Oíche Shamhna ag teannadh linn ach ní bheidh sé cosúil le hOíche Shamhna ar bith eile a bhí againn! Ar an gcéad dul síos, níl na Gaeil ag freastail ar Oireachtas na Gaeilge agus anuas ar sin, níl cead ag na páistí dul ó dhoras go doras le milseáin a fháil nó fiú in ann dul go teach cairde leo le cóisir bheag a bheith acu!

Halloween weekend! But it won’t be like any other Halloween that we have known! And not just because the Irish festival Oireachtas na Samhna isn’t happening; no children knocking at the door expecting sweets when I’ve clearly just forgotten, no going over to anyone’s house, it’s looking like it’ll be fairly grim...or maybe we just need to become more creative and come up with some different ways to celebrate Halloween this year.

Tá na hoícheanta ag éirí dorcha agus an aimsir níos fuaire agus níos measa ach airím féin go bhfuil muid cineál ar ais i mí an Mhárta nuair a thosaigh an dianghlasáil ar an gcéad lá riamh. Dúirt cara liom an tseachtain seo go gcaithfidh mé cinnte a dhéanamh go bhfuil mé ag déanamh aclaíochta agus go bhfuil mé ag ithe i gceart agus tá an ceart ar fad aige! Rinne mé dearmad go mbeidh orm iarracht a dhéanamh dul i mbun aclaíochta; rud a tháinig go nádúrtha chugam nuair a d’aimsigh mé routine le linn an chéad dianghlasáil. B’fhéidir go raibh sé níos fusa ansin os rud é go raibh an aimsir níos fearr agus na laethanta níos faide. B’fhéidir. Níl mé cinnte.

The evenings are darker and the weather is wetter and colder but I feel a little bit like time has stood still and that we are back in March again when lockdowns started first. My friend told me this week to eat properly and to do exercise and he’s not wrong. I forgot that I would have to make separate time for exercise. Once I got into a routine during the first lockdown exercise was easily included but this time it’s already feeling like a chore. Maybe it’s because of the darker evenings and the colder weather...maybe. But I’m not sure.

Chomh maith le hOíche Shamhna le bheith linn an deireadh seachtaine seo beidh an ghealach lán againn freisin! Seo an darna gealach lán an mhí seo agus mar sin an ghealach gorm a thugtar uirthi.

This weekend is not only Halloween but it is also the full moon, which is falling on Halloween and it is also the second full moon on October so it is called a blue moon.

Mar atá ráite agam sa bhlag seo cheana, cailleadh beirt atá aithne agam orthu le déanaí agus mar sin ní bheidh mé ag déanamh searmanais na Gealaí Láin ar mo leathanach Facebook an uair seo. Ní dhearna mé físeán beo ar Facebook ó shin ach tá mé cinnte go dtiocfaidh mé ar ais chucu, i ndiaidh tamaill ach díreach anois tá mé ag iarraidh a bheith mall agus cineálta liom féin. Beidh mé ag déanamh físeáin bheo sa ghrúpa Facebook Boost Your Skills, Boost Your Brand with Miss Digital Media agus toisc go mbeidh sé i ngrúpa beag a bheidh sé sílim gur tús maith a bheidh ann dom! Ach má tá éinne agaibh ag iarraidh searmanais a dhéanamh duit féin, seo chugaibh nasc go searmanas a rinne mé cúpla mí ó shin; Searmanas Mí Lúnasa.

As I have said here before, I lost two people recently so I am not going to be doing a full moon ceremony on my Facebook page this time. My brain hasn’t fully switched back on since the deaths and I am being slow and gently with myself as I learn how to live again normally so I am sure I will be back to Facebook lives but for now, I am taking it easy. That being said, I am doing a live in the Boost Your Skills, Boost Your Brand with Miss Digital Media Facebook group, which I am viewing as a stepping stone to getting back to some sense of normality. But for those of you looking for a ceremony here is a link to a ceremony I did a little while ago: August Full Moon Ceremony.

Bainigí sult as Oíche Shamhna agus an ghealach lán agus bí cineálta agus deas leat féin agus muid ar fad ag streachailt leis an méid ar fad atá ag dul ar aghaidh ar fud an domhain!

