Latest news with #peacekeeper
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
A Beckham peace deal? Elton John acts as mediator in Brooklyn's family feud as he shakes hands with his godson after 'saying his piece' on row while treating him and his wife Nicola Peltz to a swanky lunch in St Tropez
Footage has emerged that showed the moment Elton John sat down for lunch with godson Brooklyn Beckham and his wife Nicola Peltz, in a bid to calm the family's escalating feud. The legendary musician, who has been friends with David, 50, and Victoria Beckham, 51, for over 30 years, treated Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz, 30, to a swanky lunch at fancy La Guerite beach club in the South of France. New pictures show the couple wining and dining with Sir Elton and his husband David Furnish where the hitmaker reportedly took the opportunity to 'say his piece'. The Beckham family have been at the centre of a feud that has pitted Brooklyn and his wife Nicola against the rest of the family. According to The Sun, Sir Elton 'briefly' spoke about the family's feud in the hope Brooklyn would patch things up with his parents, and footage of the outing shared on social media showed the pair shaking hands. Speaking about Elton's attempts to play peacekeeper in the row, a source said; 'Elton is the showbiz equivalent of Switzerland. He's utterly neutral in this row.' 'Elton of old may have relished in taking sides - in this case his young godson, Brooklyn - but two years off his 80th birthday, he's a man who has seen and done it all. He just wants everyone to be happy. 'There is no side-taking as such; he simply adores his godson, and really has a laugh with Nicola who he thinks has a great sense of humour. He wants to look after them in his role as 'spiritual adviser' as a godfather, it's a role he takes seriously. 'Elton and David think the situation is terribly sad, and has gently suggested to all involved that life is short - to patch things up.' The source added Elton is 'adamant he doesn't want to stick his nose in' the feud, he just simply 'wants peace'. MailOnline has contacted the Beckhams and Elton's representatives for comment. Nicola couldn't wipe the smile off her face during the lunch as she sipped on Aperol Spritz at the fancy beach club. Sir Elton is also said to have generously picked up the entire bill, after dining on the restaurant's signature lobster linguine which comes in at an eye-watering £190. Nicola went onto pay tribute to Elton in a new Instagram post, as she stripped naked for a racy bath snap, while his song Cold Heart played over it. David affectionately calls the musician 'Uncle Elton' after becoming friends in his football heyday. Sir Elton was due to perform at the Beckhams wedding in 1999 before suffering a heart attack that prevented him from playing. He later sang at one of the children's christenings. Meanwhile Victoria once disclosed that it was Elton who inspired her to say goodbye to the Spice Girls, penning an emotional letter to her older self where she confessed that watching her friend perform made her realise that her true calling lay beyond singing. It comes after Nicola doubled down on the family feud as she declared Brooklyn 'her everything' on Instagram last week during their luxury St Tropez trip. Nicola took to her Instagram Stories with snaps of the pair embracing during their sun-soaked getaway on board her billionaire father's yacht in St Tropez. The couple only had eyes for each other as she wrapped her arms around his neck while he pulled her in close. She wore a bikini top and skimpy white shorts while her husband shielded his eyes behind shades and a baseball cap and cheekily squeezed her bottom. Nicola captioned the post: 'My everything @BrooklynBeckhamPeltz' with Brooklyn later resharing it with his followers. Last week, it was revealed that Brooklyn and Nicola's Instagram accounts no longer follow his younger brothers Cruz, 20, and Romeo, 22, in the latest family drama. Nicola doubled down amid her and husband Brooklyn's feud with his family as she declared him 'her everything' last week However, Brooklyn's friends told MailOnline on Friday that Cruz and Romeo have actually blocked them on the social media platform. This would make sense given that Brooklyn and Nicola are still following Victoria, 51 and David, 50. Cruz and Romeo were still following Brooklyn and Nicola earlier this month but appeared to take action after Brooklyn posted a birthday tribute to sister Harper, sharing a family photo without them in it – which Nicola reposted. There was much speculation whether Brooklyn would reach out to Harper on her 14th birthday on Thursday, but despite him doing so, it seems all is not well in the camp. Brooklyn's birthday tribute to Harper marked his first public interaction with his family since he paid tribute to his grandmother Sandra on June 26, despite remaining silent and shunning his father's 50th birthday earlier that same month. Sources close to the family have told MailOnline of their fears that Brooklyn and his wife Nicola have also distanced themselves from Harper after they failed to visit her when they flew into London in May to film an advert for French-Italian clothing brand Moncler just over a mile from the family home in Holland Park. David and Victoria had no idea whether Brooklyn, who Harper has idolised since she was a little girl, would message her privately or publicly on Instagram because they have no communication with him.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Complimenting your partner could actually be harmful, expert warns — two things you should never say
