findmywhy

Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight. Red sky at morning, shepherd’s warning, first appears in the Bible in the book of Matthew. It is an old weather saying often used at sunrise and sunset to signify the changing sky and was originally known to help the shepherds prepare for the next day’s weather. Despite there being global variations in this saying such as “Red sky at night, sailors delight. Red sky in morning, sailors warning”, the scientific understanding behind such occurrences remains the same.

Why does a red sky appear at sunrise and sunset?

The saying is most reliable when weather systems predominantly come from the west as they do in Ireland. “Red sky at night, shepherds delight” can often be proven true, since red sky at night means fair weather is generally headed towards you. A red sky at sunset means high pressure is moving in from the west, so therefore the next day will usually be dry and pleasant. “Red sky in the morning, shepherds warning” means a red sky appears due to the high-pressure weather system having already moved east meaning the good weather has passed, most likely making way for a wet and windy low-pressure system. And so we come to the title of this mini-blog, Storm Bella is bearing down on us this morning and there is a yellow weather warning for the whole of Ireland. Hunker down folks.

Status Yellow – Wind warning for Ireland

Met Éireann Weather Warning, On Saturday (St Stephen’s Day), through the late afternoon, evening and night, westerly winds associated with Storm Bella (named by UK Met Office) will reach mean speeds of 50 to 65km/h with gusts of 90 to 110km/h. Gusts will be higher at times near the west coast. With the combination of strong winds, high waves and forecasted storm surge, there is a risk of coastal flooding along the west coast. “Thank you” Santa for a crisp and frosty Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but now for the bit of a blow from Storm Bella.

On a much more positive note the first delivery of almost 10,000 doses of the Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is due to arrive in Ireland today (December 26th. 2020) , and not a minute too soon as there is a nasty new variant doing the rounds which has everyone concerned. The next few months will test us (Ireland may have a lock down until March 2021) but it will also open up our lives again on the journey back to some semblance of normal. I do hope the world we all usher in for 2021 will be so much better, but only we can make the difference. The quote below signifies that what we do with the tough lessons from 2020 will be hugely important for us all in 2021. We live in important times.

It’s Christmas morning 2020, the (way too big) turkey is in the oven, house is quiet as I sit here with a grand cup of tea and a bacon buttie devoured. Great Tip: always hold back half a dozen smoked streaky rashers that are used to cover the big bird and pop them in the air fryer while some attempt is made to tidy up before the final assault on the Christmas feast. Then, its Brennan’s sliced pan, butter and crispy bacon and time to sit and have some time out. Last evening I watched ‘It’s a Wonderful Life‘ and as per usual dissolved into a sobbing heap. It’s a timeless movie about family, friends and community. To me, this is what Christmas is all about. Gifts and indulgences aside, it is the wish of Christmas that we celebrate and rejoice our family bonds for those around the table, separated by distance or pandemic, or those who have gone on ahead, and wait for us, to be reunited and a family once again.

In the period of John McCormack’s lifetime almost a million Irish people emigrated across the globe. Some of these families never got to see, embrace and smile with each other again . Irish families sat around the gramophone or radio and listened to the most popular singer in the world and thought of home, especially his Christmas specials, which sang of love, loneliness, joy and family.

So if you can, and I know how tough this can be sometimes, celebrate your Christmas and as most families this Christmas 2020 we won’t have everyone around us, close your eyes for a few seconds and thank the universe for our families, then breathe deeply and smile on.

Happy Christmas.

I had no idea how to start this blog, so I’ve settled on ‘besafethischristmas’. It is a genuine and heartfelt wish to you my friends and readers. I’m honestly not going to write much about 2020 suffice to say it been the toughest of years for everyone. (Actually, I have something to say! Sorry) Sorry for the cross words, the expressed anger, the frustration, the gloom, the WTF is going on. In an earlier blog, ‘Summer Solstice‘ I eluded to that I was not coping with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Trump and USA national lunacy we were exposed to daily, the conspiracy theorists, the anti-maskers, etc. That was an understatement to say the least. This situation has me fuming, raging and angry. Those I am closest to may have detected this, and for that I am sorry. I have been on this Earth for more decades that I like to admit. I should have turned off the ‘News’, meditated, did some breathing exercises. I didn’t and I’m sincerely sorry for those who were at the receiving end of my inappropriate and obviously angry expressions.

