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Bounce back, and back!

Time flies, this is blog number eight for 2024 so it looks like I am doing well at succeeding on my crusade of a blog a month this year. August is heading to its end, just over a week left for me to get the blog published. As usual, no pressure on me, however my inspiration seems to be reliable when it comes to writing, being creative and ensuring deadlines are met. A few weeks ago, while I was working on my July blog, summer was nothing but absent. Unfortunately, not much has changed, except for autumn deepening its roots: plenty of dull, wet and cold evenings this week thanks to the remnants of hurricane Ernesto, storm Lilian and plenty of bad weather warnings. Heavy showers at the moment. August is definitely heading to its end as I only have three days left. Fleece on, hot cupán tae, candle flickering away, blanket over my knees, woolly hat may be needed soon. Let’s get the bouncing going!

If things go wrong, stand back and simply bounce back. If your expectations are not met, acknowledge this and simply bounce back. If the worst happens, breathe and simply bounce back. If you fail, learn and simply bounce back. And, if life sucks, have a cupán tae and simply bounce back. That is easier said than done though!

Bouncing back is my best way out when it comes to disappointments, tough times and failures. Over the years, I have developed the ability to rebound when ordeals have gifted me with their undesired presence. At the beginning, overcoming these situations was extremely difficult; it looked like an impossible mission to me. I only wanted to feel sorry for myself, to hide my head under the covers, to embrace the unlucky me approach. It seemed easier to just give in and blame the whole universe for cursing me with such an unfair, undeserved and unwanted outcome. Desolation was so overwhelming that I could only manage to survive. Exasperation was so intense that I could only manage to exist. Slowly, I started to gravitate towards a more proactive attitude pushed by a survival necessity. Eventually, those days of self-pity and uncontrolled tears became part of a faraway dimension. Surprisingly, I had transformed myself into a sort of a ninja warrior, although my swords were just my persisting instincts, my insatiable desire to live, my strong determination to succeed, my stubborn self-judgement of not letting myself down, my eagerness to make my dreams come true.

If things do not go according to plan, plan again and simply bounce back. If adversities pull you down, stay strong and simply bounce back. If better days seem out of reach, think positive and simply bounce back. If a stumbling block ruins your prospects, throw some dynamite at it and simply bounce back. And, if life sucks, have an ice cream and simply bounce back. That is easier said than done though!

Bouncing back is my best way out when it comes to disillusions, challenging times and unsuccessful attempts. After discovering that self-mercy was not working for me, and was, probably, dragging me further down the well of lamentations; after realising that crying a river was only blinding me from embracing other opportunities, and was, surely, curtailing my chances of succeeding; after accepting that surrendering was a bad influence, and was, obviously, stopping me from moving forward: I decided that the best for me was to master the ability to bounce back. I knew that it would empower me to be brave and challenge myself to try harder despite my trials and tribulations. What a journey of hardships and struggles, lessons learned, miles swam against the stream, internal battles with those gremlins of mine, and plenty of tissues to dry tears of desperation. However, I made it through to the other side. As usual, well worth it! I am now a well-trained ninja warrior who has develop the ability (or shall I call it superpower?) of snapping back like a spring.

If things seem impossible to change, look at them from a different angle and simply bounce back. If it feels like you are going nowhere, get yourself a map and simply bounce back. If the fog has become too thick for you to see some light, shine brighter and simply bounce back. If you are stuck in a vicious circle, pause for a while and simply bounce back. And, if life sucks, have some chocolate and simply bounce back. That is easier said than done though!

Bouncing back is my best way out when it comes to frustrations, difficult times and unexpected defeats. I could say it is somehow addictive; I cannot help it but bounce back whenever life tries to shorten my wings. This self-defence mechanism is also a great tool to overcome all sorts of adversities in life. Far are those days of feeling sorry for myself. Far are those days of crying a river over deceptions. Far are those days of feeling defeated. I can proudly say that when it comes to rising above unsuccessful outcomes, I have endured a Batchelor’s Degree in resilience, a Master’s Degree in determination, and a PhD in ninja warrior superpowers. I am graduated “honour summa cum laude” in bouncing back.

And the one million dollar question is: how do I bounce back? After a few tears and a bit of complaining, I definitely try to avoid going down the rabbit hole of failure. Firstly, I try to give space and time so I can  reflect on what has happened. Secondly, I talk to some trusted people, my partner, a friend, a family member; however, sometimes it is just a random stranger I meet at the queue of the supermarket, my hairdresser, or the shop assistant. I listen to their approaches, pieces of advice and suggestions so I can be excited to embark on a new journey. Thirdly, I cook up my new plan by writing down a “to do list” so I can succeed. Once my list is in place, there I go again on new challenges along unknown paths.

I know they say that when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. However, I would say that when life sets you back, bounce back!

Jay Cee Moon ©

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Be positive, a way of life!

It is raining today, grey and apparently miserable out there! It is so tempting and effortlessly addictive to focus on the dark negative side of things. Negativity has a weird power to take control of our minds. In the blink of an eye, it turns up and powerful as a tsunami washes your positive thoughts away. You find yourself trapped in the swirls of pessimism and desolation. Hopelessly devoted to a deep well without access to the surface. Dramatically drained by a twister of blackness. You can help giving in! I have been there, still am sometimes but nowhere closer to as much as I used to!

I think I have been negative enough so far! Let’s be positive, because there is hope out there! Ohhh yeah! Mind can be trained to focus on the bright side of life as Monty Python sang! Not easy but very rewarding! Over the years I have had the privilege to learn from others around me. Seeing how they face and cope with life has been an incredible gift! My creative magni (as per my previous blog https://jayceemoon.com/2020/04/08/one-day-more-one-day-less/ ), always encouraging me to stay positive, reminding me to smile more.

My brother also. He probably doesn’t know the influence he has had on my positive life approach transformation. He has unconsciously been teaching me the power of an optimistic way of life. Despite having been through a lot, he has always held on with a remarkable ear-to-ear grin. Always looking for those little things that bring so much joy. One of his quotes is: “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade”. Just turn something sour, bitter and difficult into something positive! Despite being a bit younger than me, his endurance to remain positive is outstanding. Massive thanks!

More recently, my partner! He is probably one of the most positive person I have ever met!!!   Evergreen positive mindset. Always carrying a broad smile on his face. He is capable of finding the bright side in the most difficult situation. His action plan is to positively focus on the here and now and to look forward to the future. Constantly encouraging me to snap out of those low moments and walk them off, so I can change my state of mind and radiate positivity. He has given me the last kick for me to hugely progress on my positive way of life path.

The more positive I am, the more positivity I draw into my life. The more positivity I bring in, the more I relish life. The more I enjoy life, the happier I am! What you think it is what you attract! It takes great effort to create a new habit but the outcomes are priceless! A year and a half ago I was driving back from The Hill of Tara when I got stuck behind a tractor! My first reaction was to complain about it, but then my positive approach kicked in! I turned up the music, fully opened the window and took in as much I could: the fresh air, the sun shining through the trees, the colour of the fields, singing along! What an enjoyable experience it became! To my surprise, I completely forgot about the tractor in front of me! It is just a matter of creating a positive reaction practice: we cannot control what happens to us but can definitely learn how to positively react to it.

