Articles written by Stephen Bate

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About me - Stephen Bate

I'm a 38 year old Accountant living in Staffordshire in the UK.

I'm soon to be married, with 4 boys under the age of 12, so our house is always busy. And noisy!

I love sports of all kinds, but I'm much more of an armchair fan these days, which is great given

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Relationships & Family > Love & Lust Soul mates: Do they really exist?: 2 of 170
Oh yes! It is not just a romantic notion of mine that everyone has a "soul mate" or someone that they can link with on every level. It is based on logic, emotion and practical experience.It is logical to assume that there is someone, somewhere, with whom you fundamentally agree with on all of the main issues in life. We all p... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Personal Morals & Values Honesty is the best policy: 2 of 133
If you research a definition for "Honesty" then you will see a series of comments stating that it is a human quality that values integrity and truth during communication with other people.With this as a guide, how can it possibly be argued that honesty is not the best policy? If you value your word, your standing and your own... More..
Other What is the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you?: 9 of 352
It is often said to be therapeutic to express yourself, and to talk openly about, these types of moment. Unfortunately, my "moment" happened at school when I was 12 years old, so EVERYONE I was due to spend the next 6 years of my life with witnessed it, so I had no need to talk about it, as they all saw it happen!Strap yourse... More..
Politics, News & Issues > War in Iraq Should the US continue to participate in the War in Iraq?: 1 of 39
I believe that the US has a duty to continue to participate in the War and needs to exhibit a sense of conscience in doing so. I believe this for two main reasons, one fairly flippant but the other very serious and clear.In a very real sense, the current turmoil and secular rivalry in Iraq is the result of inconsistent, inacc... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Personal Morals & Values Why we make mistakes: 7 of 236
Every one of us is human, and none of us are robots with programmed responses. As such we go through each day using our complex brains to make thousands of decisions and take thousands of actions. As a result, the chances are that a number of these decisions and actions will result in errors and mistakes. They will not all tu... More..
Relationships & Family > Grief & Loss What to do when someone dies and there was no time for good-byes: 5 of 127
Grieving is always a very personal process, but the magnitude of the sense of loss is always greater when the death is a sudden or unexpected one. The ability to say goodbye to a friend or loved one is an important part in the "closure" process and if this does not happen it can lead to a sense of abandonment and desolation.T... More..
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: How having a child touched my life: 1 of 22
I shall always consider myself very fortunate. Not only was I blessed with parenthood 10 years ago, but I became the father of 2 children, rather than "a child", when my twin boys were born. Then, when it seemed that I would have no more children, I met my new partner and gained 2 stepsons.My children are my pride and joy, an... More..
Other Let's outlaw the weather: 1 of 21
I am English and, if the stereotype is to be believed, I have a fixation with the weather, and talking about it.The truth is that I DO fit the stereotype, as do many of my countrymen. We feel extremely embarrassed with uncomfortable silences or pregnant pauses, and also due to our concerns over wanting to seem interesting in ... More..
Other Why did Mary have a little lamb?: 3 of 62
It is a well known, and often quoted, nursery rhyme, probably depicting the innocence of a Swiss shepherdess tenderly looking after her flock in the foothills of the Alps. It now seems, though, that the rhyme may have a much deeper and darker meaning which will, hopefully, be unraveled with this though provoking and profound ... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Parenting (Other) Should fathers be able to opt out of parenthood?: 3 of 52
One of the key characteristics that define me, and my life, is that I am a family man. Very soon after finding out that I was going to be a father I felt a strong sense of commitment to my children (we were having twins) and, once they were born, I felt a strong sense of love, caring and the desire to nurture and guide them a... More..