Bhí orm comhrá deacair a bheith agam an tseachtain seo. Bhuel, ní comhrá go díreach a bhí ann ach bhí orm iarraidh ar fhear gan labhairt liom de bharr drochrudaí a bhí ráite aige liom. Bhí faitíos an domhain orm agus mé len é a dhéanamh agus mar sin, bhí mol mór cleachtadh déanta agam i mo chloigeann ach fós féin rinne mé dearmad ar chuile rud agus mé ag seasamh os a chomhair.

I had to have a difficult conversation this week. Bhuel, it wasn’t exactly a conversation it was more me telling a man that had been inappropriate to me that that wasn’t OK. I was so nervous even thinking about it so I had rehearsed a million times in my head what I would say to him but even still, standing in front of him everything I had rehearsed went clean out of my head.

Ar bhonn bitheolaíochta luíonn sin go hiomlán le ciall ach ar dtús, beagán réamheolais.

Biologically this makes perfect sense, but first some context.

Is fear é seo a bhím thart air ar bhonn sóisialta agus le linn an dianghlasála dúirt sé rud éigin aisteach agus sách gránna liom. Ghabh sé leithscéal nuair a dúirt mé leis nach raibh sé sách maith agus dúirt sé go raibh ábhar grinn aisteach aige. Anois feicim sa fíorshaol é agus an tseachtain seo caite dúirt sé rud éigin go hiomlán as bealach liom agus stán mé air. ‘Is maith liom an mála sin’ a dúirt sé go sciobtha.

This is a man that I see in a social setting. During the lockdown he had been contacting me a lot, despite telling me that he wasn’t interested in my romantically and that he had a partner. I got at least two messages a week from him, which I answered but I never initiated it. One of the messages was really weir and a bit gross. He wrote it off as a weird sense of humour and apologised. Week 2 of being back in the social situation that I know him in and he said something completely out of order to me. When I stared at him in response he winked at me and said ‘I like the bag.’

Bhí a fhios agam ag an am go raibh mé míchompordach leis ach lean mé ar aghaidh leis an méid a bhí ar bun againn. Céard eile a bhí le déanamh...? An lá dár gcionn bhí mé ag labhairt le duine eile faoi agus nuair a chonaic mé a haghaidh i ndiaidh gur chuala sí an méid a dúirt sé thuig mé go raibh sé go hiomlán as ord agus mícheart. Bhí an darna ráitis níos measa ná an chéad cheann agus níl mé ag iarraidh smaoinimh ar an méid go d’fhéadfaidh tarlú. Bhí a fhios agam go raibh orm stop a chur leis. Ach conas? Is iomaí oíche i ndiaidh sin a chaith mé ag smaoineamh air.

I knew at the time that I wasn’t comfortable with what he had said but I just went back to what we had been doing. What else was I supposed to do...? the next day I mentioned what he said to someone else and the look of disgust and horror on her face made me realise how wrong it had been for him to say that to me. This second statement from him had been worse than the first and I don’t and didn’t want to think about where it was going so I knew I had to stop it, but how? And this question rolled around my head for about four nights.

Bheartaigh mé go labhróinn leis an chéad uair eile go bhfeicfinn é; Dé Luain a shíl mé ach bhí sin athraithe go dtí an Chéadaoin. Cúpla oíche eile gan chodail, a smaoinigh mé, ag oibriú amach céard go díreach go ndearfainn leis, buartha faoin bhfreagra a bheidh aige. Ansin mhol duine éigin dom labhairt le duine eile a bhíonn sa suíomh céanna leis agus liom. Bhí faitíos orm labhairt léi ach thuig sí go hiomlán. Thug sí tacaíocht dom. Phlé muid céard go d’fhéadfaidh mé a dhéanamh agus chuir sí bean eile ar an eolas freisin, bean eile a dúirt ‘ní raibh tú compordach agus mar sin ní raibh an méid a dúirt sé ceart go leor’. Ní raibh ceist ann faoi. Ar deireadh, bheartaigh muid gur ceart dom labhairt leis. Labhairt leis agus daoine thart orainn agus in áit gheal...

I decided that I would confront him the next time I saw him, on Monday, I thought. But Monday was then changed to Wednesday and unable to face another night of no sleep and under the advisement of another woman I spoke to someone who is in the same group myself and this man are both in. I was nervous telling her what had happened or how I felt because you never know how someone will react to something but she gave me her full support. She never questioned what I said and between the two of us we decided that I should speak to him as I felt comfortable (bhuel, relatively comfortable) talking to him.

