Donna White

An Existential Guide to: Making Friends Friends Friends What Glorious Friendly Friends!

I'm still determining if this deep dive guide is letting me off the hook for my tardiness and judgement or training me to share more compassion and empathy. Either way, it's one to read. #Friendship #NewRules 💙 > theshadowedarchive.substack.com/p/an-existen...

With an estimated 9% gender pay gap based on my earnings, age and industry, enough is enough.

#EqualPayDay shouldn’t exist. As we enter a world where AI quickly takes root, it’s about time women have the opportunity to know and receive their true workplace value 💸 >

Richard Burton: Wild Genius (available via BBC iPlayer) is a delightfully moreish documentary. A skilled actor, the role he never felt comfortable in was playing himself.

Watch, then immediately follow up with the 2025 Mr Burton film (also iPlayer) on Philip Burton’s acting action plan 🎬 #TV >

A group of 10 people in two rows, some seated on a grey sofa, others stood, next to orange, white and gold balloons and white floral displays, on a church stage.

Balham Baptist celebrated its first anniversary as a Restored Beacon church today 💡 a chance to share progress as we practically and emotionally support domestic abuse victims.

It’s important and often overwhelming, but this team makes it worth it. Watch here > www.youtube.com/live/TzgxEyV...

How a hurricane helped me navigate uncertainty Navigating stress and uncertainty can create anxiety which is difficult to manage. Our counselling blog offers essential tips to help you stay calm and connected during challenging times to improve yo...

Uncertainty is inevitable. How you choose to deal with it can strengthen your emotional resilience.

So, when I was separated from my parents during a hurricane, with no way home, anxiety took over. Here’s my top tips for finding peace. #Wellbeing > thefountaintherapytrust.com/2025/11/15/h...

A view of well-kept green grass with various trees at the bottom of the garden separating additional field lands. A blue sky with wispy white clouds is seen. Taken at Polesden Lacey, Surrey.

A rustic red brick garden wall in Polesden Lacey, Surrey, with circular hole to reveal a small stone statue of figure on plinth. Ivy plants cover the right hand side of the wall. Where the wall stops, a blue skyline is apparent.

View of Polesden Lacey, Surrey. A grand yellow tan stately home with tall white Georgian frame windows, deep sand gravel driveway and white clock tower with metal weathervane set against a blue sky.

A terrific day out walking the length and breadth of the Polesden Lacey estate in Surrey, part of @nationaltrust.org.uk, followed by a bacon sandwich pit stop. It’s such a beautiful landscape that’s only a hop, skip and jump from my door - making it a #CultureSaturday to remember 🍂 >

A square image in ivory frame of three Black people in embrace. A Black man with sunglasses in camouflage jacket with USA patch on shoulder; a Mixed-Race woman with glasses with collared black and white floral dress; a Black man with sunglasses with black t-shirt and silver chain and pendant. They’re stood in front of a large oversized purple radio at a Kisstory festival.

Today I had the privilege to spend the day with hundreds of people who loved my cousin, Justin, for the selfless, motivated and genuine man he was.

He worked hard, put #family first, integrated passions into purpose and had plenty of fun along the way. A true role model, with odd socks 💜🧦 >

Your Boss Doesn’t Have Time to Talk to You Amazon wants bigger teams. Bank of America is flattening. Corporate America is shedding managers, and the workplace is changing radically.

As management layers are ruthlessly cut from organisations to maximise AI and cut costs, those who are left have little time to offer a personal touch.

How important is it for you that your manager knows a little about your life outside of #work? 💼 (via @wsj.com) >
www.wsj.com/business/bos...

Aliveness and where to find it My theory of life

This might just be my new favourite theory for finding happiness - creating new things, together.

Whether it's making music, a theatre show or participating in faith-based gatherings, belonging and creating provide meaning. Let's do more, together ♥️ > benbyfax.substack.com/p/aliveness?...

Black and white gumball machine illustration against white background.

Collage of Van Gogh imagery, with wooden easel, hanging apron, a group of canvases resting on the floor against a wall.

Panoramic painting against white wall, with glass dome above letting in light, exposing autumn dusk sunlight.

Colour illustration of fruit and veg stall with bold yellow sign with image of a watermelon with text that reads: ‘ICE COLD’, next to a white ‘CHERRIES’ sign.

A sunny #CultureSunday afternoon at the Courtauld Gallery, on the Strand, including a free display of drawings by artist Wayne Thiebaud - complementing his American Still Life exhibition 🍬🍉 >

Black and white photographic postcard of Black woman carrying large pieces of coal on her head while smoking a pipe. One arm is holding coal in place, another is on hip. Red text reads: ‘LUMPS OF COAL. COAL WOMEN OF ST THOMAS, DW1.’

