As each year ends, whispers of ‘new year, new me’ can be heard around the world offering promises of fresh beginnings. Yet, this mantra may be less about change and more about an illusion we cling onto.

‘‘New year, new me’ is a convenient little lie that we tell ourselves,’ says Malminder Gill, celebrity hypnotherapist and renowned Harley Street practitioner. Malminder explains why we need to toss out the New Year’s resolutions and instead proclaim ‘new year, same old me’ as the ultimate act of self-care.

Every new year we’re bombarded with marketing campaigns urging us to transform our lives. We vow to eat healthier, shed pounds, or dive into new projects, but how often do these lofty resolutions translate into real, lasting change? The truth is, most of us set ourselves up for failure.

Consider the classic New Year’s gym resolution. We start energised in January going five days a week, yet by February, even two days a week seems impossible with our busy life. 

‘The pressure to overhaul ourselves with big change can become paralysing,’ Malminder explains. ‘These grand resolutions often feel like an impossible leap, leading many to abandon their goals before they even get started.’

This cycle of resolution and disappointment fosters unhealthy habits and results in us feeling defeated. Instead of chasing the elusive ‘new me,’ Malminder advocates for a gentler approach.

‘What if we embraced the mantra ‘new year, same old me’? Rather than drastic changes, we focus on incremental improvements that respect our current selves and busy lives. Small, sustainable shifts can lead to profound transformations over time,’ Malminder explains. ‘For example, aim to do 10 squats a day while the kettle boils versus going to the gym five days a week. Or, spend 15 minutes a day on a project you want to complete.’

Malminder closes by saying, ‘As the New Year is upon us, let’s shift our narrative. Instead of daunting resolutions to try and reinvent ourselves, let’s celebrate who we are now and our continuous journey of self-improvement. Our ‘same old me’s’ are more than enough.’

ENDS

Malminder Gill is a renowned hypnotherapist on Harley Street, known as ‘London’s Fairy Godmother’ and the go-to therapist for celebrities. She is dedicated to helping clients unlock their potential, pursue their passions, and improve their mental health. In addition to her personalised support, Malminder offers crisis management services around the world, providing compassionate, discreet, in-home visits whenever needed.

Fast moving, entertaining, funny and inspiring, Accidental Lives by Sylvia Holder and Lindsay Swan, to be published on 15 November 2024 by Black Spring Press, is a book about tragedy turned to triumph, ‘sliding door’ life changers, chance encounters and a glorious friendship. It tells the extraordinary story of how a young man’s tragic death in a poor South Indian fishing village led to the setting up of a charity, the Venkat Trust, which has transformed thousands of young lives.

Pre-war baby, natural rebel and boarding school survivor Sylvia Holder, who has spent much of the 60s and 70s working her way around the world between pitstops in London, meets Scots born Lindsay Swan, 13 years her junior, at a Johannesburg PR agency. Here their paths cross with unlikely characters from Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton to the Wombles and the Monkees.

Returning to London, Sylvia sets up a PR consultancy and is later joined by Lindsay. For the next 20 years, Holder Swan Public Relations – which bears more than a passing resemblance to television’s Absolutely Fabulous – handles an eclectic mix of clients. These take them on safari in Zambia, to Mexico’s Mayan ruins, Iceland’s volcanoes and the high rises of Hong Kong. At home, they publicise Chichester Festival Theatre, Hampton Court Flower Show and many more. Other celebrities making an appearance in their memoir include Roger Moore, Joan Collins, Elton John, Diana Rigg, Cliff Richard and Patricia Hodge, as well as members of the Rolling Stones.

“This book gives an entertaining and moving account of the adventurous lives of that fine duo, Holder and Swan, two fearless, funny and brave women. It’s a story of friendship and enterprise and extraordinary generosity, of triumph over tragedy, with some amazing anecdotes and an exhilarating sense of life lived to the full.”

Dame Margaret Drabble, author and fellow traveller to Zambia and India.