Chomh luath is a bhí deis agam ar an gCéadaoin, tharraing mé ar leataobh é, bhreathnaigh mé sa siúl aige agus dúirt mé leis nach raibh mé compordach leis an méid a bhí ráite aige liom. ‘Céard a dúirt mé?’ a d’fhiafraigh sé. D’inis mé dó nach raibh mé len é a athrá dó ach amach anseo le cinnte a dhéanamh nach dtarlóidh sé arís níl sé le labhairt liom arís. ‘An ea an rud sin a dúirt mé mar gheall ar an mala?’ Iontas na n-iontas bhí a fhios aige. D’éirigh sé feargach ansin agus d’iarr sé orm labhairt leis níos moille. Dhiúltaigh mé agus mhínigh mé leis arís nach raibh muid ag caint a thuilleadh. Chuaigh muid ar ais go dtí an cuid eile den ghrúpa agus chuir mé miongháire ar m’aghaidh, in aithneoinn an crith i mo lámha agus mo ghuth. Bhí sé déanta agam agus ní raibh mé ach bródúil!

As soon as I had the chance on Wednesday I took him to the side, looked him in the eye and told him what he had said had been inappropriate and that it had made me very uncomfortable. ‘What did I say?’ he asked. I refused to tell him and I told him that it wouldn’t happen again because he was no longer allowed to speak to me. ‘Is it that thing I said about the bag?’ Look at that. He did know what he had said. Surprise surprise. His voice changed then and he was angry. He demanded that we talk about it later. I refused and repeated that he wasn’t allowed speak to me anymore. We went back to the bigger group and I painted a smile on my face to counteract the shake in my voice and my hands. I’d done it!

Agus anois an cuid bitheolaíochta. Nuair atáimid faoi strus níl an cuid dár inchinn a dhéanann an smaointeoireacht dúinn, an prefrontal cortex i bhfeidhm. Nuair a thuigeann ár gcolainn gur faoi strus atáimid síleann sé go gcaithfimid rith ar shiúil nó troid le cinnte a dhéanamh go dtiocfaimid slán sábhalta as an suíomh. Mar sin, nuair a bhí mé ag labhairt leis bhí neart fuinnimh agam, bhí go leor leor fuil i mo mhatáin agus bhí mé lán aidréanalín ach ní raibh mé in ann smaoineamh.

And now for the biology. When we are stressed the part of our brain that we use to think cannot function. Our bodies go into fight, flight or freeze mode when we are stressed so when I was talking to him I had lots of adrenaline coursing through my body but my ability to remember what I wanted to say had vanished.

Má smaoiníonn tú siar go dtí an uair dheireanach go raibh tú faoi strus ag déanamh scrúdaithe. Bhí staidéar déanta agat agus bhí an t-eolas agat ach os comhair an pháipéir d’imigh an t-eolas sin ar fad as do chloigeann. Is rud nádúrtha é. Agus is rud é sin a shábháil tú nuair a bhí muid amuigh ag bailiú bi siar siar siar sna blianta ach ní rud róchabhrach dúinn anois agus muid faoi strus ag rudaí eile; faoi strus ag an obair, faoi strus airgeadais, faoi strus ama. Leis an sochaí agus an domhan mar atá siad táimid ag maireachtáil faoi strus an chuid is mó den am agus is olc an rud é don sláinte.

If you think about the last time you were stressed in an exam. You had studied and you had some idea what you should right but sitting in front of the paper you couldn’t remember a thing. it’s completely natural and it is the thing that saved you from bears and the like when we were hunter gatherers but it’s not so useful now. In the world today we are more likely to be stressed about money, work, a lack of time and none of these things require us to fight, run or freeze in order to survive. People nowadays are living in constant stress which is bad for our health.

Nuair atáimid faoi strus déanann an colainn go leor leor aidréanailín agus cortisol agus ní rudaí maithe iad na hormóin seo má tá siad ionann an t-am ar fad. Nuair a bhíonn tú ag cleachtadh aireachais a rud a tharlaíonn ná go laghdóinn an strus agus muid dírithe isteach ar an anáil agus is féidir leis an prefrontal cortex téigh ar ais go dtí an áit a bhí sé agus oibríonn sé go maith. Mar sin, má tá tú in suíomh strusmhar, má tá cúpla cleachtadh agat leis an strus a laghdú déanfaidh siad maitheas de do shláinte fhisiciúil agus beidh tú in ann smaoineamh i gceart chomh maith.

