A Human Love Story: Journeys to the Heart

by Matt Hopwood, Clare Balding (Introduction)

Overview

Matt Hopwood set off with just a small bag and a walking stick, no possessions and an open mind to walk many hundreds of miles the length and breadth of the country. He relied entirely on the generosity of strangers for shelter and asked people to tell him their transforming stories. They did. All of these deeply enthralling, profoundly honest stories weave a web of tenderness, connection, compassion and community.

For some people their love story will span decades and tell a tale of romantic love evolving through the passing years. Others’ stories express fleeting moments of connection, care, concern. Most love stories are marked by sadness and loss. Some stories are concerned with maternal and paternal love, others with a love of place, a visceral connection with spirit through landscape. Love stories also connect deeply with our identities, in how we belong and how we are welcomed in society. Each story is different. Each beautiful. Each valuable.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781780275000
Publisher:	Birlinn, Limited
Publication date:	04/08/2018
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 7.70(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Matt Hopwood is a storyteller and a facilitator of sharing space. He is a graduate in Applied Anthropology from Goldsmith’s University, a former teacher and worked alongside community projects in Kenya, Palestine and Israel. He admits to having struggled to feel or express any emotions at all until he reached his 30s and, having decided to tackle this, he has made it his life’s mission to build, grow and enhance connections between people through their simple and vulnerable, precious stories of love.

Matt Hopwood Is A Storyteller And A Facilitator Of Sharing Space. He Is A Graduate In Applied Anthropology From Goldsmith’s University, A Former Teacher And Worked Alongside Community Projects In Kenya, Palestine And Israel. He Admits To Having Struggled To Feel Or Express Any Emotions At All Until He Reached His 30s And, Having Decided To Tackle This, He Has Made It His Life’s Mission To Build, Grow And Enhance Connections Between People Through Their Simple And Vulnerable, Precious Stories Of Love.

Table of Contents

Foreword Clare Balding 11

The Journey - Five Hundred Miles on Foot through Scotland 13

Listening 17

1 It Wasn't a Fleeting Thing 23

2 How I Met Harry 28

3 Shrapnel and Flowers 32

4 Love Is Just Being 36

5 We Don't Like to Say, 'I Lave You' 42

6 You've Been Dumped! 46

7 It's the First Forever Thing 54

8 She Was Checking Out My Ass 58

9 I Never Said, 'I Love You' 66

10 We're Just Humans on This Rock 72

11 'I Love You, But I'm Scared' 76

12 After a Wee While, We Started To Notice Each Other 80

13 I'm Not the Most Eloquent 86

14 Its Starting To Come Together 90

15 What's the Problem? 94

16 Nothing Short of Love 98

17 There's More Amour in It 102

18 Who Are You Waiting For? 108

19 Let's Keep It Brief 114

20 Everything's Fine 116

21 Dashing Good Looks 120

22 And the Music Went, and the Music Went, and the Music Went! 124

23 I Love the Bones of Them 128

24 He Was Dancing to Right Said Fred 132

25 A Cake on the Doorstep 136

26 That's the Deal 140

27 I'm Worth Loving 146

28 Are We Just Worm Food? 150

29 To Be Part of Something 156

30 Don't I Know You from Somewhere? 160

31 We're Definitely Coming Home 166

32 Being of Service 172

33 My Place To Be 176

34 I Didn't Believe in Love 178

Epilogue 182

Footnote 186

Blessing 187

Acknowledgements 190

Share Your Story 192