Interpretation and Translation

**Hello there!** Are you learning English as a second language and looking for an opportunity to practise your English? Interested in **free, in-person lessons**? We’ve got you covered! Here at **Stafford House London**, our teachers-in-training are gaining hands-on experience by teaching enthusiastic English learners. Each lesson is interactive and fun, with plenty of opportunities to practise speaking, meet other learners, and improve your English along the way. We also offer **free online English classes**. For more information, please email us at \*\*[teachertraining@staffordhouse.com**.](http://teachertraining@staffordhouse.com%2A%2A./) Please see the **updated** details below! 🕑 **When:** From **26th Jan** - **8th April 2026** (12 weeks) ➡️Mondays and Wednesdays 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm 📍 **Where:** Stafford House London, 2 Southampton Place, WC1A 2DA (just 2 minutes from Holborn Station) 📚 **Level: Both levels available on Mon & Wed** **\- Pre\-Intermediate \(A2\-B1\)** **\- Upper\-Intermediate \(B2\)** Spaces are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Please arrive **15- 30 minutes early** to secure your spot. We will ask for your name and email upon arrival. *Please note: confirming attendance on Meetup does not guarantee a place in the classroom.* We look forward to seeing you all very soon!

*this event is advertised elsewhere so there will be more people coming than stated* **✨ Welcome to Conundrum Corner at The Union Jack pub, Southwark! ✨** Step inside and join a gathering *of* open minds and kind hearts. Whether you bring a conundrum of your own that you are experiencing or simply your listening ear, you’ll find a welcoming space to share, reflect, and explore life’s tricky questions together. 🌿 **What to expect:** * You’re invited to share a conundrum, dilemma or question that you yourself are experiencing. * We’ll vote on three intriguing ones to explore more deeply. * With a few extra details in hand, we’ll break into small groups for thoughtful discussion. * Then, we’ll come together as one big group to share insights, perspectives, and perhaps even some fresh solutions. The atmosphere is **analytical yet empathetic, thoughtful yet light-hearted**, and always non-judgmental. Whether your conundrum is personal, professional, or just a head-scratcher, we’re here to help unravel it together. 💸 There’s no set fee to attend, but we do ask for donations on the night to cover costs - which are warmly appreciated! 🍷 Please also support our lovely hosts, Jade and co., by buying yourself a drink at the bar (and food’s available if you fancy a bite). 💡 **What’s a conundrum, you ask?** A conundrum is any dilemma, crossroads, or confusion in your life—big or small. It could be a **"chicken and egg"** situation, a **"catch-22"**, or a **"have your cake and eat it"** kind of puzzle. Sometimes, life just throws us complex, messy questions—and that’s what we’re here to navigate together. Once our deep discussions wind down, we’ll slip into **pub mode**—a chance to relax, connect, and continue chatting with newfound friends. **🛡️ Code of Conduct - *please note*** Conundrum Corner is committed to providing a safe and respectful environment for all attendees. Any abuse, harassment, or inappropriate behaviour towards other attendees, whether during the event or in any contact related to the event afterwards, will result in permanent removal from the Meetup group and exclusion from future events. Come along for an evening of intriguing conversations, fresh perspectives, and a touch of serendipity. Looking forward to seeing you there! Helena x

More information here: [https://tarayogacentre.co.uk/yoga/](https://tarayogacentre.co.uk/yoga/ "https://tarayogacentre.co.uk/yoga/") More than just a normal yoga class, this course is a thorough and deep exploration of the **roots of what Yoga truly is…** It is an invitation to realise the **true essence of *Who you are*** – the transformation that happens on **discovering all the gifts and qualities** that usually lie hidden beyond our awareness. Yoga is a wealth of knowledge and techniques that can become a way of living – bringing **harmony** and peace on each level of your being: the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. The course provides shifts in perspective both on yourself and on the universe around you, bringing inspiration not only to **discover but to live your highest potential** – and to ***thrive!***

