Sub-editors: Molly Taylor & Leanna Thomson
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Monday 14th March 2022
Lifestyle
THE
COURIER
Girl Power: the women in my life
Imogen Clarke - Sub-editor of Fashion and Beauty y Grandma passed away in 2020, at the grand old age of ninety. Admittedly, this seems like a depressing way to begin an article. However, on International Women's Day, I can't think of a single woman close to me that has inspired me more than her. I am very lucky to have been so close to my Grandma; she lived just five minutes from my home and I spent half of my childhood at her house. I loved my Grandma as she taught me to love travelling, cooking and craft. However, her life before I was born is what really inspires me, and is something I have learnt more about after her death. Born in 1930, she was a child of the war and used to tell me and my sister about it regularly. When we were young, her "during the war" phrase became a bit of a joke. However, as we both grew, and discovered a love of history, the history she was a part of became more and more profound to me. The things she went through as a child and young woman, certainly shaped the strong woman she grew into. Not to mention the way she cared for my Grandad throughout his battle with Alzheimer's. In fact, she was the strongest person I knew, right until the end. I am writing about her because, on International Women's Day, I think it is important to think of all the inspirational women in our lives, even if they are not with us. If I could have my time again with Grandma, there are so many more questions I would have asked about her life and journey through history.
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Annabel Hogg - Sub-editor of Relationships will preface this by saying that if my sister reads this, she’ll feel nothing but repulsion at this affection. However, it seems only right to pay tribute to the powerhouse of a woman who has made me into the person I am today. My sister has had dreams beyond belief, and she has never failed to make them come true, and I find that truly inspiring. She worked her way into grammar school, then into her dream university, then into a school where she became everyone’s favourite teacher. She went to medical school, becoming a junior doctor at the worst possible time without a graduation for payment. She held through plastic the hands of patients who couldn’t be with their loved ones, and made sure husbands and wives were reunited once more. Most importantly, she did and continues to do all of this whilst being the best sister, daughter, granddaughter, fiancé and mum to my gorgeous (dog) nephew, Archie. Despite all of these incredible achievements, Charlotte is still exactly the same to me as she was when I was a baby and she was 8. She’s Dr Hogg, but she’s also just my big sister. We still watch crappy movies together, go on iced coffee runs when I’m home in the summer and curl each other’s hair. She still judges every man I ever mention, we still go for boogies in Flares and most of all, she is still genuinely my best friend. It's one thing to have done so much and have so many achievements to your name, but to be an incredible human being and sister at the same time? That’s truly inspiring.
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Being mindful of mindfulness Hannah Ross
How to reap the benefits of these underrated practices.
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n a world where stress is becoming a bigger issue for people every day, taking time out to calm the mind has never been more important. However, this is easier said than done and many people who try, find it difficult to reap the full benefits of the practice. So, how do you get the most out of mindfulness and meditation? The first and most important thing is to commit to the practice. Reduce chances of distraction as much as possible by going to a quiet place with few things around. It is especially important to remove your phone from the room. Meditation and mindfulness work by bringing you back to the present by not letting your mind wander to other things. Be aware of the sounds going on around you but don't let them distract you from the exercise. You must accept what is happening in the present but not allow it to have adverse effects on you. Breathing is an essential component of any practice. Focusing on the breath allows you to stay in the moment. Counting the inhales and exhales is helpful if you know that naturally focusing on it is difficult for you. Make sure to take deep breaths that fill the entire body, not shallow ones. I find beginning with filling up the stomach, then the lungs, and finally the throat, is the best way to ensure this. Don’t be frustrated if the exercise does not come naturally the first time. It takes time to hone it and get your body used to the sensations of not constantly thinking about other things.
Try to practice every day even if it is only for five minutes – everyone can put aside five minutes for themselves, and the benefits are extensive compared to the small amount of time spent on it. If you have been practising for a while but still have the odd day where it is hard to focus, don't criticise yourself for it. Some days are more stressful than others and so it is harder to focus. However, regular practice helps reduce this by making you less stressed in general. Meditation and mindfulness are great exercises and incredibly rewarding, helping you become less stressed in life and be present in what is happening right now. Make sure to practice regularly and incorporate it into your daily routine to live an improved, happier life!
Ginny Harris
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Image: Pixabay @ OpenClipart-Vectors
n recent years, global pandemic considering, I have realised what many other girls do in society nowadays; that it is the women around us that make the most impact on our lives. I could mention my mum, my best friend, or a teacher, but I want to shed the light on someone who we don’t always think of first. Our little sister. Mine not much younger than myself, has taught me more than I will ever know simply by being a little braver and inspiring me to be stronger for her. She has inspired me to be kinder (maybe let her wear that dress when she asks) or even a little more confident in her presence (perhaps ask for that extra ketchup at McDonald’s). Now being younger, we can’t really look up to little sisters, we do everything in life before they do, so they don’t provide much insight or knowledge. However, she inspires me because the more I want to do for her, the more I want to do for others. She initiates a motivation in me that an older person doesn’t provide, making me want to better the world by fighting the inequalities she may face and standing up for her when she needs it. Having a little sister inspires in me a drive, motivation, and strength to be better and to make the world a better place.
Get your hands wet with Elizabeth Meade - Head of Current Affairs
Could this be the future of houseplants?
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ave you ever wanted to have houseplants in your flat, but don’t want to get soil everywhere? Then you may want to look into the world of hydroponic
houseplants. Hydroponics is a form of growing plants in which nutrient-infused water is used as substrate instead of soil. This method has frequently been used to perform plant experiments, to increase crop yield, and even to grow plants in space. Setting up a hydroponic garden at home can be very complicated, as you typically need to obtain a lot of unusual equipment and put it together yourself. The start-up costs can also be a barrier, as the construction materials and nutrients can be quite expensive if you are making a huge setup. However, there are smaller kits that you can purchase online that include the necessary materials to grow a small hydroponic garden at home. If you are not interested in cutting up your own PVC pipes and purchasing supplies more suited to keeping freshwater fish than growing your own basil, ordering a kit is the best option. These kits are often suited to growing herbs and tomatoes. These plants are perfect for when you want to make spaghetti or homemade pizza. If you want to build your own setup, it is important to research the different methods. Whatever method you are using, you will need to
Image: Instagram @terrariums_by_ella