Day 65 – Don’t wait for inspiration

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Don’t Wait for Inspiration – Go Find It (And Write Even When It Doesn’t Show Up)

“Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.” – Pablo Picasso

If you’re a writer, a designer, a marketer, or anyone whose craft lives on ideas, you’ve probably felt the sting of a blank page. The old myth that “inspiration will magically appear” lures us into procrastination, self‑doubt, and endless scrolling. The truth is far more practical—and far more empowering: inspiration is a habit, not a miracle.

In this post, we’ll unpack why waiting for inspiration is a dead‑end strategy, explore concrete ways to hunt down that creative spark, and learn how to write anyway when the muse is stubbornly silent.

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1. The Myth of “Waiting for Inspiration”

What the myth says	What reality looks like
“I’ll start when I feel inspired.”	Inspiration is a by‑product of work, not the other way around.
“I’m waiting for the perfect idea.”	Ideas are often crude drafts that become polished through iteration.
“If I’m not excited, I’m not ready.”	Excitement follows progress, not precedes it.

Why the myth is dangerous

1. Paralysis by perfection: The moment you decide to wait, you hand the reins over to an invisible force you can’t control.
2. Self‑fulfilling prophecy: No work → no inspiration → more “waiting.”
3. Lost opportunities: The world moves on while you sit on the sidelines, watching deadlines and ideas slip away.

The reality check: The most prolific creators—from novelists to tech innovators—agree on a single habit: they show up first. The act of sitting down, opening a document, or sketching a line is the catalyst that lights the fire.

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2. Turning Inspiration Into a Search Mission

If you’re comfortable with the idea that you have to go looking, the next step is to turn that intention into an actionable plan. Below are five proven “inspiration‑hunt” tactics, each with a quick starter exercise you can try today.

A. Change Your Physical Environment

Why it works: Your brain is wired to associate surroundings with mental states. A new view can break the monotony that fuels creative blocks.

Starter exercise:

• The 10‑Minute Walk: Step outside for ten minutes—no phone, no playlist, just you and the street. Notice three details you’ve never observed before (e.g., the pattern on a fence, the cadence of a neighbour’s footsteps). Jot them down on a sticky note.

B. Consume Outside Your Niche

Why it works: Cross‑pollination of ideas sparks novel connections. A poet reading a physics article may discover a metaphor that reshapes a stanza.

Starter exercise:

• Random Article Roulette: Open Wikipedia, click “Random article,” and read for five minutes. Highlight any phrase or concept that resonates, then brainstorm how it could relate to your current project.

C. Use Prompt Generators

Why it works: Prompts force your brain to think in a direction you wouldn’t have chosen on your own, breaking the “blank page” inertia.

Starter exercise:

• Visit a prompt site (e.g., r/WritingPrompts, The Story Shack) and copy the first prompt you see. Write a 300‑word piece—don’t edit, just let the words flow.

D. Engage in “Creative Cross‑Training”

Why it works: Physical activity releases dopamine and boosts divergent thinking, while creative activities like doodling or mind‑mapping prime the brain for ideation.

Starter exercise:

• 15‑Minute Stretch + Sketch: Do a quick stretch routine (or a short yoga flow). While your muscles relax, sketch anything that comes to mind—no rules, just shapes.

E. Set a “Bad‑Idea” Deadline

Why it works: Removing the pressure of perfection opens the floodgates. Bad ideas are just raw material; they can be refined or discarded later.

Starter exercise:

• Set a timer for 8 minutes. Write the worst possible opening line for your piece. After the timer, read it aloud. How many elements can you salvage? Often the most surprising gems hide in the trash.

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3. When Inspiration Still Plays Hard‑to‑Get: Write Anyway

You’ve tried the tactics, taken a walk, read a random article, and still hear crickets. This is the perfect moment to embrace the “write anyway” mindset. Below are strategies to turn a dry spell into productive output.

1. Free‑Writing (aka “Morning Pages”)

• How it works: Set a timer for 10–20 minutes. Write whatever comes to mind—no editing, no judgment. Even if the only thing you write is “I don’t know what to write,” keep typing. The act of movement on the page often unblocks deeper thoughts.
• Why it helps: It removes the mental barrier of “I have to be good.” By the end of the session, your brain is warmed up and ready for more focused work.

2. The “One‑Sentence” Rule

• How it works: Tell yourself you only need to write a single sentence. It could be a description, a dialogue line, or a statement of intent. Once that sentence is down, you’re more likely to continue.
• Why it helps: Small wins create momentum. The brain often resists a large task but is fine with a tiny one.

3. Reverse Outlining

• How it works: Take an existing piece of your own writing (even a paragraph from a past blog) and outline its structure. Then, using that outline, write a brand‑new piece on a different topic.
• Why it helps: You’re reusing a proven skeleton, which reduces the cognitive load of figuring out how to start.

4. Turn Constraints into Catalysts

• How it works: Impose an artificial limitation: write a story without the letter “e,” or draft a blog post in exactly 150 words.
• Why it helps: Constraints force you to think laterally, often sparking surprising ideas that would never surface in a free‑form environment.

5. Talk It Out—Verbally, Not Textually

• How it works: Record yourself talking about your topic for five minutes, as if you were explaining it to a friend. Then transcribe the audio (or just listen back) and pull out usable sentences.
• Why it helps: Speaking loosens the inner critic; you’re less likely to self‑edit in real time. The resulting transcript can become raw material for polished prose.

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4. The Science Behind “Doing the Work”

Psychological Principle	How it Relates to Writing
The Zeigarnik Effect – unfinished tasks stay on our mind	Starting a sentence, even a terrible one, creates a mental “open loop” that pushes us to finish it.
Flow State – deep focus occurs when challenge meets skill	By setting low‑stakes prompts (e.g., 5‑minute free‑write), you hit the sweet spot of challenge, making flow easier to achieve.
Neuroplasticity – the brain builds new pathways through repeated activity	Consistently showing up to write rewires your brain to treat writing as a habit, not a rare event.

Understanding that the brain rewards action, not anticipation, flips the script: you’re not waiting for inspiration; you’re creating it through deliberate practice.

