Book lovers converge at Sharjah to listen to constellation of writers

Words of wisdom were pouring in at the 44th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) during the weekend. Audiences had memorable time interacting with many beautiful minds on Friday and Saturday. The Intellectual Hall of SIBF was flooded with book lovers on Friday evening. Huge number of audiences had gathered to listen their favourite author Dr. Julie Smith. Dr Julie is a clinical psychologist and international bestselling author. Her first book "Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?" has sold over two million copies across the world and has been translated into 45 languages. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller, "Open When..." She has over 10 million followers across social media platforms where she shares insights from therapy that we can all use in our everyday life. She lives in England.

- Raghib Hassan, Staff Reporter

Such was the charm of Dr. Julie that her fans carrying books with them had arrived at the venue much before the actual time. As expected Dr. Julie captivated her fans with her inspiring talks.

Reflecting on her journey from psychologist to global educator, Dr. Julie spoke of her recovery from early-stage breast cancer last year, which reshaped her sense of focus. "You can't control what happens, but you can choose where to focus. Once I began taking small actions and seeking advice, I felt a renewed sense of control and clarity."

On finding balance, Dr. Julie admitted: "I'm more careful now about what I say yes or no to. I think about my family and values first. My way of replenishing is simple - spending time on farms, surrounded by greenery and animals." She said, "We pay attention to our physical health but mental health too is equally important, but we don't pay much attention to it. We should always try to find a balance between physical and mental health." She said, "We are living in a hustle culture and feel burnt out very often but we need to prioritise our life."