterwards it seemed to be on countless people’s lips: ‘Now you have closure.’ But of course I didn’t. It’s too easy, too glib, to think that because my abuser was behind bars, all the evils of my childhood would be wiped out. There is no such thing as closure – there is never an end. I will take my abuse to the grave with me; it’s with me every day, it’s what has made me who I am. I have had to fight all my life to make sure it doesn’t take over, but I can never deny that it happened, or that it affected me’.
Sharon continues her work with rape and abuse victims and speaks publicly on how to help survivors of crime.
‘I try never to use the word ‘victim’ to refer to my situation. ‘Victim’ would hand the victory to my abuser. The word I use is ‘survivor’ because that’s what I am. Mick Garvey saw me as his victim, he didn’t count on me being a survivor’. Sharon McGovern, Afraid
The book is available from Amazon
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by Glotime | Sep 18, 2018 | Featured, GloWellness
It was only a decade ago I was living in Shorditch, the trendy oasis of the Galaxy, obsessed with ‘grime’ and ‘cleaning up’ as a PR consultant with all of the media startups in the area.
Now, ten years, one marriage and three kids later, I am still OCD about grime, mostly created by my two year old twins, and cleaning up the home on a daily basis.
I am also reluctant to admit that I enjoy it as much as I did back in the day, and am having fun on a daily basis with my very hectic lifestyle. The only difference being the location which has been switched to Surbiton, and the heady PR activities which have been replaced by sleepless nights and grimy facades – so no great change there.
So how have I made such a drastic life change without regret. I am enviably with the love of my life and have three gorgeous kids, who challenge me every day so I am never bored and always on my toes.
I have also found a new hobby and share the benefits with the rest of the family. I have also discovered a charismatic new ‘performer’ Sophie Hitchcliffe, whose hilarious entertaining blogs are filled with ideas, and advice inspiration on cleaning.
Sophie Hinchcliffe is a char lady from Essex who is known as Mrs Hinch, and 28 year old Sophie’s tips have gained her over 300k followers on Instagram, who she refers to as her Hinch Army.
Sophie shares frequent photos on social media of her house, sharing interior design advice as well as cleaning hacks.
This excellent entertainer names all of her products as if they are characters and you can feel her passion as she embarks on projects ranging from slimy frying pans to blocked plugholes, saying that if you have a clean home you will have a happy clear head. All of which is perfectly true.
You may feel that I have completely ‘lost the plot’ as a switched on educated female, but I am the first to admit that I have discovered the therapeutic benefits of ‘cleaning up’ as well as playing with my kids, spending quality time with my partner and meeting up with friends. In other words I have achieved the perfect work/lifestyle balance, without losing out on some precious ‘me’ time, close at hand to the kitchen sink.
Check out Sophie’s tips here
https://twitter.com/mrshinchhome
https://www.instagram.com/mrshinchhome_x_/
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by Dee | Sep 10, 2018 | Featured, GloWellness
A wise philosopher once told me that to find true love you must accept that it comes with great loss – of yourself, your identity and ultimately of the person you love – as one of you will ultimately depart this earth before the other – which is a scary prospect in itself. This is why many of us avoid the great love, as it can be too difficult to manage. Although some have conquered the fear of falling in love.
“I have learned not to worry about love; but to honor its coming with all my heart.” Alice Walker
But what if you could survive the agony and the ecstasy and embrace the anxiety that comes with finding the partner of your dreams. Do you believe you deserve the perfect relationship – because the first person you should fall in love with is yourself.
I recently met a brilliantly ‘switched on’ writer and relationship expert, Trelawney Kerrigan, who has incorporated all of her experience and knowledge on the subject in a book entitled ‘Be the Woman He Falls for Not the Girl He Sleeps With’ which could also apply to men as well as women, as it is all about believing you are good enough for an equal loving relationship.
The book gives some insightful personal experiences, meditation, visualisation and guidance so that we can move forward and avoid those toxic relationships, and dangerous liaisons that can ruin your life.
Love is also not restricted to how old we are or if we have loved before, as we can find great love at any age, and it is never too late to fall in love or find an amazing partner.
‘So, love – when you find it – is something to nurture and treasure. But here’s the thing – being open to finding love on the basis of love alone, ie forgetting about need, social status, financial security, family/society expectations – is a rare human quality. Many of us go under from the pressure of our insecurities and find ourselves ‘settling’. Finding great love takes courage, confidence and unbreakable belief in your own right to happiness.’ Trelawney Kerrigan
It is all the pitfalls that we are familiar with and seem to dominate our lives in love, but somehow Trelawney manages to turn them round and make them insignificant and powerless, so that we can pave the way for our future – to begin our own journey and discover our passage to true love.
“The one thing we can never get enough of is love. And the one thing we never give enough is love.” Henry Miller
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trelawney-Kerrigan/e/B00CIZRR9C
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