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5. A Real‑World Example: From “Stuck” to Published

Case Study: Maya, freelance copywriter
Maya hit a wall on a landing‑page project for a wellness startup. She’d stared at the brief for three days, hoping a “big idea” would suddenly appear. Instead, she tried the steps above:

1. Walked around her neighborhood, noting the colors of sunrise.
2. Read a short article on the science of habit formation.
3. Set a 5‑minute timer and wrote the worst possible headline (“Feel Amazing Today—Or Don’t”).
4. She then turned that bad headline into a list of 10 alternatives, choosing the one that resonated most.
5. Finally, she drafted the page in 30‑minute bursts, ignoring perfection.
   Result? The client loved the final copy, and Maya delivered the project ahead of schedule. She credits the “write anyway” phase for breaking the mental block that was costing her both time and confidence.

Maya’s story illustrates a simple truth: the more you move, the more ideas surface. You don’t need a mystical muse; you need momentum.

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6. Quick‑Start Checklist: “Inspiration on Demand”

	Action	Time Needed
1	Take a 10‑minute walk and note three new observations.	10 min
2	Read a random article from a field outside yours.	5 min
3	Write a 300‑word piece using a prompt.	15 min
4	Do a 5‑minute free‑write (any topic).	5 min
5	Choose the worst sentence you can think of; improve it.	3 min
6	Review and select one idea to develop further.	5 min

Total: ~43 minutes.
If you can’t spare that much, pick any two items and repeat daily. Consistency beats intensity.

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7. Take the First Step Right Now

Your challenge: Pick one of the tactics above, set a timer for 8 minutes, and start writing. Don’t worry about the outcome. When the timer dings, read what you’ve produced. Notice the shift in your mental state—often you’ll feel a spark that wasn’t there before you began.

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Closing Thoughts

Waiting for inspiration is like waiting for a bus that may never arrive. By going looking—whether that means walking, reading, prompting, or simply forcing yourself to write—you become the driver of your own creative journey. And when the bus does finally pull up, you’ll be ready with a ticket, a seat, and the confidence to hop aboard.

Remember:

• Show up first. The act of writing is the catalyst.
• Seek stimuli actively. Your environment, consumption habits, and prompts are tools, not distractions.
• Write anyway. Bad ideas, half‑baked sentences, and free‑writes are the raw ore from which gold is refined.

So, next time you stare at a blank screen and hear the internal mantra, “I’ll wait for inspiration,” flip it: “I’m going to find it—and I’ll write, no matter what.”

Your next masterpiece is waiting on the other side of that first typed word.

Happy hunting, and happy writing! 

Day 64 – Pick a side

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Speak Yourself Your Own Way – In Other Words, Pick a Side

“The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.”
— Coco Chanel

In a world that rewards smoothness, consensus, and “politically correct” chatter, it can feel dangerously easy to slip into the comfortable grey zone of “neutrality.” We skim the headlines, like‑share the most palatable meme, and keep our opinions tucked away in the safety of the private inbox. Yet the very act of living—of showing up in the world—requires us to speak ourselves our own way. In practice, that means picking a side and letting that choice shape the language, the tone, and the conviction behind our words.

Below is a roadmap for anyone who’s ever felt the tug‑of‑war between wanting to belong and yearning to be heard. It’s a call to step out of the echo chamber, sharpen your voice, and own the space you occupy—both online and offline.

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1. Why “Neutral” Is Actually a Position

Neutrality isn’t a blank page; it’s a faint watermark.

When you decide not to take a stance, you implicitly endorse the status quo. If you stay silent on climate change, you’re indirectly supporting the systems that keep emissions high. If you never voice your discomfort with workplace micro‑aggressions, you let the culture that tolerates them persist.

The hidden cost:

• Moral fatigue – you expend mental energy worrying about offending, which erodes authenticity.
• Lost influence – decision‑makers notice those who speak up; the quiet ones fade into the background statistics.
• Identity drift – without a declared side, your personal brand becomes a vague, undifferentiated blur.

Understanding that “neutral” is a covert side helps the first step: recognising the need to speak for yourself, your own way.

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2. Discover Your Core Compass

Before you can speak confidently, you need a compass—a set of values that feels as unshakeable as a lighthouse in a storm.

Exercise	What It Looks Like	Outcome
Values Inventory	Write down 12–15 values (e.g., justice, curiosity, humor). Highlight the top 5 that feel non‑negotiable.	A distilled list that guides every decision.
Story Mining	Recall moments when you felt most alive, proud, or outraged. What values were in play?	Patterns that reveal hidden convictions.
Future Letter	Imagine yourself 10 years from now, looking back. What would you be proud to have stood for?	A forward‑looking “mission statement.”

When you can articulate why you care, you’ll know what side you’re picking.

---

3. The Anatomy of an Authentic Voice

A voice isn’t just what you say; it’s how you say it. Below are the elements that, once calibrated, make your speech unmistakably yours.

Component	Guideline	Examples
Tone	Match the emotion of your message. Empathy for personal stories, urgency for calls to action.	“I feel deeply about this” vs. “We must act now.”
Vocabulary	Choose words that are true to your background—no need for pretentious jargon.	A tech‑entrepreneur might say “scalable,” while a teacher says “student‑centered.”
Pacing	Vary sentence length to keep listeners engaged. Short bursts for impact, longer sentences for nuance.	“Enough.” (pause) “We need change.”
Storytelling	Anchor abstract ideas in concrete anecdotes.	“When I first saw the polluted river, I thought….”
Consistency	Reinforce your side across platforms—social media, meetings, email signatures.	A sustainability advocate consistently shares zero‑waste tips.

Practice these elements in low‑stakes situations (Twitter threads, group chats) before moving to higher‑visibility arenas.

---

4. Picking a Side Without Burning Bridges

You might wonder, “Will I alienate friends, colleagues, or customers?” The answer is yes—but not necessarily in a bad way. When you clearly declare a side, you attract people who align with you and filter out those who don’t. That’s the secret to building a community that actually supports your mission.

Tips for a graceful side‑pick:

1. Start with “I.” Frame statements as personal convictions rather than universal mandates.
   “I believe we need a living wage” sounds less confrontational than “Everyone must agree we need a living wage.”
2. Invite Dialogue, Not Debate.
   Offer a why and ask what others think.
   “I’m curious—how do you see the impact of remote work on work‑life balance?”
3. Show Humility. Acknowledge you’re still learning; be open to data that refutes your stance.
   “I’m still reading up on this, but here’s why I’m leaning toward X.”
4. Find Common Ground. Even on polarised topics, there’s usually a shared value (e.g., safety, fairness). Anchor your side there.
   “Both of us want safer streets; I think redesigning traffic flow is the most effective route.”
5. Set Boundaries. If a conversation turns toxic, politely disengage. Your reputation benefits more from consistency than from endless argument.

