Gloriously Ordinary Sundays - 8th February 2026

Since the start of the year, I’ve been facilitating three different Gloriously Ordinary Lives programmes, and I’ve been lucky enough to hang out with some really thoughtful folk.

I thought I’d give you a break from the workings of my brain this week and share some of the insights people have shared with me over the last few weeks.

“Once you start asking yourself, ‘Would I want that?’ then the floodgates just open, and you start asking, 'Would I want someone else to choose what I’m having for my tea? Would I want to live with people I don’t know? Would I want someone I’ve only just met to help me have a bath?’ And so so many more. I just didn’t think about it. I focused on doing the best possible job to support people in the best possible way, and I pride myself on that, but if the basics are wrong, it’s never going to be okay.”

“I’ve realised today how many times I use the word ‘our’ or ‘my’ about people…as in, ‘our guys’. I mean it with affection, but I’m talking about people who aren’t my friends, my mum, my brother or my partner. I’m talking about people who I work for….and they’re not  ‘mine’!”

“We had a conversation about photos…. not just the photos that people might like to take, but also the photographs that people absolutely don’t want us to take. I’m thinking about pictures we take for our records of people eating, cooking and even out doing things they enjoy. I definitely wouldn’t want anybody taking a photograph of me with a mouthful of food.”

“It struck me today in the session that no one I support has even one person who they could call at 2am to say they feel a bit rubbish… well, obviously, staff are there, and for a couple of people, they have parents, but that idea of someone who is there for me just because they like me. I realise that I haven’t noticed that before, and certainly not seen it as the huge issue that it is. I can’t imagine not having any friends.”

“I’ve just had a bit of an epiphany about the idea of being busy. That is literally my job as I’m an ‘activities coordinator’… I organise activities for people, to make sure they are busy! I know that I plan some stuff that people do enjoy and I work hard to, but I’ve really never thought about the idea or the importance of purpose. It’s made me think about my life and how I enjoy my leisure – cinema, bowling, gym, coffee with friends, bingo – because that’s what I do when I don’t go to work. Starting tomorrow, I’m going to start thinking about what people love and are good at that might lead to the opportunity for real purpose.”

PS. Did you see? The Gloriously Ordinary Sundays Podcast episode 14 is here. You'll hear that I am absolutely thrilled to introduce you all to the lovely ⁠⁠⁠Marianne Selby-Boothroyd⁠⁠⁠, who's joining the Gloriously Ordinary Lives team... that's right, the Gloriously Ordinary Lives team! How exciting is that? Have a listen, and we'd love to hear what you think!