**Ursula Blythe - The Philosophy of Grief: Love, loss, and the so-called human condition** ATTEND IN PERSON OR ON ZOOM Can Philosophy Inform Grief? Death is part of the human condition, yet we tend to avoid the subject in everyday conversations and philosophical discourse. Engaging with Grief reminds people of their own inevitable losses and demise during their life-cycle. However, death remains a curious mystery where our sense of loss and confusion is somehow out of our control. This phenomena generates the concept and real-life experience of Grief itself. As a starting point, it is important to understand or appreciate: Why we avoid the topic of Grief, particularly across Western cultures? Indeed, there are many social, psychological, and philosophical reasons for avoiding the discussion of Grief. As a prelude to my talk, I have signposted some significant examples of why we may avert discussions of Grief, as follows: Emotional Discomfort: Grief is an intensely painful and overwhelming emotion. Discussing it openly can make both the grieving person and others feel uncomfortable, as it forces an acknowledgment of vulnerability and mortality. Fear of Saying the Wrong Thing: Many folks are unsure of what to say or how to support someone who is grieving. They fear causing further pain or appearing insensitive which often leads them to avoid the elephant in the room! Social Norms and Stigma: Western culture often emphasises resilience and “moving on” quickly. So, open displays of intense emotions, especially prolonged sadness can be seen as a sign of weakness or an inability to cope, leading to avoidance of the subject. Lack of Personal Experience: If an individual has not experienced a significant loss themselves, they may struggle to empathise or appreciate the depth of another’s pain. Pace of Modern Life: Everyday life moves quickly, and there is often little time or space for the extended period of mourning that Grief requires. People may feel pressure to maintain normalcy and avoid “bringing down the mood” in social interactions. In Philosophical Terms: Traditional philosophy, particularly from the Stoics onward, has often focused on how to overcome or control emotions like ‘Grief’ through reason, rather than exploring its inherent value or meaning. The goal was often ataraxia (a state of freedom from emotional disturbance) which positions Grief as something to be managed, rather than discussed openly. Solomon (2007) states that the avoidance of Grief stems from a human disposition to: Shield ourselves and others from intense pain and the profound existential challenges that Grief presents. On reflection, normative definitions explain Loss as the event of losing something or someone. However, death remains a curious mystery here a sense of loss and bewilderment is out of our control known as the ‘process’ or ‘stages’ of Grief, which I will strongly argue against. For me, Grief is nether inherently rational or irrational, as it a natural emotional, mental, and physical response to the loss of a loved one. However, everyone’s experience of Grief is different, both culturally and individually. When endeavouring to “draw out meaning” from Grief. Perhaps it is very subjective in the early stages, and more objective in the later stages, which may generate a new understanding of Grief as a philosophical concept. In this talk, I will be drawing on the work of C.S. Lewis (1963), Robert C. Solomon (2007) and Michael Cholbi (2022), in order to assess if philosophy can actually inform our understanding and meaning of Grief. **Ursula Mary Blythe** is a public philosopher, essayist, researcher, and someone who has experienced profound loss and grief in recent years. This event is sponsored by the Royal institute of Philosophy. Lecture and discussion! See you there? For the full programme of events pls see [pfalondon.org](http://pfalondon.org)

Our next English Conversation Café will be on **Monday 2nd February 2026 at** **7:30pm**! Topic for the evening: To be confirmed You will have an opportunity to practice your English and meet new people, through conversation topics and games. It's open to all levels of English! The venue is **downstairs** in Costa Coffee, 3 Southwark St, London SE1 1RQ which is a 1 minute walk from London Bridge Station. This is a **free** event, you will not be expected to pay for anything. You will also be able to have a free drink and cake. The café is run by a group of volunteers from [The Globe Church](https://www.globe.church). Please sign up if you would like to attend. If you have any questions please ask us using Meetup. Numbers are limited so please only sign up if you are going to come and change your response if you can no longer come. Look forward to seeing you soon 😊