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5. Real‑World Examples: When Speaking Your Own Way Made a Difference

Person	Side Picked	Impact
Greta Thunberg	Climate crisis urgency	Became a global catalyst for youth climate activism; policy discussions shifted.
Malala Yousafzai	Girls’ right to education	International legislation and funding for girls’ schools surged.
Simon Sinek	Leadership rooted in “Why”	Companies adopted purpose‑first strategies, boosting employee engagement.
Megan Rapinoe	Gender equality & LGBTQ+ rights in sport	Accelerated NFL and FIFA policy reviews on equality.
John Green (author)	Mental‑health openness in YA literature	Destigmatized depression among teens; inspired school counseling programs.

These figures didn’t shy away from controversy. They picked a side early, refined their message, and let authenticity drive their influence.

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6. Action Plan: 7 Steps to Speak Yourself Your Own Way Today

1. Write a One‑Sentence Declaration – “I stand for ___ because ___.” Keep it visible (phone lock screen, notebook cover).
2. Pick One Platform – Twitter, Instagram Stories, a team Slack channel—choose where you’ll post your first statement.
3. Craft a Mini‑Story – Share a personal anecdote that illustrates why that side matters to you.
4. Invite Feedback – End with a genuine question that prompts others to share their view.
5. Schedule Follow‑Up – Set a reminder to revisit the conversation in a week; iterate based on responses.
6. Audit Your Presence – Look at past posts; remove or revise anything that contradicts your declared side.
7. Celebrate Small Wins – Did a colleague thank you for your perspective? Did you feel lighter after posting? Acknowledge it.

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7. Overcoming the Fear of “Being Labelled”

The biggest mental block is the fear that once you pick a side, you’ll be pigeonholed forever. Remember:

• Labels are tools, not prisons. “Activist” can open doors to collaborations you’d otherwise miss.
• Your side can evolve. As new information arrives, you can pivot—just be transparent about the change.
• People respect consistency more than conformity. A brand that constantly flips its stance loses trust faster than one that stands firm, even when unpopular.

---

Closing Thought

“Speak yourself your own way” isn’t a call for loudness; it’s a summons for honesty. It’s the invitation to pick a side, not because the world demands it, but because your inner compass demands it. When you do, you carve out a space where others can find you, understand you, and, most importantly, choose to walk alongside you.

So, what side will you claim today? Write it, shout it, tweet it, discuss it over coffee—just make sure it’s yours, unmistakably and unapologetically.

Your voice is the most valuable currency you have. Spend it wisely.

---

Ready to take the first step? Drop a comment below with your one‑sentence declaration. Let’s start a dialogue that proves speaking for yourself, your own way, really does change the conversation.

Day 64 – Pick a side

…

Speak Yourself Your Own Way – In Other Words, Pick a Side

“The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.”
— Coco Chanel

In a world that rewards smoothness, consensus, and “politically correct” chatter, it can feel dangerously easy to slip into the comfortable grey zone of “neutrality.” We skim the headlines, like‑share the most palatable meme, and keep our opinions tucked away in the safety of the private inbox. Yet the very act of living—of showing up in the world—requires us to speak ourselves our own way. In practice, that means picking a side and letting that choice shape the language, the tone, and the conviction behind our words.

Below is a roadmap for anyone who’s ever felt the tug‑of‑war between wanting to belong and yearning to be heard. It’s a call to step out of the echo chamber, sharpen your voice, and own the space you occupy—both online and offline.

---

1. Why “Neutral” Is Actually a Position

Neutrality isn’t a blank page; it’s a faint watermark.

When you decide not to take a stance, you implicitly endorse the status quo. If you stay silent on climate change, you’re indirectly supporting the systems that keep emissions high. If you never voice your discomfort with workplace micro‑aggressions, you let the culture that tolerates them persist.

The hidden cost:

• Moral fatigue – you expend mental energy worrying about offending, which erodes authenticity.
• Lost influence – decision‑makers notice those who speak up; the quiet ones fade into the background statistics.
• Identity drift – without a declared side, your personal brand becomes a vague, undifferentiated blur.

Understanding that “neutral” is a covert side helps the first step: recognising the need to speak for yourself, your own way.

---

2. Discover Your Core Compass

Before you can speak confidently, you need a compass—a set of values that feels as unshakeable as a lighthouse in a storm.

Exercise	What It Looks Like	Outcome
Values Inventory	Write down 12–15 values (e.g., justice, curiosity, humor). Highlight the top 5 that feel non‑negotiable.	A distilled list that guides every decision.
Story Mining	Recall moments when you felt most alive, proud, or outraged. What values were in play?	Patterns that reveal hidden convictions.
Future Letter	Imagine yourself 10 years from now, looking back. What would you be proud to have stood for?	A forward‑looking “mission statement.”

When you can articulate why you care, you’ll know what side you’re picking.

---

3. The Anatomy of an Authentic Voice

A voice isn’t just what you say; it’s how you say it. Below are the elements that, once calibrated, make your speech unmistakably yours.

Component	Guideline	Examples
Tone	Match the emotion of your message. Empathy for personal stories, urgency for calls to action.	“I feel deeply about this” vs. “We must act now.”
Vocabulary	Choose words that are true to your background—no need for pretentious jargon.	A tech‑entrepreneur might say “scalable,” while a teacher says “student‑centered.”
Pacing	Vary sentence length to keep listeners engaged. Short bursts for impact, longer sentences for nuance.	“Enough.” (pause) “We need change.”
Storytelling	Anchor abstract ideas in concrete anecdotes.	“When I first saw the polluted river, I thought….”
Consistency	Reinforce your side across platforms—social media, meetings, email signatures.	A sustainability advocate consistently shares zero‑waste tips.

Practice these elements in low‑stakes situations (Twitter threads, group chats) before moving to higher‑visibility arenas.

---

4. Picking a Side Without Burning Bridges

You might wonder, “Will I alienate friends, colleagues, or customers?” The answer is yes—but not necessarily in a bad way. When you clearly declare a side, you attract people who align with you and filter out those who don’t. That’s the secret to building a community that actually supports your mission.

Tips for a graceful side‑pick:

1. Start with “I.” Frame statements as personal convictions rather than universal mandates.
   “I believe we need a living wage” sounds less confrontational than “Everyone must agree we need a living wage.”
2. Invite Dialogue, Not Debate.
   Offer a why and ask what others think.
   “I’m curious—how do you see the impact of remote work on work‑life balance?”
3. Show Humility. Acknowledge you’re still learning; be open to data that refutes your stance.
   “I’m still reading up on this, but here’s why I’m leaning toward X.”
4. Find Common Ground. Even on polarised topics, there’s usually a shared value (e.g., safety, fairness). Anchor your side there.
   “Both of us want safer streets; I think redesigning traffic flow is the most effective route.”
5. Set Boundaries. If a conversation turns toxic, politely disengage. Your reputation benefits more from consistency than from endless argument.