While I’m worth, My room on this Earth, I will be with you. While the Chief, Puts sunshine on Leith, I’ll thank Him, For His work, And your birth, And my birth. _{(more about this poetic piece later in this blog)}

So we are on our way back from the long nights and short days. A renewal year in 2021 beckons. Don’t waste the lessons learnt. Hug and appreciate all those close to you.

Our memories are short and the gargantuan effort put in by so many will fade. We should never forget the health care workers, doctors, nurses, porters, cleaners, radiologists, etc. who literally risked their lives every day caring for the very ill. They comforted patients and held the hands of the dying when families could not be there. ‘Semper Grata’, ‘Semper Gratus’

2020 Sucked, big time. That’s an understatement but I’ll refrain from more expletive laden terms. It was scary beyond words. I will never take for granted the touch of another human beings embrace, visiting family and friends, smiling and saying hello, (not comparable behind a mask). So ‘*Feck 2020’ and welcome 2021

IAMELAINEBENSON : I’ll not try to tell her story as she does a hell of a job herself on her Social Media Links. Suffice to say this strong woman makes me very proud of the journey she is embarking on in her life. If you think you might benefit from Elaine’s Coaching Skills, then you know what to do.

Let me introduce Elaine, my eldest daughter, living in Sydney. Empowering Women globally. Powerful read.

Well I started this Blog with a piece of the Proclaimers song, ‘Sunshine on Leith’. Somehow it resonated very powerfully with me. I had forgotten to be thankful for all of you in my life and a lot more besides. So have a listen to the song and follow the very powerful (and very Scottish) words. So I’m thanking the Chief for his work, and your birth, and my birth (and the Sunshine).

Let me know if you manage to learn this song. It’s not easy. Happy New Year everyone.

My heart was broken
My heart was broken
Sorrow, sorrow
Sorrow, sorrow

My heart was broken
My heart was broken
You saw it, you claimed it
You touched it, you saved it

My tears are drying
My tears are drying
Thank you, thank you
Thank you, thank you

My tears are drying
My tears are drying
Your beauty and kindness
Made tears clear my blindness

While I’m worth
My room on this Earth
I will be with you
While the Chief
Puts sunshine on Leith

I’ll thank Him
For His work
And your birth
And my birth
Yeah, yeah, yeah

My heart was broken
My heart was broken
Sorrow, sorrow
Sorrow, sorrow

My heart was broken
My…

And to really see the power of a song the have a look at this Video of the Hibs Fans celebrating the fact they had won the 2016 Scottish Cup Final. Craig and Charlie Reid (aka The Proclaimers) are from the Leith area of Edinburgh. The HIBS Football Club make for a very interesting read also. The fans have taken ‘Sunshine on Leith’ as theirs. Butterflies stuff.

Finally: If I’ve learned anything in life, it’s that you should tell people how important they are to you. Not because they could leave at any moment, but because they’re here now, and it’s worth saying.

Here’s why you get gloomy in the winter — and what you can do about it

God, it slipped past, without fanfare, but a few days ago it was that time of year again. Summer Solstice 2020. Incredible long day’s here in the Northern Hemisphere for the next few weeks. Long days to enjoy the amazing light that our sun provides us ceaselessly, freely and at this particular time of year warmly and comfortingly.

Normally I would be enjoying the extraordinary light on the West Coast of Ireland, but as all readers will know that 2020 is no normal year and much of what we would normally considered our usual habits, activities and past-times has been suspended.

LINK to Summer Solstice, facts and myths

I have not managed this year well. This Covid-19 lockdown was very difficult for many, me included. I struggled each day and (believe me) I was one of the few lucky ones, working in Pharma, I was able to travel to work (albeit, terrified at times that I was taking a serious risk against the express wishes of my family) on a fantastic Bio Pharma Stem Cell manufacturing project that, had this revolutionary treatment, been available a few years back it may have helped save the life and darkness of a good friend in my life, who ended his pain prematurely.

I’m not going to document or write a word on this Pandemic suffice to say that I fervently hope that this horrible time will be a seminal event for the whole world. As of today, 28th. June 2020 we have reported 10 million people infected and tragically close to 500K deaths (many alone and not able to hold the hands of those they loved). It is heartbreaking and the WHO who produce these figures estimate that they are 50% under reported.

