I recently had the privilege of delivering a talk for Reigate Samaritans and the experience felt very much like returning to where a significant part of my journey began.
Walking into the room and seeing so many familiar faces from my time as a listening volunteer brought back a flood of memories. Those hours spent offering support, simply being present for someone in their most difficult moments, shaped me profoundly. They taught me the value of empathy, patience and human connection, lessons that continue to influence every talk I give today.
My session focused on the power of resilience. Not as an abstract concept and not as something reserved for a select few but as a learnable skill that every one of us can strengthen.
I often describe myself as an expert through lived experience although I do feel that life handed me the advanced course in resilience when the standard version would have more than sufficed 😉. Yet it’s precisely that experience that allows me to stand in front of audiences and share tools that genuinely make a difference.
My heartfelt thanks go to everyone at Reigate Samaritans for their warm welcome and for the extraordinary work they continue to do. Especially branch director Shirley Soer. Their dedication reminds me why I started volunteering all those years ago and why resilience, compassion and human connection matter now more than ever.
