I dug deep recently and found the courage, motivation and energy inside of me to move to beautiful Beara. Having followed an intuitive thread, invisible yet insistent, the change of scene has done me the power of good, and even my little dog Pudsy, despite her disability, seems to have been given a new lease of life. I’m not quite sure why we are here in Beara, but so far so good; I am trusting in the process. If I were to examine my decision rationally there is very little reason or sense to it. It was more an intentional, heart-felt choice, involving a deep sense of trust in my take on life, God, humanity, nature, the universe, the spirit of my deceased brother and ancestors and, I suppose, ultimately, myself.
I meant to use the phrase “live and let live” as my title but I repeatedly typed “live and let love” by mistake, so I just went with it! I have been offered a fresh start, and presented with an opportunity to rest and recalibrate, to restore my physical, mental and emotional health. Also, a chance to reflect on what really matters, re-examine family boundaries, and revisit the values that I aspire to live by, like authenticity and integrity. These values are very important to me and are a core part of living a mindful life. Because we view the world through different lenses, we can so often get tangled up in ‘stuff’ that has nothing to do with us really. We make our own choices. For me, having so little left in the tank, with my physical health improving, I made conscious choices for both wellbeing and integrity, seeking out people and places that nourish and nurture me in this new phase of recovery.
One thing I love about my move so far is the downsizing. I’m living in a much smaller, more manageable space, which means it is easier to keep tidy and organised. And because I am living more rurally, I need to be organised with my shopping and am putting my focus into healthy food, rest, meditation, exercise, water and plenty of good, kind company. It’s back to the beginning again, after limping along, in every possible sense of the word, for the last eight months and; unable to manage much physically, this move feels like, not alone learning to walk again, but learning to live again, with mindfulness and compassion at the centre of it all.
Looking back over the last eight months I am relieved to have survived them, there were many moments when I really doubted that I would make it. My hope in this moment and moving forward is to cultivate mindful acceptance of life as it is now, living with loss, along with a sense of compassion for myself as well as others. What I have learned firsthand over the last while is that we humans are all so fragile and breakable and given enough challenging life events, any one of us can be pushed to our very life limits. We need to go easy on ourselves and on each other. Slowing down and learning to take life moment by moment, day by day is a natural tonic during tough times. Mindfulness meditation helps with every aspect of this; it helps us to turn towards ourselves and take responsibility for our own life, with empathy and compassion.
I believe it’s good to look within and to share both vulnerability and imperfections, as part of our human experience and I know that I model imperfection very well! This monthly writing is my attempt to apply mindfulness to my own life experiences with the intention that it might be of benefit to someone else. At times I wonder if my writing gets too personal, and last month I admit to feeling a little bit of trepidation sending in my monthly piece. However, as luck would have it, I received many messages from people assuring me that my writing, indeed resonates with others. I aspire to live and work with integrity and to practice what I ‘preach’ but that’s not to say that I don’t regularly ‘fall off the wagon’ in some shape or form.
So, thank you for all the assurances and kind words. I was very moved and encouraged by comments from a man from my home parish that I met in the graveyard. His kind words and encouragement to keep writing really struck a chord with me. I hope he’s reading this; his words meant a lot to me. We all respond well to praise and kindness, and it is so easy to get in the habit of looking at the negative in ourselves or someone else. So, instead of judging ourselves or others maybe there is someone you can recall today, a family member, friend, neighbour or stranger that you can intentionally offer kindness towards.
This poem by Erich Fried gives us the permission to follow our inner nudges, even if they don’t always make sense. “It is nonsense, says reason. ‘It is what it is, says love.’ It’s a disaster, says logic. It’s nothing but pain, says fear. It’s hopeless says common sense. ‘It is what it is, says love.’ It’s ridiculous, says pride. It’s foolhardy, says prudence. It’s impossible, says experience. ‘It is what it is, says love.’” Erich Fried.
Drop-in mindfulness hour at CECAS, Myross Wood, Leap on Tuesday mornings 10-11am, June 10, 17 and 24, 2025. €12. Beginners and newcomers are always welcome.
For more information: phone: 087 2700572 or email: susanoreganmindfulness@gmail.com
Mindfulness for men during Men’s Health Week, Wednesday, June 11, 6-7pm at Bridge Street Community Cafe, in Bantry. Free event but please book your place by phoning 083 149 1543.
FB: susanoreganmindfulness
www.mindhaven.ie