When you are stressed your body makes lots of cortisol and adrenalin which is pumped around our body. These hormones can be toxic to us when we have a constant supply of them in our blood. When you practice mindfulness we can reduce the stress we are under. When you meditate you are focusing on your physical experience in that moment in time, or you are focusing on a phrase or a mantra. Doing this lowers our stress levels and returns our prefrontal cortex back to where it is supposed to be. So when you are in a stressful situation, if you have some tools or tricks to help you lower your stress levels this is good for you physically and it will help you to think more clearly in that moment as well.

Bím ag múineadh na scileanna seo le linn mo ranganna le daoine óga agus daoine fásta agus má tá suim agat iontu bígí i dteagmháil liom.

It is these skills that I teach during my classes, to adults and children to send me a message if you are interested in learning more about them.

Tá an saol tosaithe arís ar go leor bealaí. Tá mé ar ais ag traenáil, tá siopaí agus bialanna oscailte, anseo i nGaillimh tá Bóthar na Trá lán turasoirí agus ní rachaidh mé ar ais go Sráid na Siopaí ar an Satharn arís ar feadh tamaill! Bhí mé ann coicís ó shin agus bhí mol mór daoine thart, níos mó daoine ná go bhfaca mé in aon áit amháin le tamall fada. I bhfad iomarca domsa!

Life has started back up again in a lot of ways. I am back at training, shops and restaurants are now open, here in Galway Salthill is packed with tourists and I went into town two Saturdays ago and I won’t be doing it again in a rush! There were so many people around and I was not ready for it!

Bhí cúpla seachtain mhór agam le déanaí; mar a dúirt mé tá mé ar ais ag traenáil. Imrím badminton agus ceann de na rudaí a thaitin liom faoi ná go n-imríonn tú badminton taobh istigh, anois sin an rud is measa faoi...tá an club oscailte le cúpla seachtain i gcomhair leadóige ach tá mise ar ais le cíocis agus bhí mé iontach neirbhíseach ag dul ann an chéad uair. Ní raibh a fhios agam conas a bheadh daoine eile, céard a bheadh athraithe sa chlub, an mbeadh cead agam na leithris a úsáid....agus lean na ceisteanna ar aghaidh! Ar deireadh bhí sé go hiontach! Bhí sé go hálainn a bheith ar ais ag imirt agus bhí sé an-deas daoine a fheiceáil arís agus craic a bheith agam leo.

I’ve had a big few weeks recently; as I mentioned I am back training with the badminton team and one of the things I really liked about badminton before I now really dislike. I used to love that it was played indoors and now I wish we could play outside... When I first was going back, two weeks ago I was really nervous. I didn’t know how other people would be, I didn’t know what changes would have been made in the club or what would be expected of me, was I allowed to use the toilets, there were so many questions! But once I went back it was great! I am so glad to be back running around again and seeing people!

Chomh maith leis sin, thosaigh mé ag múineadh an tseachtain sin. Bhí mé ag múineadh Gaeilge le hOideas Gael ar líne agus thóg sé thart ar trí lá orm dul i dtaithí air. Mhothaigh sé aisteach gan iomlán an duine a fheiceáil agus bhí sé níos deacra dom fios a bheith agam ar thuig siad mé nó an raibh aon tuiscint eadrainn ach i ndiaidh na Céadaoin mhothaigh mé níos compordaí leis. Ní raibh ann ach uair an chloig in aghaidh an lae ach fós féin bhí mé spíonta i ndiaidh!

As well as that I started teaching online that week. I was teaching Irish with Oideas Gael and it took me about three days to be fully comfortable with it. It felt really weird not being in the same space as the people I was teaching and it was therefore difficult to know if my students understood me! But by Wednesday I felt much more comfortable with it. It was only an hour long class a day but I was wreaked afterwards!

Ansin an tsceachtain seo bhí an an Tástáil Náisiúnta Gluaisteán (TNG) agam ar an gcarr. Cuireann an TNG strus orm gach bliain ach i mbliana caithfidh dul i ngleic leis an mbealach nua atá na hoifigí anois – bhí orm masc a chaitheamh, d’fhan mé ag an gcarr go dtí go raibh siad réidh dom, ní raibh na suíocháin sa seomra feithimh ar fáil agus mar sin ní raibh a fhios agam cén áit ar cheart dom fanacht – rudaí beaga b’fhéidir ach rudaí a chur strus eile orm.

