Index
Welcome!
Thank you for visiting Anatomy of a Decision, I’m Louise, a writer, former surgeon and a non-executive director of Lemon Jelly Press CIC, an independent publisher with a mission to amplify unheard voices and bring humanity to the page.
My personal mission is to create reflective, courageous spaces - through writing, gatherings, and strategic support - that help thoughtful people make clear and conscious decisions, build lives from love and joy, and promote systems that prioritise people.
Anatomy of a Decision is the home of my writing and the first arm of that triad of intention. I’m so happy that you’re here!
My work here is organised by topic. Essays are listed first, then poetry. Many of my more recent pieces include audio and/or video for those who prefer to listen over reading. You’re welcome to explore, dip in and out, and if you find something you enjoy I’d be super grateful if you’d share it.
All subscribers have access to the full archive. At this point in time I’ve chosen to keep my writing free, because I want to maximise the chances of these words being read by the people who need to read them. That said, I also believe that writers should be paid for their work. The archetype of the starving artist is a harmful tool of the capitalist patriarchy we live in, and I don’t believe that any of us should have any time for it.
If you feel able to support my work by choosing a paid subscription, your generosity allows me to dedicate more time to this work and keeps my writing freely accessible for all, and for that I am incredibly grateful. Readers with a paid subscription are welcome to apply the entire cost of their subscription here at Anatomy of a Decision towards any of my upcoming membership spaces - including LiveStack, workshops or 1:1 sessions.
I love to hear from readers so please do leave comments, or message/email me, I do try to respond to them all, though it may take a while if notifications are particularly busy. Feel free to nudge if you haven’t heard from me, though!
If you’re looking for my live events directory or conference news, you’ll find that over on LiveStack
If you want to know more about me and about Anatomy of a Decision, the about page has more than you ever thought you wanted to know!
Grab a cuppa and a comfortable chair, and dig in!
On values and living well
A varied series of essays exploring realisations around themes relating to values-driven decision making and living in the present moment.
The Ten Step Career Pivot series
Nine months after leaving my surgical career, I figured out what I want to do when I grow up. This is how.
Six figures to zero series
Surrounded by ads proclaiming to offer the magic ticket to earning six/seven figures by working five minutes per month, I shared how I went from a six figure salary to zero, explored my changing attitude to money and realised that life is for living.
Letters to my patient series
The beginning of my story as a writer came with the ending of my career as a surgeon. These deeply personal letters explain what brought me here.
Do no harm, take no shit
The feminist essays & poems
![Poem on a Post-It [9]: Tools](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8ah-!,w_140,h_140,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6471a05-7cac-44d2-9ae2-61c38c0bc296_1080x1080.png)
Poetry: spoken word
![Poem on a Post-It [6]: Winter's Reign Ends](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!L-vx!,w_140,h_140,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F149a15f3-65b9-4e26-8447-e38760c2472f_1080x1080.png)
![Poem on a Post-It [11]: Recipe for a happy life](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!V2lu!,w_140,h_140,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc1d4b17e-e81f-456c-a3a1-a7516c266420_1080x1080.png)
![Poem on a Post-It [10]: The Reader](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FZJ8!,w_140,h_140,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F86210a21-c58b-4dfa-b42e-0a84bc626b7c_1080x1080.png)
![Poem on a Post-It [8]: After](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!fBUI!,w_140,h_140,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3af18d64-e2a4-48e4-bb90-f07de655c1bc_1080x1080.png)
![Poem on a Post-It [7]: Distant](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XYCL!,w_140,h_140,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb4270a08-6417-4cfc-976b-cf83c481648b_1080x1080.png)
![Poem on a Post-It [5]: Starlings of Sherwood Forest](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lzQj!,w_140,h_140,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff3cbf12c-ae8f-4539-832a-90b2f96f61de_1080x1080.png)
![Poem on a Post-It [4]: Canalside Haiku](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!NrOA!,w_140,h_140,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0081ad4b-0a7a-47e7-a53f-f4a5516d1b17_1080x1080.png)
![Poem on a Post-It [3]: Do Better](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Qt7f!,w_140,h_140,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Febb46eb8-a7a6-4d68-b931-1a80e084e504_1080x1080.png)
![Poem on a Post-It [2]: Scavenger](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Otfg!,w_140,h_140,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdc24e777-b9f3-4361-afd6-3817dc0f9f47_1080x1080.png)
![Poem on a Post-it [1]: Today, I am yellow](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!mrqa!,w_140,h_140,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9087cc11-3890-4ba4-b405-bc9d37a333c5_1080x1080.png)