So enjoy your strange and different Halloween and be gentle with yourself as the energy of this full moon passes over us and the craziness and topsy-turvy-ness of the world continues.

Sílim go bhfuil muid uilig ag mothú thíos an tseachtain seo, cé go bhfuil cúiseanna éagsula ag cuid againn ‘sé dianghlasáil a dó atá ag déanamh buaireamh agus imní don chuid is mó den tír. Tá mé féin buartha faoi chúrsaí meabhairshláinte. D’imigh cara amháin liom de bharr an ruda ar fad go dtí seo agus níl mé ag iarraidh éinne eile a chailliúint.

A lot of us are feeling a bit down this week, although some of us have other reasons then others the general feeling is a feeling of fear, concern and worry as we are told to sit in Lockdown Round 2. I am personally worried about my and other people’s mental health. I have lost one friend as a result of all of this and I really don’t want to lose anyone else.

Chonaic mé rud éigin ar na meáin shóisialta inné faoi smaointe dearfacha nó positive thinking mar a deirtear i mBéarla. Tá mé féin i ndiaidh an-chuid a fheiceáil faoi sin, daoine ag iarraidh orainn a bheith dearfach faoi rud éigin nach bhfuil go maith.

I saw something yesterday on social media about all of this positive thinking that we’re fed. This post was talking about how unnecessary and not good for us it is to talk about only the positives and ignore the bad things, especially at a time that things are pretty grim.

Tuigim go bhfuil go leor rudaí maithe i gceist leis an dianghlasáil; níos mó ama ag daoine, níos lú tráchta, tá an-chuid daoine i ndiaidh aithne níos fearr a chur ar a gceantar féin agus an nádúr thart orthu. Ach anuas ar sin, tá an-chuid drochrudaí ann faoi freisin; ní cead againn buaileadh le daoine nach bhfuil cónaí orainn leo, tá gnólachtaí ar fud na tíre dúnta, níl cead againn spórt a imirt, tá daoine uaigneach agus braon de ranganna Zoom agus an t-am ar fad a chaitheamh os comhair scáileáin. Níl sé go maith don chorp nó don intinn.

I do understand and know that there are a lot of good aspects to the lockdown; people have more free time, there is less traffic on the roads, it is a chance to get to know your area better and to spend time in the nature surrounding you (if there is nature around you...). But I also know that lockdown sucks! Staring at a screen all day is really tiring, I’m not allowed to play sport anymore, businesses all across the country have had to close their doors. It isn’t good for our physical body or our mental state.

Tá daoine uaigneach agus muna thugann muid deis go daoine admháil nach bhfuil rudaí go maith mothóidh siad níos uaigní. Bíonn nasc agus cairdeas níos fearr agam le daoine nuair is féidir liom admháil leo nach bhfuil rudaí rómhaith. Tuigeann daoine an streachailt, chomh maith leis na rudaí maithe agus mar a deirim le daoine muna mothaíonn muid na mothúcháin nach maith linn i gceart ní bheidh muid in ann na mothúcháin gur maith linn a mhothú mar is ceart ach an oiread.

People are lonely and if we don’t give them a chance to admit the negative things and feelings they are having, they’re going to feel even more lonely. I find that I have a better relationship with people when I can tell them that things aren’t going so well for me. People understand and can relate to the struggle even more so sometimes then they can relate to the positive things happening for you.

Le linn ranganna le daoine fásta agus daoine óga, iarraim orthu rudaí maithe a tharla an lá sin a insint dom. Labhraíonn muid faoi na rudaí gur maith linn a bheith ag déanamh agus na rudaí a thugann ardú croí dúinn. Ag na hamanna seo, níl mé ag iarraidh neamhairde a dhéanamh ar na drochrudaí ach tá mé ag iarraidh níos mó spáis a thabhairt do na rudaí maithe. Is rud nádúrtha é don duine daonna a bheith ag smaoineamh ar na drochrudaí an t-am ar fad, sin an fáth gur mhair muid chomh fada seo, coinnigh sin slán muid ach anois ní gá dúinn a bheith chomh imníoch agus buartha, bhuel ní ag an leibhéal céanna is a bhí orainn nuair a bhí muid buartha faoi ainmhí dár ithe agus mar sin.