And then this week I had to put the car through the NCT. I find the NCT really stressful every year but this year not only did I have to deal with the stress of the test I also had to think about whether I should wear a mask or not, where I should wait for the car when it was being tested, had I missed hearing them call out my reg. they were all fairly simple things but stressful when you don’t know the answers.

Bhí an tástáil agam ag a haon an chloig agus mar sin, rinne mé píosa oibre roimhe agus ansin chuaigh mé ann. Faoin am gur bhain mé an teach amach i ndiaidh bhí mé spíonta! Bhí mé iomlán scriosta! Agus chaith mé an chuid eile den lá ag breathnú ar Netflix ach sular ndearna mé sin, bhí orm labhairt liom féin le go mothóinn ceart go leor agus mé ag déanamh sin! Le linn an lae ar an Máirt a bhí sé, bhí m’intinn ag insint dom gur ceart dom a bheith ag obair.

My test was at one o’clock so I did a bit of work in the morning before heading out to it. By the time I got home again afterwards I was wrecked! I spent the rest of the day watching Netflix, but before I could od that I had to give myself a stern talking to before I deemed it OK to do nothing. It was the middle of the day on a Tuesday and my mind was telling me I should be working.  

‘Táimid ag teacht amach as dianghlasáil. Níl tú cleachtadh le bheith thart ar dhaoine agus níl tú cleachtadh leis na rialacha nua seo. Agus dár ndóigh tá faitíos ort go dtabharfaidh tú rud éicint do dhaoine eile nó go gheobhaidh tú rud éigin as daoine eile. Anuas ar sin, níl tú cleachtadh leis an aclaíocht sin ar fad ach an oiread! Cinnte go bhfuil tú scriosta! Tóg go bog é! Déanfaidh tú an obair sin amárach, níl brú ama leis.’

‘We are just coming out of complete lockdown. You’re not used to being around people and you’re not used to these new rules. It’s all new to you and therefore stressful! And on top of all of that you’re not used to all this running around and exercise to take it easy! Of course you’re wreaked! You’ll do whatever work you have to do tomorrow, there’s no rush!’

I ndiaidh sin a chloisteáil...uaim féin... mhothaigh mé níos fearr. Bhí an ceart agam, is am strusmhar agus mar sin tuirsiúil é seo, dúinn ar fad! Mar sin, tóg go réidh é. Ní gá duit gach rud a dhéanamh in aon lá nó fiú seachtain amháin agus bí deas leat féin. Táimid uilig ag foghlaim conas atá an saol nua seo agus cén ról atá againn ann.

After hearing that...from myself...I felt a lot better. I was right of course, we are going through a really stressful, weird time and as a result the smallest of things are going to take a lot out of us so go easy on yourself, you don’t have to do everything in one day, or even in one week!

Agus dála an scéil, theip orm sa TNG agus anois caithfidh mé labhairt leis an meicneoir agus ansin dul ar ais go dtí an ionad tástála, ach ar a laghd tá a fhios agam céard le déanamh an uair seo! Masc a chaitheamh agus fan taobh amuigh go dtí go nglaofar ort!

Oh and I failed the NCT so I now have to deal with a mechanic and then go back for another test but at least this time I know what to expect with it all!

Tá an ghealach nua linn anois, oíche amárach mar a tharlaíonn sé. Ní rud í an ghealach nua nó an ghealach dhorcha, a labhraítear faoi mórán. Is dóigh gur sin mar atá sé toisc go bhfuil an ghealach dhorcha agus nach bhfeiceann tú í ach tá an tréimhse seo den ghealach chomh tábhachtach céanna is atá tréimhse ar bith eile.

It is the new moon again, tomorrow night. The new or dark moon isn’t one that people talk about very much. That is presumably because you can’t actually see it but the dark phase of the moon is just as important as every other phase of it.

Nuair a bhíonn an ghealach mhór, lán agus gheal is am iontach é sin le scaoileadh le rudaí nach bhfuil uainn a thuilleadh; nósanna nach bhfuil ag cabhrú linn, smaointe a dhéanann damáiste dúinn. Ach má táimid ag scaoileadh le rudaí uair sa mhí, caithfimid rudaí nua a chothú agus a mhealladh isteach chugainn, agus sin an rud a is féidir leat a dhéanamh nuair atá an ghealach dhorcha. Is am é le dul istigh ionann féin, le machnamh a dhéanamh ar an rud agus na rudaí atá uainn. Go traidisiúnta, is am ag an am seo den mhí go dtiocfadh mná le chéile agus an míostrú acu. Nuair a bhíonn an míostrú agam féin bíonn níos lú fuinnimh agam agus airím gur am maith é aireachas a dhéanamh agus a bheith liom féin níos mó. Nuair atá mé airdeallach ar mo chorp insíonn sé dom céard é an rud atá uaim ag aon am ag le linn an mhíostriú tá orm a bheith níos ciúine.