Join us for some fun, competitive, but friendly games at our 4-court sports hall. We use Yonex Mavis 600 Nylon shuttles during the 2-hour session. **PAYMENT** * **Session Fee: £9** * We are cashless, kindly pay the session fee **by midnight** on the night before the session. You are welcome to pay early! You can even pay when you book! See our About page for the full process. * If no payment is received, you will be removed and may even be liable for a late cancellation fee if your spot is not taken. * Please use **“your meetup name + date of event”** as payment reference * **Account name:** Thomas Lam * **Sort code:** 04-00-03 * **Account number:** 7478 8608 **LATE CANCELLATION OR NO-SHOW** * **All** **no-shows or late cancellations** (24 hrs or less) will be charged if your spot is not taken by someone else - you will have a title next to your name with the amount and date owed. * Members with 2 no shows/late cancellations will be removed from the group unless outstanding payment is received * **The late cancellation policy** is set up to discourage last-minute cancellations and therefore applies with or without the presence of a waitlist * **Note:** If you are on the Waitlist and a spot becomes available, you will automatically be bumped onto the On list provided the event has not yet started. It is your responsibility to **remove yourself from the waitlist** if you can no longer make it to avoid being charged a no-show if someone cancels late. **PLAYING** * Please wait to be marked off before entering the hall. * Sessions are to finish promptly on the hour by school requests. * If you finish a match with 5 minutes to go, please start packing up instead of starting a new game. **RACKET HIRE** * Please note that we won't be hiring out rackets, so kindly bring your own racket. **PARKING** * There is parking available, but it is now paid parking. Parking is opposite the entrance. Please check the signs for parking payment instructions. **TRACK & TRACE** * We will collect your phone number on-site. Your phone number will also be used in case of fire to contact you if you have not made it to the fire evacuation areas. You can see maps at the venue. We are excited to see you guys on the court! Team LSBC

**The Talbot Room at the George Inn** The George provides the room free of charge (they are awesome), and we encourage you to purchase drinks (and food – the burgers are great!). As it’s a pub and not a picnic area, please don’t consume your own food and drink there. We usually meet in the Talbot room which is on the top floor on the left hand side of the pub as viewed from the courtyard. If lost please send a message here shortly before the meeting starts. **We are sorry to say that there is no step-free access to the Talbot room, and it is at the end of three flights of stairs.** **Format** We start at 7pm and run until 9pm. We hear approximately six readings of 10 minutes (\~2000 words), then discuss the piece for 10 minutes. Email your work to: london60transmitter@emailitin.com as an attachment (It must be an attachment). A link for access to googledocs will be given at the start of each session to enable people to read along, which in turn enables more considered feedback. Work submitted will be automatically deleted after 10 days. We decide on readers/pieces at the beginning of each session. **Safe and respectful space** The group is run by volunteers, and we don’t have the capacity to read submitted work in advance. If there is anything in your work that might distress or disturb some readers, for example concerning any kind of abuse, please give a trigger warning before you read. Be specific and concise. If it becomes apparent during a reading that a piece is inappropriate, the moderator will stop the reading. In discussing others’ work, please be mindful of how you express yourself and do not use discriminatory language, even if such language features in the piece.