You can find positivity everywhere, in everything and whenever you are ready for! Even though it may look unachievable, it is easily doable! Get up with a smile every morning. Be grateful for every single little chance life offers you. Admire the beauty that surrounds you. Embrace the sunshine, the rain, the clouds, the blue skies, the stars, the moon. Cherish what nature presents you with: that tiny flower making its way through the foliage, that unexpected butterfly flying next to you, the birds singing out loud, the water flowing down the hill after heavy rain. Breath in the pretichor, the sea breeze, the smell of freshly made coffee. Savour the taste of homemade jam, the joy of cooking, a nice meal al fresco. Squeeze every second, every opportunity. Just take a deep breath and smile.

Life wakes us up with plenty of choices to be positive! Don’t waste them! Make “be positive” your way of life! You will never regret it, for sure! As Buddha said:  “We are what we think! “

Jay Cee Moon ©

Time to pause, disconnecting…

I cannot believe that I am working on my last blog post for 2025, which means I have managed to meet my target of ten this year! Not only that but I have achieved the super figure of fifty blog posts published since I started my writing adventure back in March 2020 thanks to Covid. Who would have told me that five years later I would still be putting pen to paper! Needless to say, I am proud of myself for having reached such a milestone; I am delighted with myself for such productive five years; I am happy with myself for keeping it up despite the lack of time and inspiration at times. It has been an interesting journey, with quite a few roadblocks to overcome, some panic scenarios as the deadline was over, plenty of exciting opportunities trying to find the right topic, and for sure, loads and loads of great fun writing. Just in case, no one has noticed it, I do love writing.

…We live in a world of lacking time, being short of time, facing too many time constraints as we ask ourselves what time it is. 

It is a beautiful afternoon here somewhere in the amazing County Donegal, blue skies but cold, it does feel like winter. No storm on the horizon (fingers and toes crossed), therefore, rain and strong winds seem to be a distant memory. On the other hand, Imbolc is starting to feel closer now that the winter solstice is over. It may sound typical but one can see that tiny bit of stretch in the evenings, we are heading in the right direction. The fire is glowing away here in the fireplace in the cottage; a seasonal candle is flickering away perfuming the ambience; my usual cupán tae; ready to let my inspiration flow. I am just missing Chief Superintendent Smudge the Cat (too old for travels). I am sure though that she would definitely be curled next to me, purring away as a signal of her approval for keeping on the schedule as well as a gesture of recognition for my work, lol.

…We live in a world of rushing, hurrying up and running late as we ask ourselves what time it is…

I have had the topic of this last blog post for 2025 planned for a while, early summer days I would say. Despite not having mentioned it in any of my previous posts this year, it has been on my mind quite a lot. Run, run, run; come on let’s go; simply needing to rush. Time flies has been constant over this year, but the question I have asked myself and my partner the most is “what time is it?”. Why one would wonder, I guess it is a way of ensuring I do not waste time, a way of controlling that my schedule is on time, a way of not forgetting that time flies, a way of making sure I need to get things done, a way of not failing to remember that I have to hurry up. I guess I do not realise that even before the alarm goes off I am already on the go, thinking what time it is; that I do not pay enough attention to the fact that I am far too often running around trying to get everything sorted before I am late; that I do not want to admit the pressure of the clocking ticking away. How many times have I told myself that I am going to be late because I still have that and this to do? How many times have I said to myself that I do not have enough time to get my list of tasks done? How many times have I reminded myself that if I do not hurry up the day will finish without accomplishing what I was supposed to? Far too many, to be honest!!!

I am sure that the driver who dangerously overtakes me in the morning has just asked himself/ herself what time it is, and sadly by feeling the pressure of being late puts others in danger. I can see that someone is not actively listening because they have just asked himself/ herself what time it is, knowing time is flying and something else needs urgent attention, so unfortunately missing part of an important conversation. I believe that the person behind me on the line at the supermarket’s till trying to make me rush, has just asked himself/ herself what time it is, and is annoyingly urging me to go faster because they need to be somewhere else as soon as possible. I have no doubts that when no one gives way in a busy car park, it is because everyone has just asked themselves what time it is, realising that they should be home and choosing to  unthoughtfully ignore you. We live in a world of rushing, hurrying up and running late as we ask ourselves what time it is. We live in a world of lacking time, being short of time, facing too many time constraints as we ask ourselves what time it is. 

…Pause and actively listen to that song on the radio, sing along without letting what is next push you back to the swirl of rushing…

We live in a world where what time it is seems to matter too much! Hence the importance of taking time  to pause and reflect, to stop and take a breath, to disconnect and simply forget about time. First thing in the morning, rather than rushing around trying to get yourself ready, just pause for a moment to be grateful for a new day ahead. While walking at lunch break, rather than keeping an eye on your watch, simply stop, sit down on a bench and breathe in the fresh air. When you get home, instead of charging at what needs to be done, just sit down and enjoy a cupán tae and embrace the peace after a long day. How important it is to disconnect from our duties, our ties, our worries, our commitments, our constant need of checking what time it is. In one way or another, I do my best to pause, even in the middle of a busy day, and detach myself from everything so I can reconnect in a meaningful way. Pause and actively listen to that song on the radio, sing along without letting what is next push you back to the swirl of rushing. Pause and embrace the sunrise, appreciating the light spreading everywhere, without allowing the hurry to drag you to a busy day ahead. Pause and simply breathe and relish the silence, without permitting the loud hustle of life to redirect you to the maze of daily chores. 

As 2025 is coming to an end, put your feet up, while reflecting on what this year has been, patting yourself on the shoulder for what you have achieved, and relishing all the memories made, all the adventures joined, all the special moments shared. Pause!

As 2026 is just around the corner, I probably need to remind myself not to get caught in the ticking clock countdown and simply focus on the time to be lived ahead. And do not forget to get another cupán tae, treating yourself to another delicious festive sweet!

PS: Thanks to all of you who keep reading me! Let’s see what the new year brings… Athbhliain faoi mhaise daoibh! Happy New Year! Bon Any Nou!

Jay Cee Moon ©

Time flies!!!

…Slightly ahead of schedule, aware that time will fly and the month will come to an end, sooner than I would think… Well, well, well… ahead of schedule has become “my famous last words” as November has ended and my blog post has not made much progress!  This has been the trend over this year: no time left, deadline is over! Happy to say that I will be able to meet my target of ten blog posts in 2025, this one is number nine, only one more to go. Which I will be able to squeeze in before 2025 expires, fingers and toes crossed! Still not sure about my plans for next year, at the moment I am considering the option of going with the flow, although this approach may be too risky. When it comes to writing the “what will be, will be” seems not to work well for me. Planning, scheduling and setting up deadlines suits me better. So probably better to stick to some sort of a plan otherwise 2026 may end up being very unproductive when it comes to writing.