---

5. Real‑World Examples: When Speaking Your Own Way Made a Difference

Person	Side Picked	Impact
Greta Thunberg	Climate crisis urgency	Became a global catalyst for youth climate activism; policy discussions shifted.
Malala Yousafzai	Girls’ right to education	International legislation and funding for girls’ schools surged.
Simon Sinek	Leadership rooted in “Why”	Companies adopted purpose‑first strategies, boosting employee engagement.
Megan Rapinoe	Gender equality & LGBTQ+ rights in sport	Accelerated NFL and FIFA policy reviews on equality.
John Green (author)	Mental‑health openness in YA literature	Destigmatized depression among teens; inspired school counseling programs.

These figures didn’t shy away from controversy. They picked a side early, refined their message, and let authenticity drive their influence.

---

6. Action Plan: 7 Steps to Speak Yourself Your Own Way Today

1. Write a One‑Sentence Declaration – “I stand for ___ because ___.” Keep it visible (phone lock screen, notebook cover).
2. Pick One Platform – Twitter, Instagram Stories, a team Slack channel—choose where you’ll post your first statement.
3. Craft a Mini‑Story – Share a personal anecdote that illustrates why that side matters to you.
4. Invite Feedback – End with a genuine question that prompts others to share their view.
5. Schedule Follow‑Up – Set a reminder to revisit the conversation in a week; iterate based on responses.
6. Audit Your Presence – Look at past posts; remove or revise anything that contradicts your declared side.
7. Celebrate Small Wins – Did a colleague thank you for your perspective? Did you feel lighter after posting? Acknowledge it.

---

7. Overcoming the Fear of “Being Labelled”

The biggest mental block is the fear that once you pick a side, you’ll be pigeonholed forever. Remember:

• Labels are tools, not prisons. “Activist” can open doors to collaborations you’d otherwise miss.
• Your side can evolve. As new information arrives, you can pivot—just be transparent about the change.
• People respect consistency more than conformity. A brand that constantly flips its stance loses trust faster than one that stands firm, even when unpopular.

---

Closing Thought

“Speak yourself your own way” isn’t a call for loudness; it’s a summons for honesty. It’s the invitation to pick a side, not because the world demands it, but because your inner compass demands it. When you do, you carve out a space where others can find you, understand you, and, most importantly, choose to walk alongside you.

So, what side will you claim today? Write it, shout it, tweet it, discuss it over coffee—just make sure it’s yours, unmistakably and unapologetically.

Your voice is the most valuable currency you have. Spend it wisely.

---

Ready to take the first step? Drop a comment below with your one‑sentence declaration. Let’s start a dialogue that proves speaking for yourself, your own way, really does change the conversation.

Day 63 – Criticism

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To What Extent Should We Take on Criticism?

When feedback feels like a gift, a weapon, or something in‑between, how do we decide what to keep?

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1. The Three Faces of Criticism

Type	What It Looks Like	What It Does to You	How to Spot It
Constructive	“I love your concept, but the pacing feels rushed. Maybe try a slower intro?”	Sparks curiosity, nudges improvement, builds confidence.	Specific, actionable, delivered with respect.
Soul‑Destroying	“You’re terrible at this. Nobody will ever take you seriously.”	Triggers shame, self‑doubt, and in extreme cases, burnout.	Vague, personal attacks, “you’re” language, often unqualified.
Context‑Dependent	“Your work is okay, but… [insert personal bias]”	Can feel uplifting or crushing depending on your mindset that day.	Mixed signals: compliments tangled with criticism, delivered by someone whose opinion you value (or fear).

Bottom line: Not all criticism is created equal. Recognizing the category is the first step toward deciding whether to let it in.

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2. Why Our State of Mind Matters

Our brain is a filter—it amplifies what it’s primed to hear.

• Stress‑High, Confidence‑Low → Even a gentle suggestion can feel like a dagger.
• Rested, Curious, & Secure → The same suggestion is a roadmap.

Neuroscience backs this up: under cortisol spikes, the amygdala hijacks the prefrontal cortex, making us react emotionally before we can reason. In other words, the same words can be a lifeline or a landmine—depending on the internal weather.

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3. A Quick Self‑Check Before You Swallow (or Spit Out) Feedback

1. Pause. Take three breaths.
2. Identify the source.
   • Authority? Peer? Stranger?
   • Do they have expertise or a vested interest?
3. Ask yourself:
   • Is the feedback specific?
   • Does it focus on the work, not the person?
   • Is there a pattern or is this a one‑off?
4. Rate the impact (1‑5).
   • 1‑2 = Minimal (maybe let it drift away).
   • 3 = Worth a second look.
   • 4‑5 = Deep dive required—either to apply or to guard against toxicity.

If the answer to “Is it specific?” is no, you’re probably dealing with soul‑destroying or context‑dependent criticism. If it’s yes, you’ve likely encountered something constructive.

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4. Strategies for Each Kind

A. Constructive Criticism – Welcome It Home

• Summarise and confirm. “So you’re saying the climax needs more tension?”
• Create an action plan. Turn the suggestion into a tiny experiment.
• Give thanks. A simple “Thanks for pointing that out” reinforces healthy feedback loops.

B. Soul‑Destroying Criticism – Set Boundaries

• Detach the person from the message. “I hear you’re upset, but I’m not going to let this define me.”
• Limit exposure. If it’s a chronic source (e.g., a toxic boss), consider escalation, mediation, or a change in environment.
• Re‑anchor with evidence. List recent successes, testimonials, or metrics that counteract the negativity.

C. Context‑Dependent Criticism – Check Your Lens

• Mind‑state audit. Ask, “Am I already feeling insecure about this?” If yes, give yourself a grace period before reacting.
• Seek a second opinion. Ask a trusted colleague: “What do you think of this feedback?”
• Experiment with reframing. Turn “Your design feels too busy” into “How can we simplify the visual hierarchy?” – you keep agency over the direction.