## 🌍 **London Travel Now — London Chapter** Welcome to the London Chapter of **London Travel Now** 👋 This is a relaxed, community-powered travel meetup for people who enjoy exploring, planning trips, sharing tips, and meeting fellow travelers. London Travel Now is a multi-city travel community. Alongside in-person meetups, we also have our own community platform at: 👉 **[londontravelnow.com](londontravelnow.com)** where members can connect, plan trips together, and stay in touch between meetups. *** ## ✈️ Travel for Free\* (yes, really) We often get asked how this works, so here’s the simple version: *Trip organizers travel free on the trips they create and run.*\* If you: * plan the trip * handle the bookings * and bring the group together your spot on the trip is covered. \* *Free applies to the trip organizer once the trip reaches minimum participants and is confirmed. Contributors pay their own share.* You don’t need to be a travel agent — just organized, reliable, and excited about the trip. *** ## ☕ Where we meet We keep things simple and accessible — easy, central cafés, pubs, or casual venues around London. There’s no formal agenda and no presentations. Just show up, grab a drink, and chat. (Exact venue details will always be listed on the event page.) *** ## 🧭 How this meetup works (important) This chapter is part of a **community-led network**. * Meetups are community-powered and self-organized * The main London Travel Now organizer may not attend every event * Attendees are responsible for their own food, drinks, and arrangements * There may or may not be a designated local host at each meetup Think of this as a **casual, drop-in social meetup**, not a guided or hosted event. If you’re comfortable introducing yourself, joining conversations, and helping things run smoothly, you’ll fit right in. *** ## 💬 WhatsApp group (recommended) We also have a shared **London Travel Now WhatsApp community**, which includes spaces for different cities. 👉 Join here: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/GjmFuzbk0baFavZRN0JGTz](https://chat.whatsapp.com/GjmFuzbk0baFavZRN0JGTz) A London space is available inside the group so members can: * Coordinate meetups * Ask questions * Share travel ideas and plans * Stay connected between events Participation is optional, but it’s the easiest way to stay in the loop. *** ## 🗓️ What to expect * Friendly, informal travel conversations * Trip ideas, tips, and shared experiences * Meet people you may want to travel with in the future * A low-pressure, welcoming environment This is a **community meetup** — not a tour, class, or sales event. *** ## 🙌 We’re looking for Chapter Organizers As London Travel Now grows, we’re looking for local **Chapter Organizers** — including here in London. Chapter Organizers help: * Host or co-host meetups (weekly or monthly) * Choose simple, accessible venues * Welcome attendees and help spark conversation * Create and organize trips for the community *Trip organizers travel free on the trips they run.*\* No prior experience required — just reliability and a friendly attitude. 👉 Interested in becoming a Chapter Organizer? Apply or learn more here: **[www.londontravelnow.com/apply](londontravelnow.com/apply)** *** ## ✨ Come along New faces are always welcome. Bring curiosity, a travel story, or just yourself. This community works best when members help make it welcoming — we hope you’ll be part of it.

Hola, hola: Empezamos el año 2026 con la obra maestra de Eduardo Galeano, *Las venas abiertas de América Latina* (379 páginas). Vamos a dedicar dos días a esta lectura y, para esta sesión, trataremos la primera parte: LA POBREZA DEL HOMBRE COMO RESULTADO DE LA RIQUEZA DE LA TIERRA. El libro consta de varios subcapítulos y la propuesta será que elijáis tres de ellos y presentéis un resumen al grupo. Por otra parte, sería estupendo si formuláis algunas preguntas para estimular la conversación o preguntas de tipo Trivial para organizar una pequeña competición por equipos. No obstante, esta propuesta no es obligatoria. ¡Qué disfrutéis de América Latina! ¿Te interesa la lectura en inglés, francés o de la literatura persa?: [-](http://-www.meetup.com/gaia-libros)[www.meetup.com/gaia-books](www.meetup.com/gaia-books) [-www.meetup.com/gaia-livres](http://-www.meetup.com/gaia-livres) -[www.meetup.com/persian-culture](www.meetup.com/persian-culture) -Instagram: @persian_culture_

More info here: [https://tarayogacentre.co.uk/tantra/](https://tarayogacentre.co.uk/tantra/ "https://tarayogacentre.co.uk/tantra/") Tantra is the path of realising the **Truth through the heart**, which is consciously opened to everyone and everything. It is an invitation to awaken now and to **live life in full awareness**, to enjoy its amazing intensity and **experience ecstatic happiness and freedom** in the midst of daily life. It is a path suited to those who wish to **live a full and meaningful life, to realise their highest potential**, and to **celebrate the ‘here and now’**. Tantra **embraces all aspects** of life consciously and courageously, with the tools and wisdom to realise that life, whether ‘pleasant’ or ‘unpleasant’, is our greatest teacher and ally.

