… of an Irish mind.
I can struggle a little some winters, the consequences of both seasonal affected disorder and the culmination of a tiring or unsatisfactory year but I take solace and resolve from the proverb Olc síon an sioc, is fearr sioc ná sneachta agus is fearr sneachta ná síorbháisteach – Frost is bad weather, but frost is […]
MoreThe seanfhocal Is fearr eolas ná iontas – Knowledge is better than surprise, highlights the Irish love of knowledge, Not just for its sake but for its use. Knowing something, is of value, learning is the ongoing skill. To be wise is worth the effort and yes it does beat being surprised or caught out. […]
MorePerceptions make your world. How we choses to see things or are conditioned to read the room is what we feel is real and often unalterable. It is good so to be remind that you can swap out negative perceptions for positive ones. This is not denying reality this is perhaps seeing the actual reality. […]
MoreThere is a wonderful old saying Leig an donaschundeiridh, a n-duil s’ nach d-tiocaidh se choidche – Leave the bad luck to the last, in hopes that it may never come. That is just pure optimism from the Irish psyche. We Irish often forget owing to our history that we are essentially a positive people. […]
MoreThere are many ways to talk about the weather but there are may insights in thinking about the weather. One of my favourites is from the Irish proverb Ní bheidh sé ag fearthainn i gcónaí – It won’t always be raining. Some might say that’s a brave statement to make in Ireland, where four seasons […]
MoreThere is the old Irish proverbial wisdom that states ‘Is feárr an mhaith atá ná an dá mhaith a bhí – Better the good thing that is than two good things that were’. It not only advocates avoiding nostalgia or sidestepping prompts to rumination but it advocates dealing with the reality of now, the positivity […]
MoreThere is the mighty proverb – Is fear leath builín ná bheith gan arán – Half a loaf is better than to be without bread. There is good eating, in pondering that. There is more than eating, in living it. Do you actually count your blessings, do you measure out your attainment/awareness, do you ever […]
MoreThere is a old Irish proverb Níl leigheas ar an gcathú ach é a mharú le foighne – There is no cure for regret but to kill it with patience. I have always loved the idea of it but it has taken on strong significance in recent times. The world is anticipating a surge in […]
MoreOne my favourite old sayings is Tuar an t-ádh agus tiocfaidh sé – Predict good fortune and it will come. Irish optimism at its best. This seanfhocail says fortune/fate is a self-fulfilling prophesy. Envisage it as good and it will come good. Start as you mean to go on. Intent can manifest destiny, intent can […]
MoreAmidist the covid-19 pandemic and beyond the physical health scare, the toll on mental health that it is taking, I am reminded of another wonderful Irish proverb ‘Is i ndiaidh a chéile a thógtar na caisleáin – Castles are built one after the other’. In life, no experience is ever wasted, it is all a […]
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