: About Me

ELAINE SIHERA is the most noted and quoted British woman on the Internet, being the world authority on emotional health. Nicknamed Ms CYPRAH (or Cyber-Oprah by admirers), Elaine is the first Black graduate of the UK's pioneering Open University and a postgraduate of Cambridge University.

A qualified senior high school teacher and former education manager, magazine editor and diversity consultant, she is the prolific author of six books and nearly 1100 articles on emotional health, self-empowerment, career advancement and people management.

An Internet agony aunt, freelance broadcaster and columnist, Elaine is also the Change Expert for www.fiftyforward.co.uk/change.php, being a very keen advocate of changing perceptions on ageing and boosting people's feelings about themselves.

Elaine enjoys her work very much by living to purpose and in line with her own advice. She believes a smile, and laughter, are the best medicines and does not take herself too seriously too often. She is divorced with two kidults, Andre and Nicole.

Her current motto is: Over-Sixty, Sexy, Savvy and Soaring!

Her main advice is: "Always Be Yourself! Those who like you will embrace you and nourish you, while those who don't will pass you by and save you the stress!"

My passion is ...

writing, empowering and growing older disgracefully!

I know too much about ...

ageing in the best way possible, enjoying life and loving passionately

My parents always told me ...

Courtesy costs nothing. Give generously! and: Show me your company and I'll tell you who you are!

My childhood ambition ...

to be a doctor or nurse (I became a nurse, didn't like it because of the racism and left). Became a teacher instead!

My favorite memory ...

My last conversation, sitting on the bottom step of the stairs, with my daughter before she left home for good. My son telling me, with a huge grin, that the first woman he wanted to go into his new posh car was me! Awesome.

Why I write ...

To empower others, to express the many thoughts I have, to give a voice to many people like myself and simply because I love it.

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

Reading 50 Psychology Classics by Tom Butler-Bowdon; Listening to Simply the Best by Tina Turner

My first job ...

Secretary to Jamaican singing great, Prince Buster, which introduced me to the cut throat and exploitative music scene but helped me to meet other greats like Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff.

My best moment ...

Giving awards to high achievers in the UK at my annual Windrush Achievement Awards ceremony. Enjoying solitude and my talent as another book is being created.

My inspiration ...

My Mother, Evelyn, Sir Earnest Shackleton, Boris Johnson, Barack Obama, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jack Welch, Carl R. Rogers, Thomas Edison, Oprah Winfrey, Nelson Mandela, Princess Diana, older achievers and women pioneers.

Relationships & Family > Male / Female Communication Styles Differences between men and women explored

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Why focusing on looks in women causes many men to get hurt! Most men with whom I get into any kind of conversation around dating and relationships appear keen to boast about one thing: that men are very 'visual' in looking for a partner. Looks matter a lot to them, they stress. They wouldn't date an ugly woman, no sirree! She has to be 'slim' and 'good looking'. Those on dating sites usually add how they have to see a picture of the woman first and, if none is there, they don't even reply to any approaches. Personally, I am sad at the number of times men have just looked at my pictures and...

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Writing:

• Creative Writing Bronze
• Teacher
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