During my adult and my children’s classes I aske them to tell me about something good that happened for them that day. It is not that I am ignoring the negative things that are happening but we spend so much time focused on the negatives that I want to give some airtime to the positives as well. As human beings we have a negativity bias, we are more likely to focus on what went wrong then what went right because that is how we have survived. If something good happened to us way back when we were cavepeople we survived and it was fine but if something bad happened we more the likely died therefore it was important to be wary of the bad. Now however, our brains have stayed in that ‘look out for danger’ mode and we worry and stress about things that aren’t physically going to kill us. So it is perfectly natural for you to focus on that stupid thing you said in that meeting instead of all of the not-stupid things you said but during my classes I want people to acknowledge that amongst the negative is good too.

Mar sin nuair a labhraíonn muid ar na rudaí gur maith linn bíonn duine nó beirt i gcónaí ag iarraidh drochrud a insint dom (go háirithe sna ranganna do na páistí) ach ag an am sin níl mé ag iarraidh díriú isteach ar drochrudaí, tá spás ann do sin.
Le linn an cuid luigh síos sna ranganna do theaghlaigh iarraim ar na rannpháirtithe smaoineamh ar an mbealach atá siad ag mothú agus iarraim orthu gan aon rud a dhéanamh len é a athrú, díreach smaoineamh air mar níl aon rud mícheart le haon mhothúcháin, fiú muna maith linn féin é. Mar sin, an tseachain seo, an féidir leat ligint de na drochsmaointe, drochmhothúcháin agus na rudaí diúltacha faoin dianghlasáil seo a bheith ann. Ní gá duit stop a chur leo, ní gá duit aon rud a athrú fúthu, díreach aithin go bhfuil siad ann agus feicfimid céard a tharlaíonn.

During the relaxing, lying down part of my family classes, I ask the participants to notice how they are feeling. I name some nice feeling emotions and some not so nice feeling emotions and I ask them to just be aware of it, they don’t need to change it or do anything about it, just notice it. This week, see if you can just notice how you’re feeling or what you’re thinking. Just notice it, whatever it is; good, bad, indifferent and see if you can just let it be there. Let whatever is there to be there without judgement and just see what happens.

Tá tuilleadh eolais ar fáil faoi mo ranganna agus cúrsaí ar fáil ar an leathanach seo don suíomh.

There is more information on all of my courses and classes on this page of my site.

Shíl mé go raibh seachtain olc agam an uair dheireanach go raibh mé ag scríobh anseo agus ansin d’éirigh rudaí níos measa. Ghlaoigh mo mháthair orm agus mé ag freastail ar shochraid cara liom le hinsint dom go bhfuil m’uncail ar shlí na firinne. Mhínigh sí dom céard a tharla ó gur d’fhág mé Baile Átha Cliath le dul go Béal Feirste cúpla uair an chloig roimhe. Ní dóigh liom gur chuala mé mórán.

I though I had had a bad week when I was last writing here and then things got worse. My mother rang me to tell me my uncle had died while I was between my friend’s wake and her funeral. She told me what had happened since I had left Dublin for Belfast a few hours beforehand but I didn’t hear much of the story.

Tá mé ar ais i nGaillimh anois le seachtain anuas, bhuel le beagnach seachtain. Dúirt cara liom go raibh sé de ceart agam rudaí a thógáil go réidh toisc go ndeachaidh mé trí go leor. Níor thuig mé go dtí go bhfaca mé an teachtaireacht sin nach raibh mé ag iarraidh rudaí a thógáil go réidh. Bhí mé agus tá mé ag iarraidh a bheith an-ghnóthach le nach mbeidh orm smaoineamh ar an méid a tharla le cúpla seachtain anuas.

I’m back in Galway now. I’ve been back for almost a week after a week away. My friend told me that I should take it easy because I’ve been through a lot. It wasn’t until after I saw her message that I realised that I had been avoiding resting; filling my days and evenings with work and badminton and teaching. Without realising I was doing it I was avoiding resting because if I rest then what has actually just happened might hit me. I don’t want it to hit me. I want to pretend like it never happened in the first place.

