The great advantage of being human is that we can employ rational thought and resolve to change our circumstances. Mariella Frostrup More Quotes by Mariella Frostrup More Quotes From Mariella Frostrup Having lived a full and stimulating life before I had my kids, I've relished every minute I've had to spend with them and felt a degree of confidence in dealing with their trials and tribulations to date. Mariella Frostrup degrees trials kids I wasn't allowed to be clever when I was young and blonde, but now I am 50 and an old blonde, I am allowed to have gravitas. With wrinkles comes wisdom. Mariella Frostrup wrinkles blonde clever Life is rife with frustrations, jealousies and, on occasion, an overwhelming sense of its injustices, but it's a big mistake to let such negative sentiments rule our lives and dictate choices. Mariella Frostrup frustration choices mistake In romance we feel the need to zoom in and expound on our partner's foibles in intimate detail; in friendship we tend to do the opposite, avoiding confrontation through fear, lethargy or both. Mariella Frostrup zoom romance opposites From Mozambique to Chad, South Africa and Liberia, Sierra Leone to Burkina Faso, feminism is the buzzword for a generation of women determined to change the course of the future for themselves and their families. Mariella Frostrup sierra-leone mozambique feminism There are more than enough people with serious mental issues who really do need professional help without all the other Toms, Dicks and Harriets rushing to the therapist's couch. Mariella Frostrup rushing issues people For most of us, when our 'dreams' - I use the word with reservations - came true, and marriage and motherhood became a reality, the romcoms, like horoscopes, swiftly lost their allure. Mariella Frostrup motherhood dream reality Far too many girls' and women's romantic relationships are formed around a negation of their own worth and attributes rather than a confirmation of them. Mariella Frostrup confirmation attributes girl Too often we forget that an ideal partner is someone who enhances an already full existence. Mariella Frostrup existence partners forget Having a baby is a disaster for your career. I don't think there's any sympathy. Mariella Frostrup careers baby thinking Placing "amicable" and "separation" together creates an oxymoron - we don't usually decide to end a partnership until the very sight of our soon-to-be ex fills us with disgust, misery, agony or a combination of all three. Mariella Frostrup agony sight together I was told that when you hit forty men stop looking at you. It's true, until you slip on a mini-skirt. Mariella Frostrup skirts naughty men Joy acts like a trampoline, everything that touches it bouncing right back off it. Mariella Frostrup trampolines joy Only those with skin as thick as elephant hide can hope to sail through their teens unscathed by self-doubt and bouts of depression. Mariella Frostrup elephants self doubt Seeing the world differently is one of the toughest incompatibilities to reconcile in a relationship. Mariella Frostrup incompatibility reconcile world Every friendship goes through ups and downs. Dysfunctional patterns set in, external situations cause internal friction, you grow apart and then bounce back together. Mariella Frostrup patterns causes together The point of the feminist movement wasnt simply to set our underwear on fire and muscle into small spaces in the male-dominated workplace, but to create a world where the contribution of both sexes was equally valued and no ones worth was judged on their take-home salary. Mariella Frostrup space home sex We invest less in our friendships and expect more of friends than any other relationship. We spend days working out where to book for a romantic dinner, weeks wondering how to celebrate a partner or parent's birthday, and seconds forgetting a friend's important anniversary. Mariella Frostrup anniversary birthday book There are two ways of approaching your time on this planet: one is to sit around waiting for something to happen that will make sense of your existence, and the other is to get out there and find purpose for yourself. Mariella Frostrup purpose waiting two With longer life spans and better health and education, many feel that giving birth to a baby a mere couple of decades after they themselves were in the cradle is a little premature. Mariella Frostrup couple baby giving