Alright, I have published a few more blogs in 2024, than I have in the past, but alas, not the monthly frequency I had vaugley hoped for in my “New Years Resolutions“. So just to compound things, here I am publishing a Quarterly blog to end what my softening brain perceived as the fastest most breathless year I have ever encountered. The year of my retirement from work has been as busy as I ever could have imagined. I’m not complaining, mind you, just gobsmacked at the pace of time as I get older. Just before you hopefully meander through these ramblings, I want to say a huge ‘Thank You’ to those of you who made this year another wonderful year in my life, Sure it had its ups and downs but for the most part, 2024 has been a super year. I have other “thank you’s” below so do read on please.
Facinating words from a facinating African-American writer, James Baldwin The longer I live, the more deeply I learn that love — whether we call it friendship or family or romance — is the work of mirroring and magnifying each other’s light. Gentle work. Steadfast work. Life-saving work in those moments when life and shame and sorrow occlude our own light from our view, but there is still a clear-eyed loving person to beam it back. In our best moments, we are that person for another. I am absolutely blessed with friends and family who constantly act as that ‘clear-eyed person’ for me. To you all I am eternally grateful and I will try very, very hard to pay it forward.
October
is our mystical transition to the beautiful Autumn/Winter season. With harvest celebrations, fruit preserving, apple tarts, Halloween celebrations and much much more. We’ve even had Northern lights in Carrigaline (and my first time seeing them). This time is a return to October Soups and fresh rolls, Kilkee goodbyes, frosty mornings, autumn colours and falling leaves, and in other parts of my world, there is October Lemonade and Horseriding. What a world. Below is a small collection of snaps for October 2024.
October arrived and, whoosh, it was over.
My October Playlist – Much as I know music, is so personal, individual and emotive, I tend to make playlists for different months of the year. A selection of my October Songs for 2024. A few of them were recalled while watching the new ‘Shrinking’ TV series which get to see if you can. It’s funny, quirky, left field and stars a sprightly 82 year old, Harrison Ford. There is hope for us all. Many others are songs that relate to October just for me. Feel free to listen and chop and change to your personal taste. 1hr.17m.
October, Deireadh Fómhair, End of Harvest
November, Samhain, Celebrating the end of the Harvesting season.
December, Nollaig, Originating from the Latin for Christmas.
November
Jeepers, what can I say about November, apart from the fact it also went by in a blink. But, something wondeful did happen. I didn’t shave for the month, and jumped on the Movember crusade. I am so grateful to everyone for their patience and huge generousity.
Movember is an annual event involving the growing of moustaches during the month of November to raise awareness of Men’s Health issues, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and men’s suicide.[1] It is a portmanteau of the Australian-English diminutive word for moustache, “mo”,[2] and “November”.[3] The Movember Foundation runs the Movember charity event, housed at Movember.com.[4] The goal of Movember is to “change the face of men’s health.”[5]
Let these words below live rent free in your brain
Fear doesn’t stop death, it stops life.
If it costs you your peace, it’s too expensive.
People only see the decisions you made, not the choices you had.
Never take criticism from someone you wouldn’t take advice from.
“No.” is a complete sentence. You don’t have to justify yourself.
The magic you’re looking for is in the work you’re avoiding.
Ships are safe at harbour, but that’s not what they’re built for.
If you don’t sacrifice for what you want, what you want, becomes the sacrifice.
Ambition without action becomes anxiety.
“Obsessed” is what stuck people call ambitious people.
To live a life most people don’t live, you have to be willing to do what most people don’t do.
You really can do anything, but not everything. Focus
If you want to make the wrong decision, ask everyone.
Those who do not move do not notice their chains.
If you can be in a bad mood for no reason, you might as well be in a good mood for no reason.
It’s okay to live a life most don’t understand.
If someone could only see your actions and not hear your words, what would they say your priorities are?
We do not see things as they are. We see things as we are.
No risk. No story
Christmas was the primary reason findmywhy.blog came into being. At its best, It’s a season of hope, reconnection, reflection, joy, smiles, laughter, reaching out, saying thanks, reminising and much much more. We all know, it is also a time of sadness, lonliness, heartbreak and a whole lot more, but the absolute beauty of Christmas is that it is all about connection. Stay connected, stay in touch, even if it is only in your heart. There are many, many Christmas publications if you care to deep dive. Have a loving one.
A hilarious funny Christmas Time Story from Paul Howard, AKA Ross O’Carroll Kelly I am very lucky to have had a few day’s with one of my best buddies in the absolutely amazing Spanish city of Malaga. Direct flights from Cork and Basel in Switzerland, so it suited our ‘meet-up’ plans. The Christmas lights of Malaga were a stroke of good fortune and timing, which we got to witness. Both me and Leon worked Pharmaceuticals / SAP projects together and we have remained the best of friends for the past two decades. Our beautiful Australian Fam were on the beach at 8am in the morning in 28deg. heat this weekend for some seasonal shots. Elaine and Rory celebrate Christmas in the scorching sun. While we brave the Christmas Day Swim but in our hearts ‘they are with us’.
Donna Ashworth (is one of my favourite modern day poets. Here are some of her beautiful words for the time that is in it.
Lastly, June 2025 is my aim to do a small bit of the Camino Santiago de Compostela. I’m planning on doing the (a difficult enough trek) St. Jean Pied de Porte to Pamplona, Camino Francés. In training ATM.
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