…Planning, scheduling and setting up deadlines suits me better…

It is a miserable evening here, damp and cold, but surprisingly quiet, the calm before the storm. The darkness of winter is surrounding us with a suffocating insistence. Some would say it is not officially winter as it will start on the 21st of December however the meteorological winter started on 1 December. The good news is that the countdown to the shortest day of the year has started, evenings will soon be longer as a guiding light towards Imbolc My usual candle is flickering away together with a few Christmas ornaments to brighten up the room, a cupán tae badly needed, blanket over my knees, no music on as I need full on concentration to make sure I get this blog post published today. Chief Superintendent Smudge the Cat is sleeping next to me; I will not dare to wake her up though, as she will surely give me one of her looks for being so late on my blog post (she knows I am well behind schedule, lol). Let’s get down to business before time flies again…

I had in mind a different topic for my November edition, but the fact that I missed my deadline, and it is already December, has made me change my mind. Time flies could be taken as carpe diem, which would be perfectly right. However, the focus of this blog post is going to be the fact that time actually flies, meaning that everything happens in a blink of an eye, that yesterday becomes “months ago” without even realising about it, that what seems to have happened last year is more likely to have been ten years ago! It feels like yesterday when we were welcoming the new year, hard to take in that nearly twelve months have gone by and a new one is about to start. One gets some sort of a shock when flipping the calendar page to the next month, which happens to be December: holy molly where have the other eleven months gone? Someone must have made a mistake when turning the pages! I find it hard to get my head around that 2025 is nearly over: another year gone! 

I thought light was the one travelling the fastest, although over the last few years I have started to doubt this theory. It feels to me that time is now flying faster and faster, quicker and quicker, speedier and speedier; as if time has become a passenger on a high speed train. One minute you wake up to a brand new year, and a thousandth of a second later, you are hanging on the edge of the very same year desperately trying to keep it going. One minute you open your eyes to a new decade, and a thousandth of a second later, you are hopelessly attempting to prevent it from ending. One minute you open the door to a big birthday, and a thousandth of a second later, you are despairingly praying for the next one to be delayed. 

…I do feel sometimes that life itself has reached hypersonic speed levels…

I do feel sometimes that life itself has reached hypersonic speed levels. “I thought it was only a few months ago, when in fact it was a few years ago”, has somehow turned into a worrying trend in my existence. Years seem to be piling up in the chest called “yesterday”, memories seem to be adding pages to a book called “the day before yesterday”; tears and laughter seem to be filling up a jar called “yesterday is well gone”. It was only a few weeks ago when plans were made for a long weekend, lamentably it will soon be too far away and a blurred vision to recall. It was only a couple of months ago when we were getting ready to get on a plane to visit family and friends, unfortunately it will soon be a long time ago. It was only last year when that one of my besties passed away, sadly it will soon be many years ago. Because time simply flies!

…If I daydream for a couple of minutes, it feels like another week is gone…

I am not sure if it is because I am getting older as they say, or because it is the post Covid effect as we lost nearly a year, or because someone up there keeps putting their foot down on the accelerator of the train called life. What I know is that days are vanishing away faster than ever, that months are disappearing quicker than ever, that years are evaporating speedier than ever! If I get distracted for just a simple second, it feels like another year is after passing by. If I daydream for a couple of minutes, it feels like another week is gone. If I disconnect for a while, it feels like yesterday already. 

Time simply flies! Try to keep yourself grounded, make sure you focus on the here and now, ensure you seize every single moment. Because in the blink of an eye, in a fraction of a second, in a heartbeat, now will become a long time ago! 

Jay Cee Moon ©

…in the blink of an eye,

in a fraction of a second,

in a heartbeat,

now will become a long time ago!…

Connections, reconnecting…

October is coming to an end, and I naively thought I had plenty of time to work on my blog post number eight! At least, I still have a few days left before the deadline although I can feel the pressure on me. I may go for a blog a month next year, as it seems that this year I have been too relaxed with only aiming for ten, which has resulted in having just a couple of days left to accomplish my goal on several occasions. I will see how things go however I could say that I am one of those who performs better under pressure. Nevertheless, I should focus on getting this one ready and ensuring I meet my target before 2025 finishes. Time seems to be flying faster and faster as the year advances (great topic to write about). The good news is that I have the topic sorted for this one and the following one, which means I will only have to worry about the last one once December quicks in; I am sure I will come up with a great theme for it, but if you have suggestions, do let me know!

It is a dull afternoon of the October Monday Bank Holiday. It was sunny with clear blue skies earlier this morning however, the grey clouds have taken over making sure the sun has no chances of reappearing. Drizzle and rain are taking it into turns, not an outdoor day at all. All the blinds are up, all the lights and lamps are on, but it still feels dark here in the sitting room. Even the few last summer flowers look lifeless, as if they were aware of the miserable weather out there. On the other side though one can sense the calm before the storm, as strong winds and gusts are on the way. Now that we have all moved the clocks backward, the shorter days are here to stay, reminding us of those long dim and fainted days that will definitely chain us to the darkness of winter. 

My usual cupán tae,to keep me going, to cheer me up, to comfort me. The candle flickering away pretending to defy the dullness of the day. My Catalan music playlist in the background to inspire me. And obviously, Chief Superintendent Smudge the cat curled next to me, waking up very so often to give me one of her looks, those that strongly reprimand me for still not having finished this blog post, hilarious. Let’s get down to business…

…Last month for the first time in nearly four years, I went back to Tarragona…my hometown, part of who I have become… 

Connections, powerful connections. I have written many times about Ireland having become home to me, about Ireland having given me the chance to rediscover myself, about Ireland having gifted me the chance of blossoming. However, I rarely expand on being Catalan, celebrating my roots or the importance of my origins. When I moved to the Emerald Isle I left behind a part of my life which recently I have felt the need to reconnect with. The fact that my parents moved from my hometown brought a new dimension when flying to Catalonia. My parents now live in the Pyrenees, so when visiting them I am not going back to my Catalan home, but to my parents house. Do not get me wrong, the Aran Valley is beautiful but I am not deeply rooted there, it does not nourish my Catalan soul as it should. The thing is that by trying to please and visit them I had ended up neglecting myself. Last month for the first time in nearly four years, I went back to Tarragona. Words cannot express the contentment, the joy, in fact pure joy and happiness, the great vibrations of wandering around the old town of the old Roman Tarraco, of walking along l’Arrabassad beach where I used to go to clear my head, of having breakfast in one of my usual cafés just round the corner where I used to live. I felt like I was back home, it did indeed. The power of reengaging with a part of who I am, simply priceless. The power of reconnecting with my hometown, simply timeless. The power of relinking with my past, simply fearless. Tarragona carries loads of memories, of special moments, of unforgettable experiences, of love. Tarragona holds plenty of struggles and hard times, of sad times, of tears. Tarragona encloses me and my thoughts, me and my dreams, me and my weaknesses, me and my fears, me and my strengths, me and my hardships, me and my worries. Tarragona, my hometown, part of who I have become. 

…Life is too short and one does not know what tomorrow will bring or take away from you…

Connections, meaningful connections. The fact that my parents moved from my hometown has also brought a new issue when flying to see them.There is not a chance of visiting the rest of the family and getting to meet with my friends as Tarragona is nearly a four hours drive or an endless journey by bus and train. I guess that losing one of my besties last December somehow influenced the need to make an effort to visit Tarragona despite my parents no longer living there. Life is too short and one does not know what tomorrow will bring or take away from you. Words cannot express the excitement, the rewards, the emotions of reconnecting with friends. The power of being greeted at the airport by my two besties and others, simple heart melting. The power of spending the day with my besties, chatting away, laughing, honouring our missing bestie, making new memories, simple soul touching. The power of enjoying an invigorating chat with my childhood friend by the beach, simply soul warming. The power of spending a couple of hours with my friends from my teenage and adult years as time had never passed, simply soul nourishing. The power of getting together with my friend from University and her family, simply soul comforting. The power of chatting away with my old neighbour as it was yesterday when we last talked to each other, simple soul embracing. The power of going shopping with my aunt – my second mom, simply unforgettable. The power of sharing dinner with one of my cousins, simple soul empowering. It was really overwhelming to see everyone making an effort to meet me and my partner, simply speechless! Friends of mine, to whom I owe unconditional support, laughter and loads of shared memories.