There have been countless pages written of the bravery and commitment of our Health Care professionals and so many other countless people and professions in this extraordinary event and equally, many pages documenting the absolutely horrible and negative impacts. Again, messrs Google and Bing can help you here. What has been so uplifting is the humanity and decency that has come to the fore in helping our fellow man cope with the impacts of an unprecedented lockdown of society. The impact of this pandemic has been devastating on every facet of society at an individual and collective level. Here in Ireland this week, a fundraising event was televised to raise much needed funds to help all charities whose usual fundraising events have been devastated by this pandemic. It is really worth a visit to ‘RTE does Comic Relief’. One special moment that was so special was Hozier.

This significance of this powerful performance in the home of the GAA in Croke Park was not lost on me. Ireland’s greatest community and largely voluntary organisation is a testament to communities coming together for the greater good as was the case throughout this Pandemic. So many held out their hand to help.

The contradiction

Also out of this lockdown came the realisation that the horror of domestic abuse continues to be a hidden, behind closed doors nightmare predominately for women and children in our society. The talented singing women of Ireland came together for Safe Ireland. (Thank you Dolores). This is dedicated to the women in my life Mary, Elaine, Louise, Jessica, Helen, Kay and Helena. Powerful beyond words.

Kilkee

This weekend I start some much needed vacation. I need to find my peace after the distress of the past months. The Wild Atlantic Way and Kilkee are a special medicine for me. Easing of travel restrictions means I may get to visit this special space very soon.

History will judge us harshly; Black Lives Matter. Maya Angelou, What a life, Have a read here

Still I Rise
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
’Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
’Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own backyard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise

I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise

Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

Maya Angelou

The medicine of a smile

Oh and something came into my life on May Day 2020. Charlie Benson McKeating. This sometimes complicated, complex and painfully beautiful world works in mysterious ways. Readers, have a good, peaceful and healing summer.

Charlie joins this other bundle of energy Rory Benson Draper. Oh the smiles.

One month later and the whole world has changed. Who would have guessed. I had a blog ready to post on 29th Feb. For reasons best know to the universe I did not post it. No today 29th. March I’ve decided to post it, albeit updated to reflect a changed world.

I know I won’t see this day again for at least four years, if the universe is good to me, so I’ll do a post. It’s a special day. Outside its been snowing, hail and now incredible blue skies and sunshine. Here in Ireland the four seasons in a day is no myth, it is alive and well. Storm Jorge is bearing down on our little island. Counties Clare and Galway will take a direct hit.

Robert Waldinger below tells us about an incredible study that will tell you what we know deep down and yet we so often ..

12 minutes of worthwhile facts from a 75 year ongoing study. Have a listen. Hug your friend, your, sister, your brother, your Mam or Dad. (Virtually for now, 29 Mar 2020)  Be kind. Love to all my readers.

From the book, “The Boy, the mole, the fox and the Horse”, Charles Mackesy

Taking Care of your Mental Health. (Share with everyone you know)

So by now you have had your fill of Virus news so I will really try not to add to it. However I am including some info about taking care of your mental health. This you will have to take seriously. Remember how upset you got when you scratched the paintwork on the new car or scuffed the brand new shoes. God, how foolish we can be,

Here is a PowerPoint Slide Show That Might Help.

Quietening the virus

Easy Listening

Motown Soul

 

I received a lively surprise for my birthday this week. I’m an ‘Aquarian’ so a birthday in the bleakness and cold of January is actually really nice. (although I don’t admit it). As with all my blogs, follow the links to very interesting places.

I was visiting the staggeringly beautiful city of Milan last week, on business unfortunately, and in my hotel room on the morning of my Birthday, 25th. of January I found a beautiful surprise on returning from a business session. A lovely slice of cake with a single candle and a note from all my ‘gals’ wishing me well, which was very special. They, are a good bunch. On returning home to Cork, late on Sunday 26th. there were gifts for me to open. One, was a beautiful book, The Boy, the mole, the fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy. I scribbled the front of the book, encouraged by Charlie.

It is a beautiful read, loving caring and thoughtful. I got a lump in my throat at the simplicity and kindness of it. As Charlie says in the introduction, it can be read by someone of 8 years to someone of 88 years. It is a graphic novel, illustrated by Charlie.

Charlie has distilled life’s learning’s into this short, emotional read. I cried.

I have a Post-Grad in Crying. It was earned, if memory serves me right, while watching the Christmas movie “It’s a Wonderful Life”.

