Years after my husband had left me and our children I was very ashamed at how much private anger and resentment I still felt towards him. I confessed this to a very dear Friend, Maria Bruce, who was surprised and said: ‘But your anger and resentment have sustained you – without them you might have sunk into depression or despair. So don’t be ashamed of them – you have used them to good purpose.’ I never felt either guilt or anger again.

Anonymous, c.1980