10 years ago, I was at the pinnacle of my career. A Head of Department in a university, leading a large team of staff, with a successful husband and beautiful teenage daughter at home. Life was sweet.

My father became terminally ill at the end of 2016. He died before I was able to reach his bedside. This is something I will always regret. My own diagnosis of melanoma followed shortly after. My whole world came crashing down. Grieving and ill, I found myself thinking 'stop the world, I want to get off'! I'd lost sight of the important things in life: family, health, love, relationships, connections, nature. Something had to change. 

I quit my job, and after a period of healing, I retrained as a celebrant. I now consider myself one of the lucky ones, in so many ways. My husband is still successful, my daughter is still beautiful, I have my health, but life can still be messy. So now I use this experience to support others through whatever life throws at them - be that love, loss, grief or joy.