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5. Building a Resilient Feedback Muscle

Practice	How It Works	Time Investment
Morning “Feedback Forecast”	Write down one thing you’re open to hearing that day.	5 min
Weekly “Critique De‑brief”	Review all feedback received, categorize, and log actions taken.	15 min
Monthly “Mindset Reset”	Meditate or journal on successes; remind yourself of your core values.	10‑20 min
Quarterly “Source Audit”	Evaluate who’s influencing your perception—keep the constructive, prune the toxic.	30 min

Consistent practice turns the act of receiving criticism from a high‑stakes gamble into a low‑stakes habit.

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6. When to Say “No, Thanks”

• If the criticism is a personal attack – you have the right to walk away.
• If it’s coming from someone who consistently undermines you – consider limiting that relationship.
• If it’s irrelevant to your goals – politely thank them and redirect: “I appreciate your viewpoint; I’m focusing on X right now.”

Saying “no” isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a declaration that you are the steward of your own growth.

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7. Takeaway Cheat Sheet

Question	Answer	Action
Is the feedback specific and about the work?	Yes → Likely constructive.	Take notes, apply, thank.
Is the tone attacking or demeaning?	Yes → Soul‑destroying.	Set boundaries, seek support, document.
Am I feeling vulnerable right now?	Yes → Context‑dependent.	Pause, revisit later, get a second opinion.
Do I trust the source’s expertise?	No → Treat with caution.	Verify, ask clarifying questions, research.

Print this table, stick it on your desk, and refer to it the next time a comment lands in your inbox.

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Closing Thought

Criticism is inevitable—like the weather, it will come in sun, rain, or storms. The art isn’t in how much we take on; it’s in what we choose to carry forward. By learning to read the type of feedback, checking our mental climate, and setting intentional boundaries, we transform criticism from a potential wrecking ball into a sculptor’s tool.

So, the next time someone says, “That could be better,” ask yourself: “Is this a chisel or a hammer?” And then decide whether to pick it up, set it down, or toss it aside.

Happy creating, staying resilient, and curating the feedback that truly serves you.

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If this post resonated with you, share it with a friend who could use a healthier relationship with criticism, or drop a comment below with your own strategies for sifting the good from the gut‑punch.

Day 63 – Criticism

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To What Extent Should We Take on Criticism?

When feedback feels like a gift, a weapon, or something in‑between, how do we decide what to keep?

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1. The Three Faces of Criticism

Type	What It Looks Like	What It Does to You	How to Spot It
Constructive	“I love your concept, but the pacing feels rushed. Maybe try a slower intro?”	Sparks curiosity, nudges improvement, builds confidence.	Specific, actionable, delivered with respect.
Soul‑Destroying	“You’re terrible at this. Nobody will ever take you seriously.”	Triggers shame, self‑doubt, and in extreme cases, burnout.	Vague, personal attacks, “you’re” language, often unqualified.
Context‑Dependent	“Your work is okay, but… [insert personal bias]”	Can feel uplifting or crushing depending on your mindset that day.	Mixed signals: compliments tangled with criticism, delivered by someone whose opinion you value (or fear).

Bottom line: Not all criticism is created equal. Recognizing the category is the first step toward deciding whether to let it in.

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2. Why Our State of Mind Matters

Our brain is a filter—it amplifies what it’s primed to hear.

• Stress‑High, Confidence‑Low → Even a gentle suggestion can feel like a dagger.
• Rested, Curious, & Secure → The same suggestion is a roadmap.

Neuroscience backs this up: under cortisol spikes, the amygdala hijacks the prefrontal cortex, making us react emotionally before we can reason. In other words, the same words can be a lifeline or a landmine—depending on the internal weather.

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3. A Quick Self‑Check Before You Swallow (or Spit Out) Feedback

1. Pause. Take three breaths.
2. Identify the source.
   • Authority? Peer? Stranger?
   • Do they have expertise or a vested interest?
3. Ask yourself:
   • Is the feedback specific?
   • Does it focus on the work, not the person?
   • Is there a pattern or is this a one‑off?
4. Rate the impact (1‑5).
   • 1‑2 = Minimal (maybe let it drift away).
   • 3 = Worth a second look.
   • 4‑5 = Deep dive required—either to apply or to guard against toxicity.

If the answer to “Is it specific?” is no, you’re probably dealing with soul‑destroying or context‑dependent criticism. If it’s yes, you’ve likely encountered something constructive.

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4. Strategies for Each Kind

A. Constructive Criticism – Welcome It Home

• Summarise and confirm. “So you’re saying the climax needs more tension?”
• Create an action plan. Turn the suggestion into a tiny experiment.
• Give thanks. A simple “Thanks for pointing that out” reinforces healthy feedback loops.

B. Soul‑Destroying Criticism – Set Boundaries

• Detach the person from the message. “I hear you’re upset, but I’m not going to let this define me.”
• Limit exposure. If it’s a chronic source (e.g., a toxic boss), consider escalation, mediation, or a change in environment.
• Re‑anchor with evidence. List recent successes, testimonials, or metrics that counteract the negativity.

C. Context‑Dependent Criticism – Check Your Lens

• Mind‑state audit. Ask, “Am I already feeling insecure about this?” If yes, give yourself a grace period before reacting.
• Seek a second opinion. Ask a trusted colleague: “What do you think of this feedback?”
• Experiment with reframing. Turn “Your design feels too busy” into “How can we simplify the visual hierarchy?” – you keep agency over the direction.

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5. Building a Resilient Feedback Muscle

Practice	How It Works	Time Investment
Morning “Feedback Forecast”	Write down one thing you’re open to hearing that day.	5 min
Weekly “Critique De‑brief”	Review all feedback received, categorize, and log actions taken.	15 min
Monthly “Mindset Reset”	Meditate or journal on successes; remind yourself of your core values.	10‑20 min
Quarterly “Source Audit”	Evaluate who’s influencing your perception—keep the constructive, prune the toxic.	30 min

Consistent practice turns the act of receiving criticism from a high‑stakes gamble into a low‑stakes habit.

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6. When to Say “No, Thanks”

• If the criticism is a personal attack – you have the right to walk away.
• If it’s coming from someone who consistently undermines you – consider limiting that relationship.
• If it’s irrelevant to your goals – politely thank them and redirect: “I appreciate your viewpoint; I’m focusing on X right now.”

Saying “no” isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a declaration that you are the steward of your own growth.

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7. Takeaway Cheat Sheet

Question	Answer	Action
Is the feedback specific and about the work?	Yes → Likely constructive.	Take notes, apply, thank.
Is the tone attacking or demeaning?	Yes → Soul‑destroying.	Set boundaries, seek support, document.
Am I feeling vulnerable right now?	Yes → Context‑dependent.	Pause, revisit later, get a second opinion.
Do I trust the source’s expertise?	No → Treat with caution.	Verify, ask clarifying questions, research.