When we have the full moon it is a great time to release things that no longer serve us; things that are not helping us anymore or things that we have out grown. But if you are releasing every month you need to bring new things in; new ideas, new thoughts, new ways of being and this time of the moon, the dark or the new moon is a wonderful time to do this. It is a time to go within ourselves. This can be done with meditation or simply being a little bit quieter, not running around all the time like we usually would. Traditionally the new moon was a time where women would come together as traditionally, when we lived more with nature and the world around us the new moon was the time that women would have their period. When I am on my period I have much less energy and I can sense within myself that I need more quiet and more meditation. I need to be alone more.

Tá timthriall 28 lá ag an ngealach agus bíonn timthriall na mban 28 lá ar an meán. Bogann corp na mban leis an ngealach.

The moon has a 28 day cycle and the average length of a woman’s cycle is 28 days – although of course this can and does vary hugely! But generally is is a 28 day cycle, just like the cycle of the moon.

Nuair a bhí mé níos óige bhí mé i gcónaí an-tógtha leis an ngealach lán. Thaitin sé go mór liom í a fheiceáil thuas sa spéir ag lonrach anuas orainn. Is cuimhin liom uair amháin a bheith ag tiomáint le linn na hoíche i nGaeltacht Mhaigh Eo agus bhí an ghealach chomh geal sin nach raibh gá leis na soilsí móra ar an gcarr. Bhí sé draíochtúil!

When I was younger I was always very taken by the full moon. I loved seeing it in the sky shining down on us. I remember once driving in the Mayo Gaeltacht and the moon was so bright we didn’t need to put the headlights on. It was incredible.

Mhothaigh mé nasc idir mé féin agus an ngealach i gcónaí ach níor thuig mé riamh é, go dtí go raibh mé ag labhairt le Joanne Callan ó Try tHEAlternative agus luaigh sí ciorcal na mban liom a bhuaileann le chéile uair sa mhí ar an ngealach lán. Bhí suim agam sa smaoineamh láithreach ach ní raibh a fhios agam an raibh mé ag iarraidh a bheith páirteach in rud mar sin ar feadh 12 mhí.

I have always felt some sort of a connection between myself and the moon but I never really understood it until I was talking to Joanne Callan from Try tHEAlaternative and she mentioned a full moon women’s circle she was starting. I didn’t really know what it was about or what it would be like but I was immediately interested.

Rinne mé cinneadh fáil amach cén cineál rud a bheadh ann agus b’ea ceann de na cinntí is fearr a rinne mé riamh! Bhí mé ag freastail air ar feadh bliana go leath go dtí gur bhog mé go Gaillimh agus briseadh croí a bhí ann dom ag fágáil an grúpa sin! Ach is ansin a thosaigh mo thuras féin leis an ngealach lán agus is as sin a spreag mo shuim agus mo thuras leis an ngealach nua agus gach tréimhse eile a bhíonn ag an ngealach!

I decided to go with my interests and find out what it was all about and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made! I was part of this incredible group of women for a year and a half and then I decided I was moving to Galway, which was probably a decision I made partly because of this group. But I was heartbroken having to leave. It was this circle that inspired my real journey with the moon in all of it’s phases. It was from there that I started to feel a connection with the new moon and all of the other phases of the moon and the effects they have on me as well.   

Mar sin, oíche amárach tá sé ar intinn agam seisiún speisialta aireachais a dhéanamh anseo sa teach agus déanfaidh mé píosa scríbhneoireacht thart air agus feicfidh mé céard iad na rudaí atá mé ag iarraidh cothú agus a mhealladh chugam sna chéad chúpla seachtain eile.

And because of that, tomorrow night I am going to set aside some time to do some meditating, some journaling and to feel into the power of the new moon and discover what it is that the new moon can help me cultivate and bring into my life.

Le seachtain anuas tá mé ag dúiseacht ag pé am a dúisím agus deirim liom féin ‘Céard gur mhaith liom a dhéanamh?’ agus b’ea sin an seachtain is táirgiúla a bhí agam le roinnt mhaith seachtaine. Sílim gur chreid mé go mothóinn i bhfad níos fearr chomh luath is a bhog mé teach ach ní shin mar a tharla sé agus ansin thuig mé gurb ea an rud a bhí mé ag iarraidh a dhéanamh ná nósanna an seansaoil a chur isteach sa saol nua seo.