…reconnect with my past as a gesture of gratitude to where I am from…

Connections, powerful and meaningful connections. As society pushes us to move forward in a fast changing world, where looking back seems to be meaningless, where the future has such a vital role in everyone’s existence, where values are unclear and lost at times; I find it necessary to stop and reconnect with my past as a gesture of gratitude to where I am from, to stop and embrace my hometown as a sign of appreciation to where I am now, to stop and hope as a hint of aspiration to where I also want to drop by in the future as part of my life.  

I can only thank and thank again all my friends and family who took time to be with me, who made it possible for me to reconnect with that part of my life, who spared a few hours to have me back in their lives. I also need to thank my partner who guided me to envisage the importance of connections, of reconnecting. 

Jay Cee Moon ©

I do this thing called “whatever I want”…

…I am what I am and what I am needs no excuses… 

Oops, I did it again! September has flown by so quickly, janey mack! When I thought I would have plenty of time to work on my new blog post, I find myself with only four days left. Saying I am a bit under pressure is just an understatement, that is for sure. The clock is ticking; the countdown is moving fast, the panic is embracing me. If that was not enough, I feel a lot under the weather, the joys of autumn viruses dancing around; it is that time of the year again. Hopefully, my inspiration is going to come along and give me a hand (a handful of hands, indeed) so I can get this blog done and dusted before the day comes to an end. I am still determined to accomplish my target of ten blog posts published in 2025! Only four to go, confident that I will meet my deadlines. Let’s get number seven started… 

….Oops, I did it again! …

My head is buzzing, unfortunately not with great ideas. I am in bed with a heavy cold or some sort of flu, so badly timed. The viruses could have waited just a couple of days, couldn’t they? That would have been nice, but no, here they are to make things more difficult for me, super. From the window of our bedroom, all I can see is a damp, dull, grey, cold and rainy day. It is lashing, the wind is howling, and the clouds are going nowhere. The symphony of raindrops falling is a great soundtrack to have in the background: raindrops are falling on my roof… The shadows of winter are threatening to spread their tentacles over the autumn vibes. After stunning sunny weather yesterday, one wakes up to a miserable day like today, as a cruel reminder of what is ahead of us: long dark days, baltic cold spells, wet and windy days, a long list of storms and who knows what else. I think I will hang on to those summer memories, when we could have dinner al fresco in our courtyard, as Imbolc seems to be too far away. 

…raindrops are falling on my roof…

My usual cupán tae, a candle flickering away, together with a glass of water, lots of tissues, a load of lozenges, plenty of paracetamol, a thick blanket and of course, Chief Superintendent Smudge the cat looking after me (well, well, well, she is snoring her head off, as cats do, so she may be oblivious to my poor state, hilarious). It looks like the servant services only go one way, her way! Her ears are up, better get down to business or she will wake up to give me one of her looks, lol. 

…I want to break free… 

I know it is such a cliché to quote those words from Oscar Wilde “be yourself, everyone else is taken” but the truth is he was dead right. I was brought up with the importance of keeping the appearances engraved on my skin, on my behaviour, on my thinking, on my existence, on my mind. Everything was carefully sieved through what others would say, talk about, or even criticise. Everything was meticulously screened by the eyes of what others would judge, understand or even imagine. Everything was rigorously examined to avoid others gossiping, spreading rumours or even misjudging. I was constantly reminded to behave wherever I was. I was insistently reminded to follow the standards of society. I was persistently reminded to ensure I was saying the right thing. Moreover, I was often instructed not to dare to be different. I was sometimes instructed not to get off the beaten track. I was occasionally instructed not to be bold nor do what I wanted. Because at the end of the day, appearances always matter, always go first, appearances always win… I want to break free… 

…l shake it off, I shake it off (whoo-hoo-hoo)… 

The stigma of keeping the appearances was so deeply rooted on me that it took a few decades to rub it off. I had to relearn to be able to simply do what I wanted without having to worry what others would say. I had to rediscover how to simply not care about what others might think of me. I had to re-educate myself to be comfortable and confident doing what pleased me. I can see clearly now the veil has gone … The guilt was a heavy load over my shoulders as if I was committing a major crime. The shame was a dreadful costume that imprisoned me. The fear was like a dark knight who never let his guard down. However, the relief of releasing myself from years of layers of social facade, the ease of emancipating myself from years of covers of imposed standards, the freedom of freeing myself from years of shields of approved expectations, was priceless! l shake it off, I shake it off (whoo-hoo-hoo)… 

…I can see clearly now the veil has gone …

It is an amazing feeling to have the power of detaching yourself from what others will say. It is so empowering to be able to follow your own path without feeling like you have betrayed all your ancestors. It is so rewarding to simply be yourself not owing any sort of explanations to anyone. Do not get me wrong, my words do not imply being rude, cruel or unthoughtful, they only emphasise the importance of being true to yourself rather than trying to please everyone else. A couple of years ago, I came across a t-shirt that said, “I do this thing called whatever I want”, which made me laugh. The truth is that I still have it, it is now at my parents’ house and I use it as my pyjamas top. Needless to say that is the first thing they see of me in the morning, which means I can be me. Oh what a beautiful mornin’, oh what a beautiful day…

…Oh what a beautiful mornin’, oh what a beautiful day…

At the end of the day, we only have one life, keeping up appearances is a waste of precious time.  Do not be afraid of being you, of doing what you want to do, of wearing that dress that you love, of  singing out loud, of getting off the beaten track, of being bold, of daring to choose your own path, of following your dreams, of being different, of not following those imposed social standards; without worrying about what others will think or say. Do not be scared to be judged, because if anyone wants to condemn you for not keeping up appearances, it means you are doing what you want, you are simply you.

When I do that thing called “whatever I want “it is because I am what I am and what I am needs no excuses… 

Jay Cee Moon ©

Give things a second life!

July has come to an end (August is here) and I have not made any decent progress with my next blog post, although I have had great discussions with myself trying to decide what I should be writing about. I guess it would be a lot easier to pick up one of my old topics and work on an updated version. However, I do love challenges and I find it very satisfying coming up with a brand new subject. It is also a good exercise for the brain, as a way of keeping those grey cells busy so they are in a healthy shape. And of course, it is fun! One would say that I am under a bit of pressure as 2025 has only five months left, and I still need five more blog posts published to meet my target of ten. It may be the fact that years keep piling up on my shoulders (they say that the older one gets, the faster time flies) but I am finding it hard to understand what has happened to the first seven months of this year, not sure where they have gone. Simply saying that they have flown by quickly is just a mere underestimation, they have actually vanished away at the speed of light. Scary indeed, as memories of last month seem to have become a distant shadow, as if they were from a decade ago! Hence the importance of keeping packing life with as many memories as possible so the backpack of special moments and unique experiences is never empty. 