🇻🇬 A recent visit to London’s Postal Museum shed light on the hidden stories of exploited free workers and enslaved people from St Thomas, Virgin Islands, who kept Royal Mail steam ships running (beyond abolition) by loading coal. ⛴️ ✉️ 📮 #BlackHistoryMonth > www.postalmuseum.org/blog/the-coa...

Psychotherapist Tips for Overcoming Imposter Syndrome Psychotherapist Jess Henley on how to identify imposter syndrome and how to feel more self-assured and self-compassionate

A very helpful overview article on imposter syndrome, with practical advice on how you can tackle the root of some day-to-day symptoms that may compel you to overwork, overscroll and withdraw. #Wellbeing > welldoing.org/article/psyc...

Biography: Hazel Scott Jazz pianist and singer Hazel Scott was not only the first African-American woman to host her own television show, but she also bravely stood up to the House Un-American Activities Committee and the H...

🇺🇸 Hazel Scott began headlining the Café Society, a racially integrated nightclub, at 19 and was one of the first Black acts to stipulate she wouldn’t play for segregated audiences 🎤 Her outspokenness helped lead to her own TV series 📺 #BlackHistoryMonth > www.womenshistory.org/education-re...

A satirical cartoon depicting a gentleman in a black tuxedo holding a gift unknowingly standing in front of a seated woman at an arts performance.

A six part cartoon of a brown dog with a small hat drinking a tea surrounded by fire, the extended version of the contemporary meme, ‘This is fine’.

Two cartoon figures painted onto a white wall. Left hand figure has a purple eye mask and wears a yellow tracksuit. He’s joined by a woman with short red hair which covers her eyes, smoking a cigarette, wresting a black cardigan with green vest top just seen.

To escape from the rain, I also headed to the Cartoon Museum for an eclectic history of how this art form is used to unite and divide opinion on challenging themes, as well as entertain. #CultureWednesday 🖋️ #Art >

White, blue and teal plate on wooden stand, on sideboard against backdrop of teal tiles reflecting light from lamp.

View of ebony sideboard with decorative plates on shelves, with gold gilded lamp, next to ornate red wallpaper with more red, teal and white decorative plates. Top of walnut and brown leather dining chair is just seen.

Close up of gold stain glass window reflecting light in shades of purple, blue, teal, red, pink and lemon.

View of various wooden easels in a well lit paint studio with plenty of natural light. On one of the dark easels is a framed sketch of a woman’s head and shoulders.

A trip to Leighton House, near High Street Kensington, to learn about the life of Frederic Leighton who lived and worked there while holding the esteemed position of President of the @royalacademyarts.bsky.social between 1878 and 1896. #CultureWednesday 🎨 #Art >

Alexandre Dumas - Books, Ethnicity & Quotes Alexandre Dumas is a celebrated French author best known for his historical adventure novels, including 'The Three Musketeers' and 'The Count of Monte Cristo.'

🇫🇷🇭🇹 Alexandre Dumas, author of The Count of Monte Cristo & The Three Musketeers, started as a scribe for the duc d'Orléans (later King Louis Philippe) during the 1830 revolution. In later life, he moved from his French château to evade creditors. #BlackHistoryMonth > www.biography.com/authors-writ...

Biography: Ida B. Wells-Barnett Ida B. Wells-Barnett was a prominent journalist, suffragist, activist, and researcher.

🇺🇸 Ida B Wells, born into slavery months before emancipation, became an investigative journalist and activist, addressing lynching as a key issue ✍🏽🗞️ She also sued the Ohio Railroad for forcefully removing her from a segregated carriage. #BlackHistoryMonth >
www.womenshistory.org/education-re...

Lorraine Hansberry - Death, A Raisin in the Sun & Facts Playwright and activist Lorraine Hansberry wrote 'A Raisin in the Sun' and was the first Black playwright and the youngest American to win a New York Critics’ Circle award.

🇺🇸 Lorraine Hansberry was the first Black playwright, and youngest, to win a New York Critics’ Circle award for ‘A Raisin in the Sun’, inspired by her family’s lawsuit against racist housing restrictions which was won in the Supreme Court. 🎭 #BlackHistoryMonth > www.biography.com/authors-writ...

Image of Black man with short grey African Caribbean hair in orange astronaut suit holding black helmet. A USA flag is seen on left hand side of image and on a shoulder patch on the man’s left shoulder. Other suit patches include his name, Guy Bluford, NASA insignia and one of a rocket taking off. The man smiles directly at the camera.

🇺🇸 STS-8 carried Guion Bluford who became the first African American to fly in space. An aerospace engineer and Air Force fighter pilot, he was one of 35 successful NASA applicants, joining in 1978. He was part of 4 shuttle missions in total 👨🏾‍🚀 > #BlackHistoryMonth > www.britannica.com/biography/Gu...