For the past week I have been waking up at whatever time I wake up at and asking myself ‘What do I want to do?’ and as a result this has been my most productive week in a long time. I think I believed that I would feel much better as soon as I moved house but that isn’t what happened. But I realised what I was trying to do was bring the ways of the old world and the old way of being into this new world that has been created for us.

Mar atá luaite agam sa bhlag seo cheana, tá mé cleachtadh le bheith ag obair ón mbaile le blianta anois ach nuair a bhíodh mé á dhéanamh cheana d’fhéadfaidh mé dul amach agus caifé a bheith agam le linn an lae, bhíodh mé ag dul go bialanna san oíche nó díreach ag dul amach ag buaileadh le daoine, gan faitíos orm roimh aon víreas. Anois, tá mé ag obair ón teach go fóill ach níl mé ag dul amach ag múineadh ranganna, níl mé ag dul go caiféanna le píosa oibre a dhéanamh. Tá an saol iomlán athraithe, agus caithfidh mise agus muid ar fad athrú leis.

I have mentioned here before that I am well used to working from home. I have been doing it for years now but before, I was able to go out to a café during the day, I was able to go out and meet people in the evenings without worrying about some virus. I am still working from home right now but I am no longer going out to teach classes, I am no longer doing a few hours work in a café. Life has completely changed and I have to change with it.

Le seachtain anuas agus mé ag rá liom féin céard gur mhaith liom a dhéanamh anois ní raibh mé ach ag smaoineamh ar an nóiméad nó an uair an chloig a bhí díreach amach romham. Tá liosta agam de rudaí atá le déanamh agus tá a fhios agam go ndéanfaidh mé iad ag am éigin ach níl mé ag cur brú orm féin a thuilleadh iad a dhéanamh muna bhfuil an fuinneamh nó an fonn orm agus mar a dúirt mé bhí seachtain níos torthúla agam an tseachtain seo caite ná a bhí agam le tamall. Ach ní i gcónaí go bhfuil an cuma céanna ar an obair nó orm féin mar a bheadh uirthi nó orm cheana. Uaireanta tá mé ag déanamh cúpla uair an chloig scríbhneoireachta ar an leaba ag a sé an chloig sa tráthnóna, uaireanta tá mé ag léamh ábhair i gcomhair ranganna cois fharraige agus in amanna eile tá mé ag déanamh obair ríomhaireachta agus obair ar na meáin shóisialta céad rud ar maidin i mo phitseámaí, cosúil le díreach anois.

For the past week as I asked myself what I wanted to do every morning, I was simply thinking about what I wanted to do in the next few minutes or the next hour. I have a to-do list made out but I haven’t put any pressure on myself to have to do any of it but I have still managed to make a fair dent in it without the pressure. The work that I do or how I do it doesn’t always look like it might have before. Sometimes I will be doing some writing at six in the evening while I’m sitting on my bed, sometimes I’ll be reading through class notes by the sea or sometimes, like now, I’ll be in my pyjamas doing some work on the computer first thing in the morning.

Nuair a thuig mé an luach a bhí leis an gceist bheag sin a chur orm féin bheartaigh mé go raibh orm é a roinnt libhse. Tá faitíos orainn uilig agus muid ag teacht amach as an dianghlasáil ach an rud a d’fhoghlaim mé le seachtain anuas ná ní fiú dúinn a bheith crua orainn féin faoi láthair. Ní gá go mbeimid cleachtadh le rudaí faoi láthair, caithfidh muid am a thabhairt dúinn féin dul i taithí ar rudaí arís agus muna bhfuil tú róchrua ort féin faoi rudaí nach bhfuil déanta b’fhéidir go bhfeicfidh tú go mbeidh níos mó déanta agat, b’fhéidir. Ach b’fhiú triail a bhaint as ar aon chuma!

When I suddenly understood the value of asking myself that little question every morning I decided that I really wanted to share it with you. We are all scared and worried right now as we come out of lockdown but what I have learnt this past week is that there is no benefit in being hard on ourselves as we process this new way of being. There is no need to presume we can go back to being as productive as we were before, there is no point in making ourselves do things we are no longer comfortable with, and maybe if you take the pressure off a little bit you might find that you can be even more productive! Or maybe not but it’s worth a try finding out anyway, isn’t it?