Despite the rain on Swithin’s day (it is said that if it rains on that day it will rain for the next forty days and forty nights) it is quite a nice evening here, down in the lands of Wild West Cork. Sitting on the edge of Dursey shore, listening to the sea, its soothing sounds of well needed calming peace, its refreshing melody of mind recovering wellness, its empowering concerto of waves crashing into the rough coastline. Simply realising the power of the deep blue sea, of the wild ocean, of the vast mass of salty water. One would not dare to suggest it is summer nevertheless the sun is partying alongside with clouds and cool winds. At least, we are half way through those forty days, thank lord! I read somewhere the other day that “La Niña” is back, which will bring a colder, harsher and wetter winter, with plenty of storms. Let’s hope that September gifts us some sunshine and drier days! One can only dream…

I should get down to business, shouldn’t I? My usual cúpan tae, no candle flickering away, no music in the background so I am not distracted and my mind does not wonder away, just the sounds of the ocean. Chief Superintendent Smudge the cat is curled next to me pretending to be asleep when in fact she is keeping an eye on me, I can sense her disapproval with my delay on my writing commitments. Let’s get this blog post flowing just in case Chief Superintendent decides to take matters into her own paws… 

…that was the origin of an amazing journey of discovering the joys of giving material things a second life…

This is probably my first time starting to write a blog post without having fully decided the topic. The good news is that I have made my mind up, it was time for me to do so! I cannot remember exactly when I started to enjoy my outings to charity shops in search of treasures, but I would say it all began around four years ago. Initially, it was mainly related to my crafts, as I needed frames so I decided that it would have a more meaningful approach to use second hand frames and give them an artistic new life. What I was not expecting at that time was to be captivated by the excitement of looking around, picking up pottery, vases, crystal items, Royal Tara fine bone china objects as well as coming across beautiful unique pieces. That was the origin of an amazing journey of discovering the joys of giving material things a second life, of embracing endless possibilities of decorating our home, of relishing the chances of stumbling on something extraordinarily beautiful. One would be surprised to see what people get rid of, brand new, never used, still in its packaging, with its tags, just patiently sitting on the shelves of second hand shops awaiting a new home. 

…as one steps in, our house embraces you with a hug…

Over the last couple of years, my interests have shifted towards pieces of furniture. From a phone table, a hall table, a corner shelf, bookshelves, a kitchen cabinet…And many other stunning units, given away probably for the only reason that they were not modern nor stylish anymore. But the thing is that I love that vintage touch, that mid century label, that full of character feeling. It definitely gives the house warmth and it makes one feel welcome. Someone told me last summer that as one steps in, our house embraces you with a hug, isn’t that lovely? What a nice compliment! While finding that new acquisition is great fun, deciding where it will best suit is even more exciting, however admiring it afterwards is extremely rewarding! I may check “marketplace” every now and again, although my favourite retail therapy is the local APA shop (A Partnership with Africa), where I can wander around searching for my new item purchased (or victim lol). Not only that but the chats and banter are a treasure to hold. 

…If one dares to be bold, one may venture into urban foraging…

If one dares to be bold, one may venture into urban foraging, or skip diving, in the search for treasures. A while ago we were walking around the village when my partner stopped to have a quick look into a skip, mainly looking for wood when I spotted some sort of what I thought was a blue pottery vase. To my surprise, it was in fact a lamp, in perfect condition, from an expensive well-known pottery brand! Needless to say I did not hesitate grabbing it so I could bring it home to check if it worked. A good cleaning, a light bulb, a new lampshade, and there you go, a beautiful enhancement for the phone table. The lamp is still brightening our hall every single evening. Every time I look at it, I smile as it brings me back to that moment when I came across it. You never know what you may find in a skip…

Since we are at full capacity when it comes to room for new furniture, I always have the chance to upgrade units while giving away the replaced ones via the local “free to take” groups. I know that it is easier to bring unwanted items to the reclining center or to dispose of them by simple binning when possible. However, I do prefer to pass them on so others can benefit. I can understand why people would not want the hassle of taking pictures, uploading them onto the local “free to take” page, and responding to those interested, but I do. I guess it is my humble contribution to make this world more sustainable, to reduce the necessity of purchasing new items, to incentivize the recirculation of goods. 

In a world of consumerism, where pressure for buying is some sort of an imperative, where goods seem not to be valued much, where things are easily replaceable. In a world of materialism, where fast fashion is nearly compulsory, where trends change too quickly, where state of the art products are so admired. I chose to give things a second life!

Jay Cee Moon ©

Go raibh míle maith agat, my Emerald Isle!

As usual time flies, I thought I had plenty of time to work on my eight years in Ireland blog post, and the date is literally round the corner. Pressure to meet the deadline will hopefully do its magic, fingers and toes crossed because I have less than twenty-four hours left. Needless to say that these eight years have also flown, it still feels like yesterday when I was getting on the ferry in Cherbourg with my car packed to the roof, it still feels like yesterday when I was standing on the stern deck looking at the continent disappear in the horizon as if my life in Catalonia was also vanishing, it still feels like yesterday when I went up to the bow deck to gaze at the silhouette of the Emerald Isle which would bring a new fresh start. Eight years have gone by in the blink of an eye; however, and at the same time, there are times when it seems like I have been living in Ireland for decades. Éire has brought to both my heart and my soul peace, it has brought myself back from the dungeons of low times, it has brought me through an amazing journey of self-discovering and self-growing. Curious fact: Éire evolves from the old Irish word Éiru which was the name of a Gaelic goddess. 

It is a smashing sunny evening in this end of the world, somewhere in West Wicklow. You can feel the warmth embracing you, nearly scared to say that it actually feels like summer just in case winter mode turns up to ruin such a wonderful feeling. The weather has been very unsettled since those lovely weeks back in May, when we had hardly no rain for the whole month. June has not been sunny as we all thought and wished however, despite the heavy showers we have enjoyed sunny days. Blinds are all up, for the house to soak up the sunshine. Everything seems to be full of life, everything looks brighter, everything feels energising. It is nice to see the rooms, the garden, the surrounding fields relishing those rays of light, for a change at last. Everything looks new, those dark, cold and damp days are a distant memory. The Emerald Isle is simply amazing, and when the sun does shine it is absolutely stunning: the shades of lush green on every hill, the shades of blues on the wild ocean, the shades of rainbows displayed by spring blossoms. One thing that I have learned over the last eight years is that the weather (apart from being topic number one in conversations) is so changeable that one can have four seasons in one day. So there we go, the sun has disappeared, clouds are back and it looks like it is going to rain soon.

Candle flickering away, as it is a special occasion to me, another anniversary to celebrate and honour. This time Celtic music playing in the background, perfect to bring back all those memories packed thanks to this magic island. Cupán tae as usual, as it is good for anything, including inspiration to be cheered to flow. And of course, Chief Superintendent Smudge the cat is right next to me, and funnily enough she is not sleeping, she is staring at me as if she knew I am behind schedule, under pressure and running out of time. Better get down to business…

…I could feel thousands of years of Celtic queens’ energy embracing me as well as gifting me a magical potion of strength and wisdom… 

The Emerald Isle, magically soul healer, magically heart repairer, magically life enhancer. Éire has something that catches your soul in a way that not everyone can appreciate. I am one of those lucky ones who has been able to experience that captivating charm, that magnetising pull, that invigorating effect. Not only have I managed to be myself again after so many years of hiding behind the mask of self-rejection, but also to blossom in so many ways that I would have never thought I would. Back in 2017 when I moved to Ireland I visited plenty of powerful places with Celtic roots: Tara, Newgrange, Loughcrew cairns, as well Knocknarea Mountain where it is said that the warrior queen Medb (Maebh or Maeve) is buried in its cairn. I know that one is not supposed to climb to the top of the cairn but I was at the bottom looking up and without realising I found myself at the top of the cairn, as if a Medb herself had pulled me up there. I will never forget how powerful the experience was: I could feel thousands of years of Celtic queens’ energy embracing me as well as gifting me a magical potion of strength and wisdom. 