Print this table, stick it on your desk, and refer to it the next time a comment lands in your inbox.

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Closing Thought

Criticism is inevitable—like the weather, it will come in sun, rain, or storms. The art isn’t in how much we take on; it’s in what we choose to carry forward. By learning to read the type of feedback, checking our mental climate, and setting intentional boundaries, we transform criticism from a potential wrecking ball into a sculptor’s tool.

So, the next time someone says, “That could be better,” ask yourself: “Is this a chisel or a hammer?” And then decide whether to pick it up, set it down, or toss it aside.

Happy creating, staying resilient, and curating the feedback that truly serves you.

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If this post resonated with you, share it with a friend who could use a healthier relationship with criticism, or drop a comment below with your own strategies for sifting the good from the gut‑punch.

Day 62 – Writing exercise

The first time he understood what hate felt like

…

Things don’t fall apart in a proverbial ball of fire, it’s the result of a single, almost invisible flame that takes time to take hold.

You see the smoke, a small tendril against a background that makes it almost invisible, and because you cannot definitively see it, it’s left to fester, then take hold.

And before you realise what’s happening, a gust of wind fans the embers and suddenly you have a forest fire.

It was an analogy my father told all of us when we were old enough to understand.

There were five of us: the eldest son, Harold, then me, Joseph, then Elizabeth, Mary, and Charles, the youngest.  We were members of a royal family, and one of five kingdoms, ours being Zarevia.

Our father was the King, a man who understood what it meant to be the ruler of a kingdom where the people looked for strength and fairness.  He was universally loved by everyone.  His Queen, our mother, was the epitome of kindness and light, and had taught us that what we had was not a divine right or privilege to be abused, but to be used for the betterment of our country and people.

The king understood that and led by example every day.  We, as children and successors, were allowed to practise every day.

Then, as time does to everyone, the current ruler ages and comes to the end of his reign, and a successor steps up and continues the work seamlessly.

Harold was the eldest son; he had spent his whole life preparing to continue as if nothing had changed.  Everything was as it should be.

Except…

One of the more interesting aspects of being a royal was the fact that the children’s lives were managed as tightly as the kingdom’s finances.  We had little say in our choice of partner, where the eldest son needed a wife fit to be queen, and the rest, whatever was left.

That might sound cruel, and to a certain extent it was, but it was tradition, and it had worked well for many centuries. 

Harold was matched with a princess from a distant kingdom, the eldest daughter, who was strong and forthright, which was more than what some would say about the future king.  It was a choice made solely to strengthen his position.

I was matched with what some might call an equivalent level princess, a rather condescending term I thought, but my station in the family dictated like-for-like, second son, second Princess.

But here’s the thing, I had known her since both of us were born, and I had adored her for the same amount of time.  She was charming, affable, approachable and adorable.  The people loved her, and mercifully, I wrapped myself in her bubble.

The others were equally fortunate in their matches, and it was only a matter of time before they would be married and living in their husbands’ kingdoms.

Everything was as it should be until…

…

Screams filled the castle when there should be peace and tranquillity.

The succession plan had been invoked, and over the next six months, my eldest brother would slowly step into the shoes of the monarch.

The screams put paid to that timeline.

I knew exactly what they meant.

The king had died suddenly, an outcome that had been predicted and prepared for.  That is to say, the Palace staff were prepared.  Harold was not.

Yet within an hour, Harold had been sworn in as the new King, and the first very small, almost invisible flame was lit. 

Eloise had leapt out of bed and gone straight to the Queen, thinking only of her pain at the premature loss of her husband and lifelong friend.  Theirs had been a match with a risky start, and love had developed over time.

Morgana, now Queen, decided that death was not on her agenda today, and pulled the covers over her and hoped it would all go away.

I just sat in the room with the man who was once my father, my mentor, and basically my whole life.  Even in death, he looked peaceful and content as if he knew he had done a good job.

Eloise had soothed my mother’s raw emotions and came with her to join me, and we sat on the lounge and quietly contemplated what this meant for each of us.

After an hour, Morgana stepped into the room, and the whole atmosphere changed.  There was not one ounce of sympathy in her condolences to my mother.  Then, that chore done, she looked around the room, wrinkling her nose.

“We are definitely going to have to do something about the gloomy room.  Not fit for a king, not at all.”

She was already taking over.  It was a side of her that none of us had seen, but rumours had filtered back from her kingdom, the princess they were glad to offload on someone else. 

Her own people hated her.

Until now I could not understand why.

Now I did.

My mother was too immersed in her grief to notice.

…

Harold was weak.  His father knew that and had worked hard on turning him into the man he needed to be.  But he hadn’t reckoned on the Morgana factor.

It was what I called it, and basically worked like this.  Harold made a decision, and if she liked it, it stayed; if she did not, it was not adopted.  Within a week, it was clear who was running the country.

Certainly not our family.

Harold’s saving grace was that she could not kill him and take over as monarch.  Ours was a kingdom that did not seat Queens, even if the line of succession was all female.

There had to be a king.  There was no other alternative.  Morgana may have thought something else, which is why she asked me about succession rules.  There was no reason for her to kill him; she needed him on the throne for her to be Queen.

Harold, of course, because of his training and father’s influence, was about maintaining the status quo.  In fact in his first speech to his people after the investiture, he said quite unequivocally there would be no changes and that life in the kingdom would continue as it had for hundreds of years.

I was proud to stand beside him that day, because I knew he had a kind heart.

But all of that changed subtly at first, until it was impossible to ignore it.  Morgana decided to assert herself.

The small flame and the embers flared.

I was in the King’s office, where he was sitting behind the large desk, completely clear of anything by the mace that proclaimed his authority.

Morgana was pacing impatiently.

When I walked in, she said, “You’re late.  When your king requests your presence, you will be here in time.”

“We’re family.  Time is irrelevant.”

“Not any more.  The king has finalised the reorganisation plan, and your role has been changed from Head of the King’s Guard to Parks and Gardens.  It also requires you to relinquish your current chambers and relocate to the east wing.  Effective immediately.”

I looked at Harold.  “You know the role of heading the King’s Guard is traditionally given to the second son.”

“That was when you were the son of the King.  You’re now my brother, and Morgana has reservations that you might kill me to become king yourself.  It makes sense.”

I laughed out loud at the thought.  I had no and never had any thoughts of killing him for his crown.  If anything, Morgana needed to separate us so that I wouldn’t try to influence him.