When not travelling the world, they hold court in their quirky London office, the original Chalk Farm farmhouse, thought to have been artist Walter Sickert’s studio. Their entrepreneurial sidelines include a City sandwich bar and PR training business. In parallel Sylvia builds an impressive property portfolio. Underpinning everything is the authors’ friendship, their shared delight in the absurd, sense of adventure, belief in the power of the possible and enthusiasm for making things happen.

“This is the story of a uniquely creative female friendship. Its fruit was a PR agency built for fun as much as money and a charity which has transformed the life of a poor Indian fishing village. Absorbing, amusing, moving and inspiring, here is a hugely enjoyable read. Dr Piers Brendon, historian, biographer, broadcaster and fellow traveller to Zambia and India.”

Aged 65, Sylvia retires to the south coast but things take an unexpected turn when Venkat, a poor Indian fisherman’s son she’d met as a skinny 12-year-old 15 years earlier and whom she’d sponsored through school and university, is tragically killed in a road traffic accident. Heartbroken, she returns to Kovalam, Venkat’s village near Chennai, and on impulse, pledges to bring education and a route out of the poverty of generations to the children of the 8000-inhabitant village, where free schooling is virtually non-existent.

That she knows nothing about India, education or charities and is 65 years old, is of no consequence to Sylvia, who sets about fulfilling her promise, working as always with Lindsay. The achievements are truly life changing: a state-of-the-art 1000 pupil higher secondary school, a 400-child sponsorship scheme and a university fund which pays the fees of 75 young people a year. Sylvia is now almost 86, Lindsay 72 but retirement never occurs to them. The book also reveals another friendship, the important one between Sylvia and JR, Venkat’s brother, who with great aplomb, manages the Kovalam end of the Venkat Trust’s work. Despite a 36-year age gap, different backgrounds, nationalities, culture, language and religions, they make a formidable team and their compatibility, affection and shared sense of humour lie behind the charity’s extraordinary success.

ACCIDENTAL LIVES How two intrepid women travelled the world, ran an unconventional PR company and set up a charity in India by Sylvia Holder and Lindsay Swan is published by Black Spring Press on 15 November 2024, £16.99. 204 pages plus 16 pages of pictures. Available for order at all good bookshops, and online at Amazon and Black Spring Press.

Royalties from the sale of the book will go to the Venkat Trust, www.venkattrust.org.uk

For Immediate Release
Laura I. Art Gallery Presents: I Am An Arktivist – A Transformative Fusion of Art and Environmental Activism

Barking, London – On 30th November 2024, Laura I. Art Gallery is thrilled to host I Am An Arktivist, a one-of-a-kind event merging art and environmental activism to inspire lasting change. Set to take place from 12:00 pm to 3:30 pm at the Barking Learning Centre, this impactful day invites the community to engage in creative action, sustainability, and dialogue on pressing environmental issues.

The event boasts an impressive lineup of esteemed guests and leaders dedicated to environmental advocacy, including Mayor Moin Quadri, Deputy Leader Saima Ashraf, and Kashif Haroon, Cabinet Member for Public Realm & Climate Change, each sharing valuable insights into Barking and Dagenham’s ambitious vision for a greener future.

Featured Speakers & Highlights

I Am An Arktivist brings together experts across sustainability, recycling, conservation, and green urban planning:

• Neil Pearce, Head of Sustainability, Net Zero & Parks Commissioning, will discuss key green initiatives transforming the borough.
• Dilip Baishya and Sushant Bali will lead discussions on waste reduction, recycling innovations, and introduce a Zero Waste Living stall along with insights into ‘Buy Nothing New Month’ and an engaging five-minute clip from The Story of Stuff.
• Will Oliver from Thames21 will present on local river and green space conservation.
• Matt Scott from Thames Life will introduce the principles of permaculture and discuss local food forest projects.

