Are you resisting or welcoming Autumn? It has been a busy but very spacious few weeks since I last wrote, the time was full of lovely visitors, events, lots of swimming and walking, even a bit of dancing! Now, as the season is turning there are no complaints here, there’s not the usual resistance this year, rather a sense of readiness and much gratitude. It was such a wonderfully, long, restorative summer for many of us, and this time of plenty will hopefully stand to us in the coming months. As I begin to plan my own work now for the coming months, I can only say how thankful I am for every single opportunity, any word of encouragement and connection made over the last while.
Whether it was the continual sunshine or the constant presence of some good people and mindfulness practices in my life, or most likely a combination of these things, I really notice and appreciate how good I feel, having a sense of becoming ‘whole’ and more familiar to myself and feeling very grateful to have some vitality and energy back. I owe huge thanks to my mindfulness groups, because to have the opportunity to share our feelings and vulnerabilities in a safe space is priceless, whilst at the same time learning the sustainable skills of mindfulness and self-compassion. I have met so many wonderful people through some beautiful work opportunities over the summer, including mindful picnics on and around the Healy Pass for the Caha Centre, mindfulness meditation by the sea in Castletownbere and my ongoing work with family carers which I value hugely.
Even though my life and work are still a bit nomadic these days, I have the very best of both worlds, travelling the length and breadth of West Cork and Beara. I am beyond lucky to have been able to turn some of my own life experiences into programmes that can support others. While I am only beginning the process of planning my mindfulness work for the Autumn, I would like to flag two important events and programmes in the coming months. Because mindfulness practice has helped me through my own darkest hours, helped return me to some semblance of ‘normality’ and wholeness after crippling life events, it helps me massively to be able to offer these healing practices to others who might be facing difficulties.
I will be running a new three-week compassion-based mindfulness programme for family carers in October. I am proud to say that this is the sixth year of this gentle, but impactful programme. I developed this programme whilst caring for my own dad and noticed how mindfulness helped and supported me as a family carer. It helped me realise I was not alone, that my self-care mattered and taught me how to make best use of precious time with my dad, as well as some precious moments for myself. My ‘Reconnect and Re-engage’ programme consists of three workshops and is free thanks to the continued support of REACH funding administered by Cork Education and Training Board. Once people have completed the three-week programme, they are welcome to join a monthly mindfulness peer support group. There is no pressure whatsoever to do so. For some, the three-week programme is enough, while many other family carers have been coming consistently for years now.
In November, (date and venue to be confirmed) by way of remembering and honouring my lovely, kind, brother, Dermot, I will be running another ‘Live Your Legacy’ mindfulness workshop as a fundraiser for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust and Eden Valley Hospice, where Dermot was shown great kindness. I hosted this workshop for the first time last November and was delighted to divide the monies raised between these two wonderful organisations. The KBRT provides support to Irish families who have a loved one die abroad. They help families to bring them home. KBRT is a wonderful example of a family, who lost their own son abroad, Kevin Bell, healing and honouring their own loss by supporting others in similar situations. There is such great healing and meaning to be found in giving a hand to others who travel a similar road, recognising our common humanity. These lines from Emily Dickinson came to mind.
“If I can stop one heart from breaking, / I shall not live in vain; / If I can ease one life the aching, / Or cool one pain, / Or help one fainting robin / Unto his nest again, / I shall not live in vain”.
FREE Mindfulness programme for family carers coming in October at Cnoc Bui, Union Hall on Tuesdays October 14, 21 and November 3 from 11am -2pm with refreshments and light lunch provided. Please keep in touch: 087 2700572 or email: [email protected]. www.mindhaven.ie