“Who’s taking my place?”

“The head of my personal guard,” she said. “He doesn’t have an axe to grind.”

No, but he was cruel and overbearing.  He just didn’t like Zavarians.  Why was I not surprised?

I looked at Harold, and he wouldn’t meet my eye.  “Is this what you’ll want, Harry?”

It elicited a sharp response.  “You will call your brother by his correct title.”

I turned slightly and glared at her.  “Let me be abundantly clear.  If you are asking for a pitch battle in the throne room, you’ll get it.  The King’s Guard are loyal to me.  Whatever dreams you might have in thinking that you can hijack this kingdom by manipulating my brother, think long and hard before you go down a road that you can’t turn back from.”

The smug look wavered for just a second before it returned with red spots of anger.  “You are no one in this kingdom.  You will do as your King commands.”

He raised his head, now aware this was spiralling.

“Joseph is by royal decree the Master at Arms and in charge of the King’s Guard.  It was proclaimed three hundred years ago, and we are not tampering with proclamations.  Nor will you reassign any of my family’s assigned roles or their accommodations.  Be content with being the Queen.  You have your role and position within the monarchy, as we all have.”

He stood and stretched as if to shed the shackles he believed were going to strangle him.  It was a subject we’d spoken of a week or so before.  I had told him then that I worried that Morgana might get overwhelmed if anything happened to the king and that he didn’t have to carry the burden alone.

I did not express my true thoughts about what Morgana might do if she assumed that he would not interfere with her plans.  From what I just heard, she had not consulted him first, and that might just tip the scales in our favour.

I say that not because i wanted a battle, but that I wanted the Harold I knew was there.  I had expected being overwhelmed himself might give her an opening, but perhaps I need not worry.

He looked at me.  “I appreciate your loyalty to me and this kingdom, Joseph.  There will be no pitch battles on the throne room.  Now or ever.  Perhaps in public you will defer to my title, in private with decorum.”

He turned to Morgana, who was barely containing her anger.  She had made her tilt too early, or perhaps when she believed the time was right.  Whatever she thought, she had completely misjudged him.  I might have wavered myself.

“You must never forget your place.  You are Queen, you have a title and responsibilities.  They do not include tossing my family aside.  If you want me to find roles for some of your family members, then we shall, but all requests must go through Elizabeth, who is the person in charge of the Palace people.  We do not under any circumstances put people in particular roles because of who they are or what they think they deserve.  And lastly, don’t ever use my name to push whatever agenda that suits your desires rather than the good of the kingdom.  Do I make myself clear?”

“Perfectly.”  It was said so quietly we both nearly missed it.

“You can go now, Joe.  They are being on time a little more.  Dad always gave you a little leeway, but I want more discipline in your manner and work.”

“As you wish, your royal highness.”  I kept the sarcasm out of my tone because he was right.  And it also conveyed respect, which had been somewhat lacking in all of us under the previous king.

“Now, go and alert your men to the fact that I’m bringing back the old rituals.  Instead of moping about, the Guard is going to be seen.  London has the Trooping of the Colour, parades, for their monarch and for the people to see that the monarchy is there for them.  I suggest you brush up on the exercises.  We’ll talk more about this tomorrow.”

A suggestion I had made, and believed it had gone through one ear and out the other.

“Excellent.”

Protocol demanded a bow and proper departure.  We had started overlooking these little things, and I missed it.

As I left, I wondered how he was going to deal with Morgana.  I would have liked to be a fly on the wall, but then what did it matter?  She had shown her hand, and it had failed.  And judging from the lost look she gave me, I had one less friend in the Palace.

…

The flames of the fire had subsided, but had not been extinguished.

We got through the funeral protocols with the appropriate amount of pageantry and celebration, the whole kingdom given a day to remember their old king and reflect on the new.

It was followed by a week-long tour of the whole kingdom so that Harold could meet the people. I had heard that Morgana detested the idea of mingling with the peasants, but this was ignored, and she had to play her part.

But it was clear she was still festering over me standing up to her and the dressing down by a totally different man to that she had married.

I was still coming to terms with the new Harold.

Eloise knew something had happened when I came back to our quarters.  I had tried to brush it off.

“Tell me,” was her first two words.  She knew me better than I knew myself.

“I threw down the gauntlet.  Harry let me slay the dragon in the room.”

“She did it.”

I gave my best effort at total surprise.  I often wondered just what sort of network she had in the Palace.

“She tried.  If it had been the old Harry, she would have seized the day.  He surprised me, and utterly shocked her, and rather on a more serious note, publicly rebuked her.

“You are the Master at Arms.  It’s your purview when there’s treachery afoot.”

“We all like to think that.”

I once thought that Palace security was within my purview, but others might think otherwise.  I didn’t know about the proclamation, and I was going to find out from the Palace historian.

“Don’t worry, it’ll take a lot more than bluster to get us out of here.  Besides were going to need the room.”

I had thought she had acquired a special glow about her, and from the lack of discussion about children i had thought she had given up.

“I figured something was afoot.  You have become even more beautiful than ever.”

“I am with child.  I was waiting, just to be sure.”

I hugged her tightly.

…

Two weeks later, after coming home from the new King’s first royal tour of the kingdom, a time-honoured tradition, the Palace Guard turned out to greet and escort him from the main gate to the Palace entrance.

As the Master at Arms, I would usually be the one who accompanies the elite group of Palace guards charged with the King’s protection when outside the Palace, but there had been a diplomatic problem that I was told needed my attention.

One of the neighbouring kingdoms had broken a long-standing rule of not hunting deer on their neighbours’ lands, not without formally requesting permission to do so.

The odd thing was that everyone, and especially these neighbours, always complied, and it was totally out of character.

Harold summoned me as told me to personally deal with the problem.  I protested, but he said my Sergeant could step up while I attended to the more important matters.  Almost as an aside, he said Morgana’s private guard was going home and would be accompanying them part of the way.

I thought about reminding him of protocols, but it seemed his mind was made up.  It might also have been a case of the changed relationship between him and Morgana after the episode in the throne room with Morgana.  He was the King, but she would not have accepted the rebuke.

Eloise was surprised when I told her of the change in plans, and though she didn’t say what she was thinking, I could guess.

Morgana.

I just shrugged.  My brother was the King, and I was his servant who must obey orders.

So,

The next day, the Royal party left to great fanfare, the new King on a mission of goodwill and the Queen looking very sullen. 