I cried so much (blubbered in fact) watching this movie that I cleared my tear ducts completely, having blocked them so well as a young ‘Man’. Swallowing tough emotions, pushing them down into my chest, clogging the emotional freedom to cry. Glad to say I’m now a ‘Cryer’ and it sits OK with me. (Although, privately, is still my most comfortable crying space. It is still a vulnerability, jeeze Men). This year, 2020 is shaping up to be an interesting year. I don’t do big resolutions. I try to set small goals (quietly) and do what I can to achieve same.

1. Less to drink (cut the wine and have a Dry January), inspired by my beautiful daughter, Elaine,  who made that leap over a year ago and is now supporting those on the same journey (including me), Elaine’s Story, Soberhood  . This strong lady is inspiring.  www.iamelainebenson.com
2. Finding a Project (with the help of another incredibly strong lady in my life, Alice) that would test me on my return to the field and the demands of the regulated and scrutinised workplace. I carried out an audit of a facility, less than 10 days ago, that is establishing a ‘Stem’ cell facility to produce a drug that is commercially licenced for sale and this facility is essentially a ramp up of production to meet market needs. This revolutionary new-to-market treatment cures Crohn’s Disease with a single treatment. This is just incredible, this is a terrible disease. My good pal 17171 left this world from the physical and mental effects of this devastating illness.
3. Be the Best. If I am to do any training, then I will do the very best job I can do. At a recent workshop, I put in the effort and I got the resulting great feedback from the participants. But lot’s of room to get even better.

So, not having heard of this book, The Boy, the mole, the fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy, I did some googling, and found Charlie explaining the book , so much better in his own words. But I also found a really connected human being. Have a look.

So Charlie Mackesy impressed me no end, and after his explanation of The Boy, the mole, the fox and the Horse, I stayed in YouTube and listened to his words on a few more videos. Charlies, YouTube presence is perfect, no Billion view’s, no Million views, no 100,000’s views, but his words are truly beautiful. I really hope you find the time to listen

The 1st. Video below focuses on how we stop trying to be good, great, the best and just be ourselves. This also made me cry. Maybe it’s the time of year or the beauty of his words.

Charlie talks about his love of drawing and the reluctance of adults to have a go at drawing or painting in case they are judged or have been hurt by someones sneer at their past attempts. He beautifully captures the emergence of people out of these shackles. Our babies have no such inhibitions, their lines and squiggles have such meaning and freedom for them. This is Rory’s latest masterpiece. It happens to be his Mammy’s monthly planner, but minor details aside, it’s simply superb, as is he.

And finally a video below, that has stirred something I thought, long gone. I hope you enjoy. I feel another blog coming together. Until we meet I will send you the blessings of the universe. And if you have a the time, please say Hello in the comments section.  

Come as you are

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgsrzOrE6W8

And ‘Thank You’ Charlie Mackesy (now to see if I can find your email address). GB

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Charlie Mackesy (@charliemackesy)

I saw a snippet of this Video, I needed to write the words. It spoke to me, it spoke of my loved ones and my friends. It spoke of us. Here is the portion of the script that I need. Take what you will. If you get it, great, you may have loved ones, friends, colleagues who might benefit, might need these words. Pass along if it will help someone.

Imagine if you got what you want every time, no struggle, No hard work, No Challenges, No hard work required. Some of you may be saying that would be great, but you would be weak and then when something hard comes along in your life you wouldn’t know how to handle it because you’ve never gone through anything that strengthens you, you cannot grow without struggle, you cannot develop strength without resistance, without challenging yourself, without struggle, Pain is your friend, maybe not in the moment but for the evolution of your soul, for the long-term benefit of you, as a Stronger human being, Pain, Pain is your friend, If you didn’t have failures, if you didn’t have struggles, if you didn’t have disappointments, you could have no strength, no courage, no compassion, how could you? those qualities are made from you’re pain and struggle,

You are given pain because you are strong enough to handle it, you are given this life because you’re strong enough to live it, because you are strong enough to drive through it, to thrive through it, to inspire others through it.

They will look to you and say she did it, he did it, I have the strength to do it too. You are stronger than you think, You have survived all your challenges to this point, and you will survive whatever is coming, but next time a struggle comes I don’t want you to curse the skies, know that it was sent for a reason, in a lesson, it might need to make a stronger, it might be to teach you patients, it might be for you to show others your spirit, there is a reason, so, don’t you give up, you have a purpose in this world you will only find if you keep going and keep growing. Your struggle is a part of your story, your struggle makes you the person you are today.

Your struggle is your life, your struggle is your gift, see many people look at struggle like it’s a bad thing, your struggle will be the gift that the world falls in love with, nobody wants to hear the story of a man that was given everything, people want to hear the stories of men and women that endure pain and turned their struggle into a gift.