Hola, hola: Empezamos el año 2026 con la obra maestra de Eduardo Galeano, *Las venas abiertas de América Latina* (379 páginas). Vamos a dedicar dos días a esta lectura y, para esta sesión, trataremos la segunda parte: EL DESARROLLO ES UN VIAJE CON MÁS NÁUFRAGOS QUE NAVEGANTES. El libro consta de varios subcapítulos y la propuesta será que elijáis tres de ellos y presentéis un resumen al grupo. Por otra parte, sería estupendo si formuláis algunas preguntas para estimular la conversación o preguntas de tipo Trivial para organizar una pequeña competición por equipos. No obstante, esta propuesta no es obligatoria. ¡Qué disfrutéis de América Latina! ¿Te interesa la lectura en inglés, francés o de la literatura persa?: [-](http://-www.meetup.com/gaia-libros)[www.meetup.com/gaia-books](www.meetup.com/gaia-books) [-www.meetup.com/gaia-livres](http://-www.meetup.com/gaia-livres) -[www.meetup.com/persian-culture](www.meetup.com/persian-culture) -Instagram: @persian_culture_

**\*Please note we had to increase the session fees to £15 due to increase in court hire and shuttles.** Thursday Evening Badminton Date: 05 February 2026 Time: 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm Courts: 3 courts available Shuttles: Feather (quality feathers) Session Fee: £15 per person. TWO & HALF HOURS OF BADMINTON - £15, Venue: Somers Town Community Sports Centre 134 Chalton Street, London NW1 1RX Free Street Parking Available. This session is for those that are intermediate and above (strictly no beginners/ improvers/ Low Intermediates). We want to ensure the quality of play while controlling the standard of the club, this means that players who are not quite up to the standard may be asked politely to leave. PLEASE PAY BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE SESSION EITHER VIA BANK TRANSFER/ PAYPAL. IMPORTANT: OUR TERMS! Coronavirus: Stay Safe, Play Safe https://www.meetup.com/Central-London-Badminton-Club/boards/thread/52704882 Badminton Tactics: https://www.meetup.com/Central-London-Badminton-Club/messages/boards/thread/52043613 \*PLEASE NOTE: LATE CANCELLATIONS (AFTER 12 MIDDAY ON THURSDAY) OR NO-SHOWS WILL INCUR A PENALTY CHARGE OF £15. YOU WILL NEED TO PAY THE PENALTY CHARGE BEFORE BEING ALLOWED TO RSVP AT THE NEXT AVAILABLE SESSION. • You are responsible for your own well-being and we and the sports facility representatives will not be responsible for any injury, stolen or damaged property or any other occurrences during our sessions. • Organisers: Mohammed (mr. nice guy), Vin (the merciless), Michael (Big Boss) and Moynul (the dark side of badminton)

Arabic Through Literature Classical & Standard Arabic (1-Hour Online Session) Primary Text: One Thousand and One Nights (and related classical prose) Level: Intermediate and above Delivery: Online (live) ⸻ Lesson Duration 1 hour per session ⸻ Course Objectives • Develop fluency in reading Classical Arabic and high-level Modern Standard Arabic • Understand literary style, narrative techniques, and rhetorical devices • Build confidence in accurate and elegant translation • Strengthen grammatical awareness through authentic literary texts ⸻ Lesson Structure (60 minutes) 1️⃣ Context & Vocabulary (10 minutes) • Brief historical, cultural, or literary background of the selected text • Introduction of key vocabulary, including: • Classical and archaic terms • Idiomatic and stylistic expressions • Notes on register, tone, and usage ⸻ 2️⃣ Guided Reading & Language Focus (20 minutes) • Reading aloud (teacher-led, followed by student participation) • Detailed explanation of: • Verb forms and syntactic structures • Sentence rhythm, cohesion, and flow • Narrative connectors and discourse markers • Focus on pronunciation, pausing, and intonation ⸻ 3️⃣ Literary Analysis (15 minutes) • Discussion of: • Central themes and moral dimensions • Character roles, functions, and symbolism • Narrative voice and storytelling techniques • Connections to broader Arabic literary traditions ⸻ 4️⃣ Translation Workshop (15 minutes) • Collective translation of a selected passage • Comparison between: • Literal vs literary translation • Formal vs idiomatic English renderings • Discussion of alternative translations and stylistic choices ⸻ Language Focus • Classical Arabic and advanced Modern Standard Arabic • Emphasis on precision, elegance, and stylistic awareness ⸻ Homework (Light & Focused) • Short reading passage with selected vocabulary • Optional written translation or brief stylistic commentary Note : tuition frees : £15 per hour