Later, I joined the Chancellor and, with far more men than was necessary, left for the other kingdom, by strange coincidence in totally the opposite direction.

Of course, with the Master and the King absent, the army was controlled by the Sergeant at Arms.  It was not a coincidence that the King had promoted him temporarily to command his personal guard.

It almost left the Palace guard and the castle, without leadership.  It did not.  Among the second tier of leaders, each responsible for twenty or so men, I had been secretly working on creating a new tier of leaders to draw from in the future.  In the meantime, they had orders to keep everyone close and not allow any groups of men to enter until the king or I returned.

We had not seen battle for a long time, as peace had reigned over the realm.  Or so it seemed.  A while back, a discontented villager from the Queen’s home kingdom had arrived in very poor shape with a harrowing tale.

I didn’t believe it.  Not at first, but I asked the scribe to take down his story from start to finish, asking questions, forgetting answers, the sort of answers a simple man could not invent.

He said quite simply that their King had become strange and had made life unbearable for the people.  They had suffered several famines in succeeding seasons and were forced to buy food from neighbouring kingdoms.  When the coffers emptied, taxes were imposed, and everyone gave what they could, and when it was not enough, he had his men take everything.

People were starving and dying.

Now, he said, they were waiting for our king to die and the new King to take his place.  Then Morgana would enact what he called the plan.

He did not know what that plan was.

At a guess, she was to take over, through Harold, and send what we have stored, wealth and food, back home.  I had interrupted that plan, so there had to be another plan.

I advised the Chancellor of parts of what I knew, enough to justify my departure before getting to the errant kingdom, where I suggested he would find they knew nothing of the allegations. 

I took most of the guard with me and took a parallel route to the king, where we would shadow on either flank.

Just in case.

…

I had hoped I was wrong. 

My imagination sometimes veered into mock battles and war-like scenarios, perhaps more out of a desire not just to be in charge of a whole army with nothing to do.

We had tournaments rotating through the Kingdoms each season, keeping the men sharp, with jousting, tests of strength, and archery.  The best of the best, the knights, took their skills to the field, and I had been in a few contests and come off second best more times than I cared to remember.

Those skills would be needed if anything happened, and at least our numbers were weighted on each of the possible fronts.

It took a day to catch up to the King’s procession.  We basically surrounded it and waited.

Four days passed with no sign of any trouble.  A rider returned with the news, it was as I had suspected, the neighbouring kingdoms had no idea what we were talking about.

I put everyone on high alert. 

We were waiting in the forest, not far from the town just visited.  As one of the larger towns, the festivities went on long into the night.  It was the closest point to the direct road to the Queen’s kingdom.

Everyone from the procession was still tired, and I doubted they would be alert to any trouble.  Perhaps that might be a tactic, because it was that time of day transitioning from dark to light.

The best time to attack.

One of the men from the Northern group came riding hard up to us.

A message.

Men on horseback.  Many men.

I told him to pass the word.  Before we had left the castle, I told the leaders the plan if we were attacked.  Stealthy, bold, and no survivors.  The King must never know.

Whilst the Royal procession slowly and obliviously wound along the narrow forest track, my men took care of a hundred ‘enemy soldiers’ from the Queen’s kingdom.

Her brother and the man who was in charge of her personal guard led the mission.  All of his men were slain, bar him, and he was brought before me.  He had not fared well in battle.

The plan was to kidnap the king and Queen and ransom them.  There was no intent to kill, nor to show their faces, so that he paid the ransom and everything went back to the way it was.

Foiled, there was no going back.  I personally executed him.  The men cleaned up, burying each of the bodies with military honour, despite my first command to just throw them into a chasm.

Then I went back to the castle, and having the Chancellor return, and work on a story that hopefully the King wouldn’t check.  The man who warned us had died and was buried in the graveyard.  I had worried about what I was going to do, especially if we had to keep the secret.

And…

On the day the king returned, there was much rejoicing and festivities to celebrate the start of a long and happy reign.

At the end, the King summoned me to his private chamber.  He could not have known about the deeds that had occurred.  My men, every single one of them, had been sworn to secrecy.

He looked tired.

“It was a success.  I had worried the people might not like me.”

‘What’s not to like, Harry?”

“They do not like Morgana.  To be honest, I have not seen so much hate for her.  She tries, but I don’t know, Joseph, ever since I became King, she has changed.”

“Perhaps this is who she has always been, and the fact that you both have had to take up the roles sooner than expected, and neither of you have had the time to settle into a routine.  We used to say when we were children how easy it would be, but I suspect it’s not easy at all.  You have all the people looking to you, you have the affairs of state, you have family duties, it all adds up.”

“We did, didn’t we?  Are you glad you were not born first?”

“I am where I’m supposed to be.  By your side.”

He sighed.  It did not seem to alleviate his mind.

“The Chancellor said the problem was a misunderstanding.”

“Such matters are, though at first it might seem serious.  These are people we have known and traded with for centuries.  It is good that it came to nothing.”

“Jacques tells me you locked down the castle.  Was that necessary?”

“I decided in your absence that I was going to run some battle plans to keep the men alert.  All this inactivity tends to make the men slack.”

“Are there any wars imminent.  I know you have spies in every kingdom.”

Not something he was supposed to be aware of, but necessary.  Long periods of peace could turn into war very quickly.  Which reminded me, my spy in the Queen’s kingdom had not reported recently, and I had to accept he had been discovered.

“None reported and none that I’m aware of.”

“Good.  Now, the Queen has requested that she return home briefly for a visit.  I am considering making it a state visit.  What do you think?”

“You command, I make it happen.”

He looked me up and down in a manner i had not seen before.  I was not sure it was admiration or utter horror.

“Perhaps the words, your Queen, sire, is a traitor, might be more appropriate.  You had to believe that I would find out what you did and why.”

“My job is to protect the King and the kingdom.  Sometimes it is better not to know the details, Sire.”

“Well, thankfully, you didn’t sulk.”

“It’s not in the job description, sire.”

“And you can stop calling me Sire, Joe.  Harry is more appropriate.  What do you recommend we do with her?”

“Nothing.  Once she realised that her brother was missing, she should get the message.  I would not recommend going to her kingdom on a state visit, given the circumstances.  You might agree to let her Hugo, but only with her own people.  If you do, she might not come back.”

“She was party to the plot?”

“I would not wish to comment, Harry.”

“Right.  Organise her visit.”  He stood.  “I’m going to bed, and hopefully tomorrow everything we be as it should be “

If only it were.

…

©  Charles Heath  2026