…I took a ferry to a far away land, followed my dream with courage and persistence, bravely defied my fate so I could start again, and that made all the difference…

Eight years of an amazing journey of self-discovery, self-acceptance, self-actualization,  self-awareness and self-compassion. With plenty of ups and downs, plenty of obstacles and adversities, plenty of hardships and efforts made. With loads of great memories and special moments, loads of laughter and funny situations, loads of unforgettable adventures and unknown paths to discover. I left my comfort zone when I packed my car, drove through France, got on the ferry and landed in Ireland the following day. I dared to follow my dreams and worked hard to make them come true. And as my silent hero magni used to say, I became a hero who fought for her wishes and desires with determination. Robert Frost once said, “two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference”. I took a ferry to a far away land, followed my dream with courage and persistence, bravely defied my fate so I could start again, and that made all the difference.

…The Emerald Isle where my soul has found peace, where my heart has found contentment, where my spirit has risen from the ashes like a phoenix…

Eight years later, I still would do it again: I would definitely jump on a ferry and move to Ireland; I would certainly voyage to the land of my hopes and dreams; I would assuredly translocate to the isle of Celtic queens and goddesses. Éire has offered me a chance to get my life together, to believe in my own strengths, to let my creativity go wild, to be proud of who I am, to savour new opportunities. I have no regrets, it has not been an easy journey but it is all well worth all the sacrifices I made. Proud of myself, grateful for this unbelievable adventure. The Emerald Isle where my soul has found peace, where my heart has found contentment, where my spirit has risen from the ashes like a phoenix. 

To my family for understanding that I had to move to Ireland, as I owed to myself. To my Irish family for welcoming me with such kindness and looking after me. To my magnis friends who helped me from day one and kept encouraging me when things were tough. To my friends who from a distance have made an effort to keep in touch. To those who have helped along the trail one way or another. To those who have given me a chance to settle down in the Emerald Isle. To my Irish partner who keeps reminding me how hard I am working for my dreams and supports me unconditionally. 

Go raibh míle maith agat, my Emerald Isle! 

Jay Cee Moon ©

Dead Poets Society, my homage…

There we go again! Eager to write and get another blog post published, which means I will be half way through my 2025 goal as this will be my fifth! My last blog post, “Silent heroes”, was a difficult one to write. It has left a sort of a veil tinted with sadness covering my brain, and probably myself too. Sadly, life moves on, it does not stop, one can feel days passing by faster and faster. I could linger in this blue mood but dwelling in the past will definitely not change what has already happened. I could hang around in this grey cloud but this lifeless shade will definitely not make grief vanish. I could simply remain stuck in this sad moment but it would only be wasting precious time. As they say, life is indeed too short.

My usual cupán tae, a candle flickering away and definitely a blanket is needed today, typical Irish summer day (cold, damp and miserable out there). Catalan music playing in the background, it nourishes my roots. Superintendent Smudge the cat is sleeping next to me, although her ears are up which means she is keeping an eye on me and my writing duties. I would not dare to make a move, she would not allow it. In fact, I should be getting down to business or she may wake up and give me one of her looks!

…It is amazing to be you, never forget that! 

I try not to repeat topics; it is a great challenge for me to squeeze my brain so I can write about something I have not already been up to. Looking through the list of what I have published, letting inspiration go wild, having great discussions with myself, an addictive exercise which releases adrenaline and makes me feel good. As I was having lunch out in our courtyard earlier, relishing the serenade by the water pond and the birds, basking in the sun, a nice cool breeze embraced me and reminded me (once again) how important it is to be seizing the moment. After my “Silent heroes” blog post it feels the right choice to go back to that old “Carpe Diem” and all the treasured messages from that iconic movie starring Robin Williams.

It was 1989 when ”Dead Poets Society” was released, my besties and I went to the cinema, we were only fifteen but that evening at the movies left a deep meaningful footprint in our lives. We went home impregnated with quotes such as “Carpe, Carpe Diem, seize the day boys; make your lives extraordinary”, “O Captain! My Captain!”, “You must strive to find your own voice”, “I stand upon my desk to remind myself that we must constantly look at things in a different way” and “No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world”, among others.  The movie goes beyond the “live for today” message and becomes a super powerful reminder of how important it is to embrace one’s passions, and dare to be unique. Without being aware of it, the film became part of who we are now, of how we have sailed the ship through the years, of our shared memories.

…As long as we are alive, today is always a good day so make sure you get the most out of it..

Carpe Diem. As we rush through life pushed by the urgency of everything demanding to be done, as we stampede through days and weeks cheered by the necessity of moving forward, as we race through minutes and hours encouraged by the importance of not wasting time; we seem to lose track of what really matters, the here and now. Seizing the moment should apply to every aspect of our existence to ensure we do not miss out on any memories to make. Whether it means to pause to absorb what the day has brought us up to, whether it implies to pay attention to what is around us, whether it makes us appreciate those little things as precious gifts, whether it gets us to call that friend today rather than leaving it for another day, whether it involves keeping us grounded to be present. Make sure not to keep leaving words for tomorrow, simply say them. Ensure not to keep leaving kisses and hugs for tomorrow, simply give them to whom you love. Make certain not to postpone calls for tomorrow, simply pick up the phone. As long as we are alive, today is always a good day so make sure you get the most out of it, because tomorrow may be too late!   

 

Find your own voice. As we make efforts to blend in the current society pushed by the urgency of social trends, as we convince ourselves to ignore our inner voice cheered by the necessity of following the crowds, as we try to hide our uniqueness encouraged by the importance of matching absurd standards; we seem to lose track of what really matters, simply be ourselves. In a world of influencers, of social media imposed paths, of constant identity loss; we need to listen to our own voice more often. In a world of blurred individuality, of unauthentic patterns to follow, of meaningless existences; we need to actively appreciate our own singularity. In a world of bland uniformity, of predictable stereotypes, of automated responses; we need to be proactively ourselves. Channelling our energy to make us shine for what we are, focusing our efforts to make us glow for whom we are, empowering our true essence to make us sparkle for simply being us. One should not be afraid to consistently emphasise their uniqueness. It is amazing to be you, never forget that!   

Look at things in a different way. As we stumble through life pushed by the imposed points of views from society, as we follow the expected paths cheered by the stiffed mandatory opinions, as we adhere to the established beliefs encouraged by the judgemental majority; we seem to forget that there is always another angle to things. We are entitled to step out to think outside the box, we are allowed to step aside to turn things on their head, we are enabled to step back to see things from unusual coordinates. There is always another perspective, another dimension, another scenario. I guess it is easier to stick to those widely accepted, conventionally deeply rooted options rather than pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone to look at things in an innovative way! However, we need to be brave and have the courage to approach situations in a distinct manner. You will be amazed how an unfamiliar view can bring such a brand new and remarkable sequence of events! Next time you may think you are stuck in a maze of anticipated results, stand upon your desk to remind yourself that there is always a fresh way to see things!