**\*Please note we had to increase the session fees to £14 due to increase in court hire and shuttles.** Sunday Morning Badminton Date: 08 February 2026 Time: 10 am to 12 Noon Courts: 4 courts available Shuttles: Feather (quality feathers) Session Fee: £14 per person. TWO HOURS OF BADMINTON - £14, Venue: Somers Town Community Sports Centre 134 Chalton Street, London NW1 1RX Free Street Parking Available. This session is for those that are intermediate and above (strictly no beginners/ improvers/ Low Intermediates). We want to ensure the quality of play while controlling the standard of the club, this means that players who are not quite up to the standard may be asked politely to leave. PLEASE PAY BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE SESSION EITHER VIA BANK TRANSFER/ PAYPAL. IMPORTANT: OUR TERMS! Coronavirus: Stay Safe, Play Safe https://www.meetup.com/Central-London-Badminton-Club/boards/thread/52704882 Badminton Tactics: https://www.meetup.com/Central-London-Badminton-Club/messages/boards/thread/52043613 \*PLEASE NOTE: LATE CANCELLATIONS (AFTER 8PM ON SATURDAY) OR NO-SHOWS WILL INCUR A PENALTY CHARGE OF £14. YOU WILL NEED TO PAY THE PENALTY CHARGE BEFORE BEING ALLOWED TO RSVP AT THE NEXT AVAILABLE SESSION. • You are responsible for your own well-being and we and the sports facility representatives will not be responsible for any injury, stolen or damaged property or any other occurrences during our sessions. • Organisers: Mohammed (mr. nice guy), Vin (the merciless) and Moynul (the dark side of badminton)

**First Gathering: Love as Transformation** Reading: **The Forty Rules of Love** by **Elif Shafak** We begin Men, Meaning, and Madness with a novel that treats love not as sentiment, but as a force that disrupts, humbles, and reshapes the self. The Forty Rules of Love explores love as discipline, surrender, and moral risk. It asks what happens when certainty breaks, when the ego is wounded, and when meaning is found not through control, but through transformation. This gathering is for men interested in serious literature and honest inquiry into how love shapes character, responsibility, and the inner life. Discussion will be guided by questions rather than summaries. The aim is depth, not debate. Come having read the book or engaged with it seriously.

This is an in-person meeting. At this meeting you will get answers to depression and anxiety. Find out the source of them and how to get rid of them. Did you know that unwanted emotions like anxiety, depression, unhappiness, loneliness, hopelessness, anger, fear, or feelings of irritation don’t just fall on you for no reason. They are not random occurrences that simply happen to people's minds. They are definitely not due to a chemical imbalance in your brain from some nebulous chemical reaction "by chance". Your negative emotions are the symptoms of the painful experiences that you have which are not healed, and which are still affecting you. The effects of these painful experiences are exacerbated by the pressures or difficulties of the other problems in your life. Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. This group is created by the Hubbard Dianetics Foundation of Central Ohio and Church of Scientology of Central Ohio.

Inspired by the successful events like "Pot Luck in the Park" and "Saturday Mornings @ East Market," this meetup promises a fun and engaging atmosphere where like-minded individuals can connect over a shared love for languages and cultures. Whether you're a language learner, ESL student, or simply passionate about exploring new cultures, this event is perfect for anyone looking to immerse themselves in a diverse and welcoming community. Come join us for an enlightening afternoon of language, culture, food, of course, and connections! (Everyone will individually choose from the buffet and pay for their own meal, by weight.)

Join us for a casual chat over coffee & tea at Grandview Grind! Come out and meet some new people, enjoy your favorite drink, and make some new friends!

Let’s meet and discuss whatever comes to mind about one of Tennesse Williams’ most famous plays.

