Gibraltar’s Literary Festival

This week celebrated Gibraltar’s Literary Festival. Once again, it was a challenge to choose whose talks to attend given the calibre of the authors participating.

Dr Pooky Knightsmith

Many clients, their partners and children, suffer from stress and anxiety, depression and / or other mental health issues before and during a legal issue or dispute such as an application for child contact post separation/ divorce, for example. I therefore sought out Dr Pooky Knightsmith who is an international speaker, educator and trainer on child and adolescent mental health issues. She covers: post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, bullying, bereavement, eating disorders, self-harming, scars, body image, and so on.

One of the tools through which Dr Pooky increases mental and emotional wellbeing is poetry which she describes as, “… a great way into difficult conversations in therapeutic, classroom or family settings”.

Amber Law promotes the Arts as healing tools for clients and their families. Why not give poetry a go? To find out more about her books, please see our Shop.

Gelong Thubten

Gelong Thubten Buddhist Monk, Mindfulness Meditation teacher and author was also of great interest to me, given I apply Mindfulness daily, to my legal practice.

Thubten’s website reads, “Thubten specialises in teaching mindfulness meditation internationally, in businesses, hospitals, schools, universities, prisons and addiction counselling centres, and he gives keynote speeches at major events around the world. He has been teaching for over 20 years...

What is it?

Mindfulness meditation is a system of mind-training. It emerged from the 2500-year old tradition of Buddhist philosophy, and it thus uses techniques that have been tried and tested over many centuries. Mindfulness training helps us build a better relationship with our thoughts and emotions, so that we can gain greater mastery over our minds.

The practice helps to reduce stress as well as to develop more focus and mental clarity. It can have highly beneficial effects on our working practices and relationships, as it also deepens our compassion.

Why Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is becoming increasingly popular as a form of non-religious meditation, using breathing techniques, paying attention to the present moment, as well as developing positive thinking and clarity of mind. Recent scientific research has shown the beneficial effects mindfulness has upon brain activity, thus increasing its popularity in today’s society. The training can help people to change the way they think, feel and act”.

Thubten works with major clients such as: “Google, LinkedIn, Deloitte, Lloyds Bank, Deutsche Bank, Siemens, Accenture and Clifford Chance. He has lectured at Facebook’s London offices, Morrisons and McCain head offices, Linklaters and many other global companies”. It is a joy to learn that Mindfulness practice is being adopted and practiced by so many global businesses as the benefits will be reaped not only by those in business but importantly also, by their clients.

Amber Law promotes the Mindfulness and Meditation as healing tools for clients and their families. Why not give this a go? To find out more about his books, please visit our Shop.

For further information, please contact: amber@amberlaw.com 

Other authors I met during the Festival...

Henry Valerga

Sheila Hancock