…stand upon your desk to remind yourself that there is always a fresh way to see things!

My humble homage to the film that has made my life extraordinary!

Dedicated to my amazing magnis…

Jay Cee Moon ©

Silent heroes…

So far, I have managed to get two blog posts published in 2025, only eight more to get my expectations for 2025 covered: I am pretty sure I can get them all out before the end of the year! Looking forward to seeing where my writing paths will take me. It is always exciting to be able to fill in the blank pages with lots of different topics, with loads of creative ideas, with plenty of inspirational words. I thought that after such a fruitful 2024, both my inspiration and eagerness to write would need a rest, but the fact that I am working on my third blog has proven me wrong. I could dare to say that my creativity is on fire. Long may it last!  It is a dull evening in this side of the world. Looking out through the window (which could do with some cleaning), the sky looks grey and lifeless, there is a sense of winter rather than spring, it feels like rain is on the way. On the other hand, the birds are singing and eating away from their nearly empty feeder, the daffodils are blooming offering a lovely range of whites and yellows, and one can now appreciate the stretch in the evenings. My usual cupán tae, the candle flickering away on the dining table, Smudge the cat cuddling next to me. She has appointed herself Chief Superintendent with duties on making sure I keep writing, if I try to leave the couch her paw reaches me as if she was imposing her authority: you are going nowhere until you are done. I should get down to business, otherwise I may get lost wondering how I could sneakily get up to get myself some dark chocolate without the Chief Superintendent noticing…

Sadness is embracing me, some sort of a veil of grief, a devastating feeling that something (and someone) is missing. The overcast sky is probably reflecting my current mood, as this blog post is a very special one to me, but at the same time, very touching and sad to be writing. The thing is that I was not planning, expecting, or thinking of including this blog post to my list for 2025 or not even in the coming years. The thing is that life has such unexpected turns that with the rage of a tsunami simply takes away what is important to us, the change of a shared future, those who we love. The fact is that we are so often left with no choice other than to keep living knowing that things have changed, that although memories will keep us going, that life will not be the same without our loved ones. Sadness is holding me close, some sort of a veil of heartbreak, a desolating feeling that someone (and something) is missing. 

This blog post aims to be my own homage to those out there who are silent heroes, even though they might not be aware that what they do is actually heroic, even though they might not want to accept that they have become heroes, even though they might never know because they are no longer with us. 

They carry on even on the toughest times, despite the hardships they have to endure, in spite of the lack of real super powers. They take on arduous endeavours so others can have a better life, they undertake the burden of keeping things to themselves so others do not have to worry, they embark on a scary journey to unknown lands so others can have an easy path. They accept their fate without hesitation, they bear with the inevitable without doubt, they abide by life unexpected unfair turns. 

In spite of life being unjust to them, they do not sit down and complain, they elegantly keep going. In spite of not having any other choice, they choose to make the most of the situation, relishing every single moment of what is left. In spite of knowing there will not be a way out, they walk out with pride as if they were humbly honoured by the crowds. 

They suffer in silence, not letting others help carry the worries. They feel obliged to disguise the truth so those around them can smile and laugh as if nothing was happening. They cry alone, not allowing themselves to have a shoulder to cry on. They feel obliged to fake it, so others do not feel like they have to be there all the time. “I am grand” becomes their best ally in order to keep others away. 

My words probably do not do justice to what they have to endure, to what they take on, to what they put up with. However, by doing all of the above and more, they become silent heroes.

With great sorrow and desolation, I still can clearly remember when one of my besties told me that I was her hero for having moved to Ireland to make my dream come true. She was full of praise for my bravery, my strength, my determination. How would she think I could be a hero? I was just me, true to myself, following my dreams. Her words had vanished over the years, as they do; although they were kept silent and dormant somewhere in my mind until last December. My bestie sadly passed away, and those words came back as I was talking to her sister. I was sharing with her some anecdotes , unintentionally trying to comfort her (but probably intentionally me) when I found myself saying to her that her sister once told me that I was her hero. In that very moment, a wave of sadness embraced me as I realised that my bestie had become my silent hero.

After thirty seven years of unforgettable friendship, laughter, tears, adventures, great shared moments, nights out, travels, unconditional support, priceless pieces of advice, love and much more. This blog post is my humble homage to you, magni, my silent hero. Magnis forever!

Jay Cee Moon ©

The magic of creativity!

February is officially over which means March has arrived. Brighter days are here to come, that is for sure. You can see the stretch in the evenings now, the sun sets just before six, although it is nearly quarter to seven before it gets dark. You can also see the stretch in the mornings now, the sun rises nearly at seven thirty but those “pitch black” early mornings are over, as there is some sort of a glimpse of light at quarter to seven. It is amazing to see the difference a month can make. The weather has not improved yet, very unsettled still, but the promise of longer and brighter days keeps me going. Rain, strong winds, hailstones, damp and dull days seem to be willing to accompany us for a bit longer than we would like them to. Nevertheless, we will endure them as we look forward to those sunny evenings in the courtyard, having dinner al fresco. It is a cold but sunny evening, my usual cupán tae, the candle flickering away, Smudge tucked next to me (making sure I do not move until my blog is finished, she is the boss!). Let’s be creative and let the words flow.

The “be creative” topic has been on my list for a while, but sometimes ideas need their time to evolve and make sense; every so often, ideas tend to fluff around not willing to settle; and occasionally, you simply do not feel like writing about that idea. Inspiration has finally decided to join forces with me so I can get this blog published. Much more, my creativity has also agreed to give me a hand!

I was not given a proper chance to let creativity run free, as a kid at school. That was a long time ago, maybe things are different now. I have seen a collection of drawings from my years in Pre School, but that was the beginning and the end of encouragement for me as a kid to be creative. Once I set foot in primary school everything became about learning maths, literature, science, geography, history, languages and many others. There was no such emphasis on cultivating the art of exploring your own creative skills, simply because they would definitely not get you into college. All my years at school (both primary and secondary) were based on studying hard so my marks were good enough to enrol in university. Do not get me wrong, I have great memories from those times, I learned a lot, and all my hard work back then got me to where I am today. But I always felt there was something missing. I can clearly remember myself writing short poems while trying to find the perfect word, the perfect verse, the perfect rhyme. I can clearly remember myself drawing lines and curves, trying to find the right shape, the right dimension, the right structure. I can clearly remember myself playing with colour pencils, trying to find the best blend, the best shade, the best visual impact. Amid being ignored and not cultivated, creativity vanished as if it was like a magic trick. I guess I buried it myself, as a result of being ashamed and not being encouraged to let my creative flow.