Compliments can certainly go a long way in making someone feel special and loved. While you might think everyone loves a little flattery, one expert warns that some compliments may have unintended negative impacts on romantic relationships. Psychologist Dr. Mark Travers explained in Psychology Today that sometimes what we say to thank our loved ones for their supportive behavior may be altering it. 'Compliments can be disarming. They make us feel chosen and understood in ways that other words rarely do,' the psychologist explained. 'But sometimes, the praise that feels the most flattering is also the praise that teaches us to edit ourselves.' Over time, words intended to flatter someone can actually nudge a person to perform, conform, or shrink themselves to stay liked and continue to receive praise. Consider the compliment: 'How are you always so calm?' If your partner grew up playing the peacekeeper in chaotic situations, this compliment might feel like overdue recognition. Yet, it can also come across as a reward for their silence. 'When emotional suppression is praised in adult relationships, it reinforces the message that your worth lies in being agreeable and low-maintenance,' Travers said. This specific type of praise given to your partner could cause them to feel that they must remain calm — even when they're not. They may feel encouraged to keep that mask on, even at the cost of their true feelings. Another example is telling your partner: 'You're the only person I can talk to.' This may sound like deep trust, but it could signal emotional dependency rather than intimacy. People actually experience better mental health when they have multiple people they can turn to to process their emotional needs, each filling different roles—venting, calming or cheering. 'This diversity in emotional support leads to greater well-being, because no single relationship is overloaded with the task of holding it all,' Travers explained to the outlet. While these two compliments should stay out of your relationship, there are a few key phrases Amy Morin, a psychotherapist and author of '13 Things Mentally Strong Couples Don't Do, advises people to implement into their romantic vocabulary. 'If you and your partner regularly use these phrases, it's a sign that you're already a mentally strong couple,' Morin told CNBC Make It. 'And if you don't yet, you can start implementing them and find that you'll grow stronger both individually and as a unit.' Saying to your romantic partner, 'I'm going to tell you something that may be upsetting to hear' is one of them. 'Acknowledging your mistakes and being honest about your needs can help you grow stronger together,' Morin said. Another is, 'I'm sorry for the part I've played in this.' 'When you take responsibility for your share, you increase the chances that your partner will accept responsibility for theirs, too,' Morin said. 'Then you can both put your energy into developing a solution, rather than getting stuck pointing fingers and arguing about who caused the problem.' Lastly, 'Let's find a solution' is another important sentence to say when your partner is struggling with something. 'While some problems are ultimately in your partner's hands, like an issue they're having with their boss, offering to work together shows that you're invested in helping them make the best decision for themselves,' Morin explained. Solve the daily Crossword
BreakingNews.ie
03-06-2025
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Taoiseach welcomes that mother of peacekeeper killed in Lebanon can sue UN