Four people stood by wall, with view of camera taken at ground level looking up. Two women on left hand side - one mixed-race in white/pink jacket, one white in yellow running vest - and two men on right hand side - one white in black running vest and one Middle Eastern in black long sleeve top - smiling at camera. Grey sky with thick clouds seen above.

A delightful 10km #run across London with friends old and new, proving I still have the ability to have a conversation while on the move 🏃🏽‍♀️ #Wellbeing #CultureSaturday >

🇲🇸 Thomas James, who served in the 18th Light Dragoons, was one of nine Black soldiers to be awarded a Waterloo Medal. His skill as a musician was integral both on and off the battlefield for boosting morale and relaying commands 🎖️ #BlackHistoryMonth > www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Sislin Faye Allen | Black Heroes Foundation Sislin Fay Allen was a trailblazing figure in British law enforcement, becoming the first black woman police constable in the United Kingdom

🇯🇲 Sislin Fay Allen was the UK’s first Black female police officer, working in Croydon at a time when anti-immigration noise was loud and threatening. In 2020, she received a lifetime achievement award from the Nat Black Police Assc 👮🏾‍♀️ #BlackHistoryMonth > www.blackheroesfoundation.org/people/sisli...

A double page spread of a report, featuring a montage of images of people at an event under the headline ‘Changing the Story Conferences’. Orange and red accents in the form of highlights and illustrations are throughout.

It was so lovely to attend Restored’s 15th anniversary celebrations at St Peter’s Church in Notting Hill yesterday, representing Balham Baptist as its first ever Beacon Church.

I even made it into the impact report, having taken to the stage for its Changing the Story Conference last year! 👇🏽 >

Black and white photograph of young Black female child with short braided hair, smiling while looking up. She wears a white jacket and collared dress.

🇺🇸 Ruby Bridges was the first African American to integrate into a white school. Accompanied by her mother and 4x US Marshals on day one in New Orleans, she spent her 1st year as a solo student. Today, the Ruby Bridges Fdn promotes tolerance #BlackHistoryMonth >
www.womenshistory.org/education-re...

Wide shot image of large group of colleagues, two rows standing, one row seated at board table covered in glasses, cups, books and edible treats. The group of people are smiling direct to camera.

I spent the day with The King's Trust #Marketing dream team to upskill on content development and production, which included a practical seminar with TikTok.

There's never an ideal time to power off emails for an entire day but, in doing so, we had productive conversations to raise our game! 💪 >

Biography: Alice Coachman Alice Coachman was the first Black woman from any country to win an Olympic gold medal.

🇺🇸 Alice Coachman became the first Black woman to win an Olympic gold for her high jump (1948) 🥇 Born in segregated Georgia, she won a sports scholarship, training hard and winning titles. In 1952 she signed a product deal with Coca-Cola 🥤 #BlackHistoryMonth > www.womenshistory.org/education-re...

The Art of Distance: A Soulful Look at Avoidant Attachment Psychotherapist Julie Ridlington explores how avoidant attachment patterns aren't the result of a lack of desire for intimacy, but a fear of it

A helpful article on avoidant attachment theory, where healing doesn’t necessarily look like rushing into #relationships. It’s about choosing when to reinforce your boundaries, opposed to automatic defences popping up ❤️‍🩹 #Wellbeing > welldoing.org/article/art-...

Photograph of Black woman with short dark hair, large pearl stud earrings and prominent make-up including red lipstick. She wears a white satin dress with white fur stole off the shoulder.

🇺🇸 Leontyne Price won a scholarship to Juilliard’s, her training to become the first African American singer to perform a televised opera as Puccini’s Tosca. Later, she was the first African American female to open season at the Met Opera House 🎭 #BlackHistoryMonth > www.metopera.org/discover/arc...

Image of woman in field littered with orange pumpkins of various sizes with two wheelbarrows used for pumpkin collection. Woman is mixed-race with spectacles, tartan jacket and beige trousers. A small white boy with strawberry blonde hair is seen in blue jacket on left hand side of image. The sky dominates the image with grey clouds.

Image of two skeleton models attached to a black board with oval space for faces, positioned in a field. A tall white skeleton is matched with the face of a brunette woman with long hair. A shorter ivory skeleton is matched with the face of a mixed-race woman with spectacles.

A trip to 4 Kingdoms adventure park in #Basingstoke at the weekend to chill with my besties and their little ones while picking pumpkins 💀🎃 >

Portrait image of Black woman, Ava Duvernay, in chocolate brown sheer dress with neck tie. Her braided hair is pulled back. She wears drop earrings and her hands are clasped in front of her.

🇺🇸 Ava Duvernay is a highly-decorated filmmaker. The first African American to win Best Director at Sundance (2012), she was also the first Black woman to win a Golden Globe for MLK picture Selma, which was also nom’d for Best Picture Oscar (2015) 🎬 #BlackHistoryMonth > rsafilms.com/us/directors...