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Having reconnected with her gut instinct and turned up the volume on her inner voice, Caro Giles calls time on her dalliance with digital dating...

- Caro Giles

"How many times have you ignored your gut feeling and got away with it? I think it's fair to say that some of the worst decisions I have ever made were done as acts of defiance against the swirling sensations in my stomach. I have spent the past few years trying to reconnect with my instincts and heal from a prolonged period of trauma. When I lost myself, I didn't only lose sight of who I am, I also became disconnected from my body, forgetting to properly breathe and confused by what the feelings inside me were trying to tell me. The relationship between my mind and my body had become as fractured as my marriage, and I have worked hard to reconnect the two.

Several things have contributed to this process, including long runs on the beach - wailing into the waves - and conversations with wonderful friends. I have also had many appointments with a therapist, who patiently accommodates my tricky timetable. I spend a lot of time inside my own head, and it has been a revelation to hear my thoughts mirrored back to me, often shocking when I notice the lack of regard and care I show myself after years of internalising negative narratives.