Joining Organizations

Our event will host inspiring organizations at the forefront of environmental activism and sustainable living, including:

• Roding Rubbish: Showcasing impactful, community-led environmental initiatives.
• Vegan Society: Offering insights into the environmental benefits of plant-based choices and sustainable living.
• Keep Britain Tidy: Advocating for clean, green public spaces.
• Flow Happy CIC: Engaging attendees with resources on well-being through environmental sustainability.

Event Highlights

The Ark Exhibition – Curated by the talented Laimilija Zilyte and supported by The Legacy Assets Group and Cultural Partnership Group, this environmental art exhibit tackles critical issues like climate change, pollution, and sustainability, showcasing the powerful role art plays in driving environmental change.

Meet Noah the Mascot – Our beloved mascot, Noah, will be present to engage with guests of all ages, representing Laura I. Art Gallery’s commitment to sustainability and community action.

Interactive Workshops – Join hands-on, eco-friendly workshops, from upcycled art projects to creating personal pledges for environmental stewardship. These activities encourage community members to explore sustainable practices and contribute to a greener future.

Live Performance – Singer and songwriter Rebecca Daly will be bringing a melody of acoustic songs that speaks to the importance of climate change and Earth’s beauty.

Laura I. Art Gallery invites everyone—artists, environmentalists, families, and all who care about the planet—to join I Am An Arktivist. Together, we’ll celebrate art’s ability to inspire and drive change, making Barking and Dagenham a shining example of community-driven environmental action.

Event Details:
Date: 30th November 2024
Time: 12:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Location: Barking Learning Centre, Conference Room

London, UK — 31^st October 2024 — knus, a dynamic health tech company dedicated to transforming mental health peer support through innovative digital solutions, is proud to announce its acceptance into the highly selective School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) London Health Accelerator. This esteemed program, designed to empower social enterprises addressing health inequalities and healthcare challenges, will provide knus with invaluable mentorship, industry expertise, and access to a powerful network to accelerate the impact of its mission.

The London Health Accelerator, offered by the SSE in collaboration MedCity and the UK Governments UK Shared Prosperity Fund, is tailored for social enterprises focusing on improving healthcare outcomes. The Accelerator’s unique curriculum is crafted to address the specific challenges of scaling social impact in the health sector in underserved communities.

knus is a UK-based non-profit organisation offering a free, confidential mental health peer support platform. Designed to foster a supportive community, knus connects service users with trained peer support coaches who have lived experiences in mental health challenges. The platform provides a safe online space for people to discuss topics like anxiety, depression, addiction, and bereavement, among others. Volunteer coaches, guided by professionals such as doctors and social workers, help users access resources and emotional support. Access into the SSE London Health Accelerator marks a critical milestone for knus as it looks to broaden its reach and deepen its impact within the healthcare system.

knus joins a distinguished cohort of social entrepreneurs who share a commitment to addressing healthcare disparities and enhancing community health. With the support of SSE London Health Accelerator, knus looks forward to advancing its mission of making healthcare more accessible, informed, and equitable.

About knus
https://knus.io

knus is a pioneering health tech company dedicated to empowering service users and transforming mental healthcare delivery through digital innovation. By focusing on service user centric solutions, Knus.io bridges the gap between technology and healthcare, enabling better-informed service user and enhancing health outcomes.

About the School for Social Entrepreneurs
https://www.the-sse.org/

The School for Social Entrepreneurs supports people from all backgrounds to tackle society’s biggest problems, with the vision of transforming lives and communities. Since 1997, SSE has empowered over 2,500 social entrepreneurs and social impact organisations in the UK and beyond.

About MedCity
https://medcityhq.com

MedCity is a life sciences cluster organisation for London, fostering collaboration in health, biotech, and medtech sectors to drive innovation, investment, and talent growth. Established by the Mayor of London, MedCity connects companies, researchers, and policymakers, supporting initiatives in drug discovery, medical devices, digital health, and data science. Its mission is to strengthen London’s role as a global science hub and improve health outcomes through partnerships and strategic support.