I thought it was high time I introduced you to Behind the Fringe - a space on internet that I am hoping to grow. One that is for discussion, connection, sharing and interaction. Where we can all throw in our 2 cents and help each other out with the beautfiful mess that is life…or even just offering each other a high five (I see you!) of sorts.
Why Behind the Fringe and why now?
Perhaps like some of you…situations like the COVID-19 pandemic and increased remote working, matched with many friends moving forward to leave London or the UK…and then the increasing changes to social media platforms (moving to video and an advertising focus and fast cosumption of click bait content) - has meant I have felt somewhat lonely at times over the last couple of years. Don’t get me wrong, I am lucky to have amazing friends and family, but what I am describing is rather a gap in the online world of being able to connect genuinely with the people and independent businesses that I want to (a yearning for the the old days of Instagram and the like).
Pandemic fatigue and periods of burnout as a healthcare professional (by day) and my own recent grief cloud (from the loss of a parent last year) have meant writing, sharing and speaking (and many of the things that light up my right side creative brain!) have very much been put to the side for some time.
Behind the Fringe, however, has been on my mind for some time though, as has a yearning to get back to blogging and writing, and I love that Substack gives me all the nostalgia of old school blogging days without the faff of being beholden to an algorithm, like sharing on other platforms subjects you to.
And yes, before you ask Behind the Fringe is both literal (have you seen how much hair is on my forehead!) and metaphorical - in that this will be a space for me to share what’s been going on in my head (and behind my fringe) but also I hope a community space for us all to share, relate and connect with each other.
It will also be a place for sharing the stories ‘behind the fringes’ of many other faces, both those known and relatively unknown (but should know!) across media, psychology, mental health, lifestyle, design and beyond. Basically, a way for me to indulge my love of chatting to and learning about others…perhaps like mini informal autobiographies in interview form. Can you tell I am currently about to start training as a psychotherapist?!
I will also be doing some special things for paid subscribers in the future…like book and second hand clothing give-aways (as I have a penchant for novels and sparkly things but also trying to care more for the planet!) and hopefully one day…this might all translate into a podcast and/or in person meet-ups too.
And who am I? Well, I am the person in the picture (thank goodness for that - would be a bit weird otherwise?!). In all seriousness though - by day I am a specialist eating disorders dietitian and junior CBT-T therapist in the NHS (I also work privately in women’s health and eating disorders) but my real dream is to pivot into the world of the mind, mental health and people… fulltime… and I will soon begin that dream by going back to uni at 29 to study to become a psychotherapist.
That’s the boring CV stuff though - who I actually am is a slightly bonkers, intensely passionate Australian Italian living in London with far too much hair, whose dream is to help people, read and write novels and live in a pretty house* with a cat and a coffee machine.
*tiny windowless basement in London cause inflation
Oh, and I am @thealimentalsage on instagram (but I am hoping this Substack can really become its own community in its own right).
So that’s me done - now over to you. Say hello below - I would love to meet you!
ps. epic photo was taken by @alex_cameron as I funnily enough do not look like this when I wake up!