The title above, 2020 Vision, is probably going to be a well worn ‘cliche’ by the New Year. As 2019 passes and we face into 2020, some of us contemplate the chance to make some real positive change in our lives (if, of course we can persuade our ‘protective’ thoughts that we are ready to make that leap, change, decision.) A recent post may help you here

In 2019 I continued to post ( this will be my 9th. in 2019) but did not annoy you all with emails about the posts. If you want you can follow the blog and new posts will be automatically communicated to you. If you are an accidental ‘Blog’ reader then wait for my email’s which is perfectly OK.

Well it’s a Sunday morning, 15th. December and here in Carrigaline, Co.Cork, Ireland it’s a very dark (for 9 am), cold, very rainy, sleety, winter morning.  The Christmas tree lights add a welcome splash of colour to these mornings. Christmas beckons. So does the Solstice. 

Taken at 0900 Sunday 15th. December 2019.

Solstice comes from the Latin word solstitium, meaning sun standing still. ( I’m one of the few eejits who did ‘Latin’ in secondary school. Another blog). Our modern calendar is slightly out of synch with the solar year, so although we celebrate the shortest day of the year on 21st. Dec it can actually occur any day between Dec. 20th, and 23rd., but most often it is the Dec. 21st. or 22nd.

Through history, this period has been celebrated by many cultures. Norsemen worshipped the Sun as the wheel that changed the seasons. During the Feast of Juul (from which we get the term Yule), people lit fires to symbolise the heat and light of the returning sun and a Yule log was brought into the hearth to conquer the darkness, banish evil spirits and bring luck to the coming year. This, and many related traditions of decorating evergreen trees with colour (Estonia, Latvia) and then those trees into the house, (Germany aristocracy) and lighting them with candles. A relatively new tradition , 1850-1899. Their relatives in the UK, the royal family followed the tradition and it spread quickly in UK and globally. The Solstice for me is the very welcome  climb back towards the long days of spring / summer and a swim in Kilkee. I am not alone in struggling through Irish winters. Remedy, moving.

Keep Moving – get out for a walk.

Not a very flattering selfie and also being soaked to the skin, temp 4 deg, did not help. But the great bonus is that I came across a small piece of lovely holly with berries. 99% of the holly on this Carrigaline / Crosshaven walk is berry-less. The greatest benefit / bonus is the well-being boost that you get from the simplest activity, walking. I do try and avoid the rain but sometimes…. it’s Ireland after all and it did bucket down this morning.  Christmas is a beautiful time and we should enjoy it, but for many it will not be the most wonderful time of the year. I’m not going to put a damper on anyone’s Christmas spirit, but say a quiet prayer for the people who struggle at this time of year, for many reasons.

 

To our families everywhere, you are in our hearts, thoughts and minds this Christmas.

A short few days to go to Christmas. Get the tree up and get the Christmas spirits rising. I adore this special feelgood season (while dealing with the chronic heartache for those I miss so very much). It come at the end of two tough months of October and November. Somehow I can manage January and February which many more find the bleakest of months. Just managed to get the Christmas cards written and now off to the post box.

 

Let me introduce two very special people.

The Roars, (aka Rory Benson Draper), resident of Sydney, NSW, Australia ( appeared briefly, at the very end of above video en-route home from Malabar beach. Visited us in October with his beautiful Mum, Elaine

And I hope it happens that I get to meet and greet some recipients of my Christmas blog. It’s been a while and also I’ll have, please God, the little bundle below from another beautiful Mum-to-be, Louise. In the meantime I’ll whisper a quiet prayer for you all this Christmas.  Happy Christmas.

And finally a great Christmas Story from Sunday Miscellany, RTÉ Radio 1, Sundays 9.10 – 10am (enjoy)

https://www.rte.ie/culture/2019/1213/1099034-listen-tins-a-hilarious-christmas-tale-from-paul-howard/

 

 

Thank you Carl Gilbertson. The gesture speaks for itself.

For his 10th. Wedding Anniversary he really showed how much he loved his beautiful wife, Laura

“To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part..”

Mel Robbins is interviewed here for 15 minutes. It is worth a listen. The techniques may not be to your liking but Mel captures the human condition that every (and I mean EVERY) individual must master, manage and navigate every waking moment. (The Skill)

Yes, even Mr. and Mrs Confident sitting next to you or across from you. Have a listen.