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has welcomed that the mother of an Irish peacekeeper killed in Lebanon has been given permission to sue the UN. Sean Rooney, 24, from Newtowncunningham in Co Donegal, was killed when a convoy of Irish troops serving with a UN peacekeeping force was ambushed and fired upon on December 14th, 2022. Advertisement The shooting happened near the town of Al-Aqbiya in the south of Lebanon, a stronghold of Hezbollah. Pte Rooney, from the 121 Infantry Battalion of the Defence Forces, was killed. The burial service for Private Sean Rooney at All Saints Catholic Church, Colehill, Co Donegal in December 2022 (Liam McBurney/PA) On Tuesday, his mother Natasha was granted permission by the High Court in Dublin to sue the UN. Asked about the granting of permission to sue the UN, the Taoiseach welcomed developments. Advertisement 'Natasha Rooney has gone through a terrible trauma in respect of the murder of her son Sean and we await the outcome of the trial in Lebanon,' Mr Martin said. 'We have been very unhappy at the pace in which that trial has taken place, it's been slow, and we're looking for full accountability. 'We believe Hezbollah was primarily responsible for the death of Sean, but of course full accountability and full transparency is owed to the Rooney family, so I welcome developments.' Pte Rooney's family has pressed the UN to make crucial reports linked to the soldier's death available to his inquest, being conducted by the Dublin District Senior Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane. Advertisement The court heard that the UN had carried out reports which had not yet been made available to the inquest. These include an investigation carried out on the ground as well as a subsequent UN board of inquiry report. The hearing was told there had also been a report 10 months prior to the incident that raised concerns about the integrity of the UN vehicles involved. However, they were originally told there were issues around disclosing these reports.
Forbes
16-05-2025
- General
- Forbes
2 Compliments That Are Conditions In Disguise — By A Psychologist
Not all compliments are what they seem. Some are genuine reflections of who you are. Others are ... More subtle contracts offered with a smile, but laced with expectation. Compliments can be disarming. They make us feel chosen and understood in ways words rarely do. But sometimes, the praise that feels the most flattering is also the praise that teaches us to edit ourselves. In certain relationships, compliments don't just affirm, they also secretly instruct. They reward the parts of you that are most convenient, most regulated or least disruptive. And without realizing it, you begin to shape yourself around someone else's comfort. Over time, what felt like love starts to feel like performance. This isn't always intentional or malicious, in fact, these compliments are usually subtle and subconscious. But repeated reinforcement of selective traits such as composure, availability or selflessness, can lead to a gradual erosion of authenticity. Here are two compliments that seem generous on the surface, but may carry unspoken terms that could be conditioning you to stay small in order to stay loved. This is praise that can be used to reward emotional silence, not emotional strength. At first, it may sound like a genuine compliment, painting you as emotionally mature, unshakeable and the kind of person who rises above conflict. For those who've spent years being the peacekeeper — especially in families marked by volatility — this can feel like long-awaited recognition. However, there are moments where someone praising your calmness is less about your inner resilience and more about their own comfort. They may not be celebrating your emotional health. Instead, they might just have been relieved you didn't have an emotional reaction, even if it was warranted in the scenario. Your stillness doesn't challenge, confront or disrupt anything, and you were rewarded for it. And so, consciously or not, you may feel implicitly incentivized to perform that calmness even when you're hurting. Because now, being 'the calm one' feels like your relational value. This kind of compliment may reinforce a deeper pattern rooted in childhood or adolescent socialization, especially for women and girls. A 2008 qualitative research project by Cheryl van Daalen-Smith illustrates this phenomenon by offering a window into young girls' lives through the eyes of a school nurse. The findings confirm what we might already know about the female journey when it comes to authentic emotional expression: 'Experiences of disrespect, dismissal, denied agency, and a denial of the right to verbalize anger eventually led to self-silencing and an eventual disconnect from this important emotion.' Rather than learning to regulate their emotions, many girls learn to erase them — developing a sort of ultra-adaptive strategy, much like a chameleon adapting to its environment, in Daalen-Smith's own words. Their calmness is not necessarily a reflection of peace, but of their survival instinct. When such emotional suppression is later praised in adult relationships, it reinforces the message that your worth lies in being agreeable and low maintenance. You may begin to perform calmness, even in moments of deep hurt, because that role has been rewarded. But when calmness is no longer a choice, it can become a form of self-abandonment. So ask yourself: 'Is my calmness authentic, or is it a mask I've learned to wear to keep others regulated