[Housekeeping - I’m changing the book recommendations back to once a month. Once a fortnight is enough of a stretch to discourage me from reading more books in French/Spanish, which is important to me. I’m going to experiment with different ways of layout/presentation for the monthly recommendation and would love your feedback. There’s no recommendation this week, through from March they’ll come on the first newsletter of the month] 

Have you ever met a celebrity? I haven’t (that I know of). I find it hard to imagine them having normal lives, going to the shops, folding their laundry. Logically, I know they’re human, full of doubts, questions and struggles just like the rest of us. But emotionally, they seem more on par with demigods, half human, half divine, far from my reality.

Fiction Bite - Helen Makes the Best Coffee

She fingered the black lace choker that ringed her pale neck as she walked down the sumptuous red carpet through a hail of camera flashes. Ralph beamed beside her, greeting paparazzi by name, talking to outstretch mics. She hovered, trying to hide in his nonexistent shadow as lights glared from every angle.

‘Ralph, aren’t you going to introduce your guest?’

He gave the half smile that lit silver screens across the globe.

‘This is Helen, my wife.’

A barrage of questions assaults them from incredulous reporters.

‘How long have you been married?’

‘Or dating?’

‘What about Roxanne?’

‘Where did you meet?’

Ralph shrugged, and brushed a lock of golden hair out of his eye.

‘Boys, you wouldn’t believe me if I told you.’

They strode away, each step nearer to the entrance, to safety. But now all the cameras focused on her. The girl from the coffee shop.

Quote of the Week

“The image is one thing and the human being is another. It's very hard to live up to an image, put it that way.” ― Elvis Presley.

Something to Try

If I’m honest, I’m more aware of how I manipulate my image than I care to admit. Shooting photos to look their best, even just to the family WhatsApp. In conversation, I skirt round the genuine problems, and drop in how much I’m reading, or how many words I’ve written this month. All to massage my image and make people like me. But who am I beneath the image? Who is the real you? Let’s make some time this week to ask ourselves who we are and who we want to be once we take away the social pandering.

Final Words

One thing I struggle with is breaking the image I’ve built, either to myself or other people. Once I’ve portrayed myself as a gamer or an outdoor instructor or whatever, I keep it up far longer than it’s helpful, just to seem consistent. I wonder how many celebrities find themselves in this trap, stuck doing something they no longer like because that’s what made them famous. And I wonder how many more times I need to be reminded to shatter my self-images as soon as they stop being useful before I learn to actually do it.

With Love

Joe

P.S. What did you think of this week’s email? Which was your favourite bit? Hit reply and let me know.