This is a free, in person meeting. Burdened by a stressful relationship? Unhealthy relationships can trigger feelings of anger, despair or self-doubt. They can create dwindling spirals of fights and seeking to make-up, or trying to “pin the blame” on someone or something. If you don’t find the RIGHT reasons, or select the correct sources of the problem, the problem can just get worse and worse. Whether in love or personal ties, with friends or at work, our life really IS affected by the quality of our relationships. Good ones can promote pleasure and survival while less optimum ones can lead to annoyance, anger, self-doubt, stress, or even affect our health and ability to survive well. Whether you are suffering from a divorce, or a painful break-up, don’t know who to trust (or who to CHOOSE) as a partner, friend, boss or employee - the anxiety of relationship troubles can really make a mess of things. Maybe you’ve suffered a betrayal, or are dealing with hostility or criticalness or invalidation. Dwindling relationships can involve destructive behavior, where we hurt those we love, or start succumbing to self-destructive thoughts, attitudes or behaviors that spiral out of control and affect much more than our immediate relationship. Past losses in love or life can affect how we act or react to new people and situations and hold us back from even starting to create new, possibly great relationships! How can one get back onto a saner course of action? Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life: human relationships! Break free from self imposed limitations Here we will discuss: • How to “erase” the trauma of past hurts and betrayals so that one isn’t always repeating past mistakes. • Why and how do the negative emotions of others affect you? • Why is my partner withdrawing and what can I do about it? • Why do we sometimes feel compelled to hurt the ones we love? • Fights & arguments - what's really behind them? • What underlies “corrosive criticism” or the need to invalidate self or others? • How one can stably change one’s outlook on life so they can affect positive change? • Where do compulsive destructive behaviors come from and what can be done about them? • How to form closer bonds & keep growing the relationships with the people you care about? • How to enhance one’s own ability to survive and create positive healthy relationships whether in love, family & friendships or in work, business or one’s career? Relationships can be hard and life itself IS challenging. Why not arm yourself with the knowledge and breakthroughs that have been made about the mind, mental reactions & interpersonal relationships, so that one has better awareness and control over themselves and life in general. Learn where painful experiences are “stored” and how they can unknowingly affect us. You will also find out how one can “erase” those past painful experiences so that one is free to move forward without being tripped up by the past. Learn too, about what can lead some people to become “toxic” personalities and how to identify those traits in others so you won’t be tripped up trusting the wrong person. Our free Meet-ups occur in a safe environment where one can learn, without fear of judgment or criticism, and without the recommendation of harmful mental techniques or therapies, just how YOU can get yourself onto a happier & more successful path: in love & in life. We look forward to having you join us! This class is sponsored by the Dianetics & Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

**Our February novel is: Julia by Sandra Newman** **This month is a classic, dystopian, fiction, literary fiction, women’s fiction, and science fiction novel. The book is 394 pages in print and 14 hours and 20 minutes on audiobook.** **An imaginative, feminist, and brilliantly relevant-to-today retelling of Orwell’s 1984, from the point of view of Winston Smith’s lover, Julia, by critically acclaimed novelist Sandra Newman.** Julia Worthing is a mechanic, working in the Fiction Department at the Ministry of Truth. It’s 1984, and Britain (now called Airstrip One) has long been absorbed into the larger trans-Atlantic nation of Oceania. Oceania has been at war for as long as anyone can remember, and is ruled by an ultra-totalitarian Party, whose leader is a quasi-mythical figure called Big Brother. In short, everything about this world is as it is in Orwell’s 1984. All her life, Julia has known only Oceania, and, until she meets Winston Smith, she has never imagined anything else. She is an ideal citizen: cheerfully cynical, always ready with a bribe, piously repeating every political slogan while believing in nothing. She routinely breaks the rules, but also collaborates with the regime when necessary. Everyone likes Julia. Then one day she finds herself walking toward Winston Smith in a corridor and impulsively slips him a note, setting in motion the devastating, unforgettable events of the classic story. Julia takes us on a surprising journey through Orwell’s now-iconic dystopia, with twists that reveal unexpected sides not only to Julia, but to other familiar figures in the 1984 universe. This unique perspective lays bare our own world in haunting and provocative ways, just as the original did almost seventy-five years ago.