and myself accepted?' Remember, true emotional strength doesn't mean the absence of emotion. It means the freedom to feel and express your full emotional range, without fear of losing connection. This is a compliment that pedestalizes your empathy while quietly making you responsible for someone else's emotional regulation. At first, this may feel like the highest form of trust. You're the chosen one — the person they finally feel safe enough to open up to. But beneath the surface, this statement may be less about connection and more about emotional dependency. A 2014 study published in Social Psychological and Personality Science, conducted on 'emotionships,' characterized by emotion-specific support relationships, reveals that people experience better mental health when they turn to different individuals for different emotional needs. One friend may be the person you vent to when you're angry. Another may know just how to calm your anxiety. This diversity in emotional support leads to greater well-being, because no single relationship is overloaded with the task of holding it all. When someone declares that you are the only person they can talk to, it disrupts that healthy balance. It places you at the center of their emotional regulation system, creating an unspoken pressure to be endlessly available, attuned and responsive. What starts as flattery can quickly turn into emotional obligation. This kind of dynamic might be used to target individuals with people-pleasing tendencies or a history of caretaking. You feel needed, perhaps even indispensable. But over time, that sense of being essential can erode your boundaries and drain your emotional reserves. You stop asking yourself what you need — because someone else's feelings always seem more urgent. Instead of creating true intimacy, this type of compliment can breed emotional enmeshment; a blurring of responsibility where your support becomes their lifeline. So before you absorb the praise, pause and ask: 'Am I being appreciated for who I am, or are they just making sure that I'm perennially available for their emotional needs?' Real closeness doesn't mean being someone's only safe space. It means being one part of a healthy, interdependent emotional landscape. When someone praises you, it's natural to feel good. But not all compliments come without strings. Sometimes, praise isn't about seeing you, it's about shaping you. Here's how to tell when a compliment is quietly conditioning you rather than celebrating your wholeness: 1. Pay attention to what part of you is being celebrated. Are you praised for being 'so calm,' 'always there' or 'never complaining'? Those might sound positive, but they often highlight traits that make life easier for others, not necessarily fuller for you. If you're rarely praised for your honesty or your boundaries, you might be getting approval, not acceptance. You can also try making a list of the compliments you get most often. Then next to each, write down what it costs you to keep being that way. If you are constantly giving more than you receive, then the praise coming your way might be bait, disguised as a gift. 2. Look for the invisible rule. Some praise comes with hidden expectations: If it feels like you have to keep showing up in that exact way to stay loved, it's not a compliment — it's a contract. So, ask yourself: What if you stopped being this way? Would their affection still be the same or would something significant shift? 3. Notice how you feel after the praise. Do you feel seen, or do you feel boxed in? If you find yourself constantly editing what you say, hiding your needs or performing a personality trait to keep someone comfortable, the compliment has become a cage. Check in with yourself after a compliment: 'Do I feel freer or more restricted?', 'Can I be myself without having to be someone's full time emotional manager?' 4. Investigate which parts of you don't feel safe to bring up. In healthy dynamics, the praise doesn't just land on your productivity, patience or perfection. It makes space for your fatigue, your limits, your changes — your humanness. Try to complete the sentence for yourself: 'Around this person, I don't feel like I can ___.' The answer will tell you whether you're being celebrated or simply tolerated. Remember, the most dangerous red flags aren't always loud or aggressive. Sometimes, they're wrapped in kindness. They sound like admiration but teach you to stay small. You deserve relationships where your growth isn't threatening and where your changing needs don't cost you your value or desirability — where being yourself doesn't feel like a performance review. Because the right people won't just compliment you for being good at disappearing. They'll respect you for showing up fully, messily and honestly. Can you bring your authentic self to your relationships? Take the science-backed Authenticity In Relationships Scale to find out.
