We can’t afford war, we never could
Are you ready to go to war? Are you ready to send your children or grandchildren to war? No? Then we must rise up and make sure our leaders
We can’t afford war, we never could Read More »
Are you ready to go to war? Are you ready to send your children or grandchildren to war? No? Then we must rise up and make sure our leaders
We can’t afford war, we never could Read More »
In a recent Climate Courage, we focused on where we live and the risks we face. Never a pleasant conversation, but if we pay attention
Climate Courage: is where I’m living safe? Read More »
Which friend you ask? Well Without the Bollocks of course. That friend. A blog, Facebook page, Twitter handle, and a YouTube channel I’ve already revamped into a family channel.
It’s time to say goodbye to a very old friend Read More »
I want to talk about something that’s bothering me a lot lately. This is not directed at anyone I’m having deeper, behind-the-scenes conversations with, it’s more of a general experience I want to talk about. And it’s about casual criticism. The stuff we put out there, without much thought, especially the impact it can have on others. I was at an event recently, and someone made a disparaging remark about something. It’s not important what they said, but it was an ugly little moment. Anyhoo, I was only an attendee, but I immediately felt hurt for those who had arranged this event. What if they heard these words? How would it make them feel? Would it stop them from doing something again? Would it crush them enough to diminish their spirit, passion, light? Potentially, and that is why I care about it so much. We cannot dim another’s light! It’s inexcusable to do that. Casual criticism is lazy and destructive. It’s also always from people who are not in the arena, doing the work. It’s also usually from people who have given up. Who don’t believe we can achieve wonders anymore. It’s SO easy to criticise another, especially if those people are doing good work. It’s easy to stand on the sidelines and rip it apart, pull it to shreds, diminish it’s value. Why do people need to do it? And more importantly, what does it really say about them? For those in the arena, please fight on regardless, no matter how much it hurts. I can definitely assure you I know the cost, and sometimes it’s unbearable. But we need you. Our children need you. The world needs you. Our future needs you. Flip it around too. Look at it as an opportunity to help other’s become better versions of themselves by showing them how it’s done. By showing them what belief looks like. By reminding them of the incredible results you can achieve when you believe enough! Because the only other option is to diminish ourselves. And to be honest, we all lose if we allow that to happen. Transformative change can only happen if those doing great work, do it regardless of this casual criticism. It would be so much easier if they didn’t have to contend with it though. Across the span of my life, I know it’s rare to have the mettle or the thick skin required to cope. But the bigger risk is, people are silenced. They don’t want to attract that shit. It breaks my heart. One of the reasons I wrote my next book, Uncommon Courage, is to talk about stuff like this. As the world has gotten angrier and meaner, those of us who are not angry and mean haven’t remained centered. We’ve been impacted by this anger and we have moved towards it, away from our core truth. Sure we might not be as extreme as those who are angriest, but we aren’t where we were before this all started to boil. Just look at your friends ripping each other apart on social media when they don’t agree with each other? The easiest way to think about this is Ying and Yang. Light and dark. And we have always needed both, because when we have both, we have balance. Right now, we are not in balance. We have all moved towards the dark a little bit or a lot. I think we can all understand how it’s happened. It’s hard not to be angry when there’s so much ugliness around us. It’s hard not to respond, to rile up, to bite back. But we have to work harder than those who are most negative. We have to work harder to stay in the light, even when it hurts like hell. If enough of us do it, we create a tipping point and we can get the balance back. Because do you know who wins if we don’t do this? Those horrible, angry people who are making us more horrible and angry. Ironic isn’t it? But that’s how it works, and because it’s always so intense, we don’t give ourselves the opportunity to see the bigger picture. We need to see this bigger picture, because if we don’t, what we’re fighting for is already lost. This last five years, which has been exacerbated by a pandemic, has had a HUGE impact in making all of us less loving, giving and beautiful. Our words are harsher, our criticism more cutting, our cynicism more unforgiving. But we don’t want to be that person, do we? I certainly don’t and I want to encourage everyone to mind your words, especially your criticism, and especially mind it towards those who are doing their hardest to make the world a better place. You might not believe what they’re doing is possible, but don’t stop them believing it’s possible! The only guarantee of creating a better future is for the craziest ideas to be driven by massive passion and a relentlessness that will ensure success. Let’s get behind it. Let’s support the crazy. And even if we don’t want to get behind it, just don’t criticize it. When you have a choice, always choose kindness. Yours, without the bollocks Andrea Thanks for supporting Without the Bollocks for all these years. I’m about to retire this brand, and move it to a new idea I’m building, called Uncommon Courage. It’s a book, podcast, blog, social media and more – where we talk about the big issues of our time. The Facebook Group hasn’t been launched yet, but you can follow me on Twitter here, Instagram here, YouTube here, and Facebook too – although this Facebook page will soon be retired! Here’s to making the world a better place xxxxx
The problem with casual criticism and how it diminishes us all Read More »
My family is heading into our fourth week of isolation, and compared to the vast majority around the world, we are very lucky.
The roller coaster of isolation… it’s an interesting journey Read More »
I love Dolly Parton. Love love LOVE HER! She is an amazing and magnificent human, a blessing in our world
What Dolly Parton taught me about judgement and self-awareness Read More »
I know everyone thinks time is moving fast, and I feel that, but it can also feel slow and ponderous, especially when moving and adjusting to a new country.
It’s been one year since we landed in Phuket. Time for an update Read More »
I’m on the beach the other evening and there’s a team of horses the tourists love to hire. During the low season – which is coming to an end soon
It takes nothing to be kind, so please, be kind, to everyone Read More »
I caught up with my mum after our US trip, and she loved reading the updates and watching the videos. People, like my mum, were the reason I put so much effort into capturing our travels.
Seeing the world through the boy’s eyes is fascinating Read More »
A few years ago, I wrote a blog – The haunting moments of broken bones – following a particularly brutal evening, where for one hour,
There are too many children crying, hurting and dying in this world. It needs to stop Read More »