 “…It felt like a rainbow of inspiration embracing me to unleash my creativeness…”

Years went by, although I kept writing, things were really quiet on the artistic inventive side. I was in my mid-forties when a chance of being creative came to me, unexpected, unannounced, out of the blue, but at the same time full of energy. It felt like a rainbow of inspiration embracing me to unleash my creativeness, it felt like a powerful swirl guiding me towards an exciting universe; it felt like a super wave of inventiveness empowering me. It was early 2020, the global pandemic had brought lockdowns, curfews and many other restrictions: I found myself confined to the room I was renting, with not many amenities and hardly anything happening as the world seemed to have stopped. I have never been a great fan of television, video games or social media. There was only so much bread I could bake, I had reached my threshold of books I could read, I had lost the enthusiasm for tidying up my room for the umpteenth time. This was the perfect scenario for creativity to find its way out from the dungeons of ignorance, incomprehension and repression. My creative appetite had been unleashed and was eager to blossom: simply unstoppable! 

“…It was such great fun! Matching colours so they blended with each other, adding decorative drawings so the overall effect was super…”

Writing was the first of many areas where creativity splashed its colourful brush-strokes all over. This is my forty second blog, which is a great achievement for me that over a period of nearly five years I have managed to reach such a milestone! What a journey of finding topics, playing with words, exploring ideas. Trying to disconnect from a demanding and stressful job I found myself painting, decorating and writing powerful messages on pebbles. It was such great fun! Matching colours so they blended with each other, adding decorative drawings so the overall effect was nice, coming across the right words so the message was powerful. Who would have told me that a few years later, I would have a super range of handmade and hand painted crafts that people would be willing to buy for themselves, for their loved ones, for colleagues: a mix of pebbles, wooden items, frames, hanging decorations, seasonal ornaments. All sorts of nice pieces of art to offer some warm touches to houses and gardens. Not an easy endeavour to find time for both creative activities; not an easy task to find the right balance between both inventive activities; not an easy challenge to find the perfect ideas for both artistic activities: writing and crafting. One could say I am doing great though!

Creativity was determined to spread its tentacles further and further. Our house and our garden have also been touched by the wand of my creativeness! It is great fun spending time making sure the curtains and ornaments match the palette of colours in a particular room; it is great amusement figuring out where to place that painting so it blends in with its surroundings; it is great enjoyment moving things around so you can find the right place for them. Organising pots in the courtyard, arranging the flowers in a vase, painting the outdoors furniture: another great way of letting creativity do its job.  

“…Inspiration has even reached other areas, those I would have never thought I could be involved with…”

Inspiration has even reached other areas, those I would have never thought I could be involved with. To my surprise, I have discovered the joys of Lego and the infinite possibilities one can imagine. Building things by yourself using your imagination, without following any instructions from a manual, not knowing what it will end up looking like, is a very rewarding experience! You sit down, surround yourself by lots of pieces of lego and be ready to be inventive: the perfect setting for a unique vignette.

Once you open the door to creativity it is amazing to see how many other doors can be opened, it is unbelievable to discover what you are capable of creating, it is impressive to experience the power of its wings.Once you let creativity into your life, you will be surprised, it will not vanish but get stronger!

Jay Cee Moon ©

It is ok not to…

It feels like Christmas was yesterday but time flies, doesn’t it! I can believe that it was more than a month ago when we were eating away and celebrating the festivities! It is said that the older one gets the faster time flies, I do not think that I am that old to see time flying by this quickly (like cyberspace ultrasonic speed), someone should give time a speeding ticket! I have not committed myself to another round of a blog a month this year, although I would love to get ten published, which is probably more realistic. I have a few blogs lined up so far, but I am sure that they will be changed as the year evolves. I enjoy thinking, planning and brainstorming topics, ideas, sentences, etc. This has become a way for me to disconnect and get away from mundane tasks. Today is a miserable, damp, cold, windy and dark afternoon, it feels like the countdown for brighter days has stopped. Even though today is the first day of February, with Imbolc now here, which marks the beginning of spring. January has been a tough month, with severe weather conditions: we got snow, ice and extremely low temperatures for over a week, with plenty of heavy rain, followed by a brutal storm called Éowyn, which has become the strongest storm on record for Ireland, with a new record for wind speed at Mace Head of 183 km/h, followed immediately by another storm. As they say, even after the worst storm the sun will shine again, it may take longer than we expected but sunny days will be here soon. As usual, my cupán tae, the candle flickering away, our cat Smudge cuddling next to me, blanket on my knees and my inspiration buzzing away.

We are sometimes so harsh on ourselves when it comes to not fulfilling our own expectations, we are so often so non indulgent when it comes to understanding that life itself can get in the way, we are frequently punishing ourselves when it comes to having let ourselves down. We tend to assume it is not ok not to comply with our plans, commitments, chores, promises or any sort of duties. We tend to believe it is not ok not to do what we are supposed to do, not to do what we are meant to achieve, not to do what we were told to. But believe me, it is ok just to “simply not to”! 

It is ok not to have New Year’s resolutions. It is indeed! A new year is a blank book for loads of opportunities, projects and dreams to come true. 

It is ok not to go swimming or planned exercise because it is too cold, because you are tired or because you do not feel like it. As simple as that!

It is ok not to get out of bed until after midday on a Saturday, or not to be capable of avoiding going back to bed on Sunday after having had breakfast, or not to be able to stay up till late because you need to be in bed before nine as you have a long day ahead tomorrow. Nothing to feel ashamed of!

It is ok not to feel happy all the time, not to be up for much, not to be willing to leave the house so you can barricade yourself indoors. Sometimes one needs to feel sad, lazy and antisocial. Very understanding to be honest!

It is ok not to feel productive, creative or inspiring. There are times when our body, our mind, our soul burn out and need to pause to recharge. It is perfectly acceptable to take some time to restore yourself!

The guilt, we let embrace us; the shame, we envisage enfolding us; the pity, we empower to judge us. The culpability, we carry on our shoulders; the embarrassment, we stick to our existence; the rancor, we endure in order to redeem ourselves. All these feelings go beyond the limits one should accept, these feelings trespass the threshold of sanity and peace of mind, we become our worst enemies in a war of negative thoughts. And the thing is that once we have crossed this line we are damned to let the dark forces win over who we are. But trust me, it is acceptable just to “simply not to”! 

It is ok not to stick to the diet and treat yourself to something nice. It is indeed! Life is too short to suppress those guilty pleasures. 

It is ok not to want to talk to anyone, not to be willing to engage with others, not to pick up the phone and answer it. As simple as that!

It is ok not to be feeling like wearing makeup before leaving the house, not to be in the mood for a shower even though you know you should, not to be in the need of washing your hair when it does look messy. Nothing to feel ashamed of!

It is ok not to get out of bed in a hurry because you have lots to do, not to finish that long list of pending tasks that have been around for a while, not to feel like doing the dishes before going to bed because you are wrecked. Very understanding to be honest!

It is ok not to take on that new project as it looks arduous, not to be able to face that conversation as it may drag you down, not  to have the strength to deal with that difficult situation. It is perfectly acceptable to distance yourself from what is making you feel too stressed. 

At times, we ride on a “merry go round” of self judgement, we find ourselves trapped in a loop of self prejudice, we get lost in a maze of shades of self disregard. Sometimes, we buy ourselves tickets to a self whipping play,  we acquire a collection of self loathing manuals, we fill our travel suitcase with self disappointment souvenirs. We then forget that it is ok not to, and there is no need to feel ashamed, sorry or embarrassed. 

Whenever you sense you are about to judge yourself, remember that “it is ok no to…”

Jay Cee Moon ©