Mar mhúinteoir aireachais bím ag iarraidh ar dhaoine suigh leis an méid atá ag dul ar aghaidh dóibh, fiú muna bhfuil sé go deas agus mar chomhairleoir faoi oiliúint bím agus beidh mé ag rá an rud céanna. Ach níl mé ag iarraidh sin a dhéanamh anois. Níl mé in ann b’fhéidir. Mar mhúinteoir aireachais agus comhairleoir faoi oiliúint tuigim nach bhfuil muid in ann dul i ngleic le gach rud ag aon am amháin. Tuigim go bhfuil spás uainn agus go bhfuil orainn sos a thógáil uaireanta.

As a mindfulness teacher I teach people to sit with whatever is going on for them in the present moment. As a trainee counsellor I will be and I am doing the same thing but right now, I don’t want to take my own advice. Maybe I’m not able to take it right now. As a mindfulness teacher and a trainee counsellor I understand that we can only deal with what we can deal with. I understand that when things get overwhelming we just need to step away from them for a while.

Tá mé ag tógáil sosa ón méid a tharla le podchraoltaí, closleabhar, Netflix rud ar bith a thabharfaidh sos dom ó mo smaointe féin. Tá mé airdeallach ar an méid atá mé ag seachaint agus tá mé airdeallach go bhfuil mé ag seachaint rudaí agus mar sin tá sé ceart go leor na rudaí seo a sheachaint...nach bhfuil....?

Podcasts, audiobooks and Netflix are all providing me with thoughts and ideas that are not my own and that is exactly what I need right now. I am consciously avoiding the fact that two people I love are now gone. I am aware that I’m doing it so that makes it OK...right...?

Tá an aireachas deacair dom féin faoi láthair. Tá sé doiligh dom fanacht san am i láthair agus díriú isteach ar an rud atá mé ag mothú mar níl mé ag mothú go maith. Fuair mé drochscéal an tseachtain seo agus de réir mar a leanann na laethanta ar aghaidh tá mé ag dul i dtaithí ar an smaoineamh agus níl sé deas.
I am struggling with my mindfulness practice at the minute. It is hard for me to stay in the present and sit with what I am feeling because I’m not feeling good. I got bad news during the week and as it sinks in more and more each day my not pleasant emotions are getting bigger and bigger and it’s not nice to sit in the here and now.

Seo chugaibh cúpla rud beag a dhéanaim féin nuair nach bhfuil mé in ann suigh leis an méid atá mé ag mothú nó ag smaoineamh
Here are a few ideas for things to try when you just don’t want to sit with what is

1. Snámh san fharraige; bíonn an t-uisce chomh fuar nach bhfuil mé in ann smaoineamh ar aon rud eile. Swim in the sea; the water is so cold I can’t think of anything else
2. Damhsa; bogann sé an corp agus an fhuil thart agus tá mé in ann díriú isteach ar an mbogadh. Dance! Get the blood moving around your body again and focus on the feeling of your body moving instead of the emotions
3. Siúil cosnochta ar an bhféar. Baineann mothú an fhéir as mo chloigeann mé agus isteach sna rudaí atá thart orm. Walk barefoot in the grass. The feeling of grass under my feet brings be straight out of my head and into whatever is around me
4. Breathnú ar an teilifís. Níl aon rud níos fearr uaireanta ná an saol a sheachaint agus breathnú ar rud éigin éadrom ar an teilifís. Watch TV. There is nothing better sometimes then avoiding live and watching something light and possibly trashy on TV
5. Téigh ag siúl agus éist le podchraoladh ar ábhar éadrom. Go for a walk and listen to a nice, easy listen podcast

Céard a dhéanann tusa leis an saol a sheachaint?
What do you do to avoid?

Sílim go gcreideann daoine uaireanta gur olc an rud é an seachaint ach níl muid in ann dul i ngleic agus deileáil ach leis an méid gur féidir linn dul i ngleic leis. Nuair atá rudaí doiligh, ná bíodh drogall ort rud éigin a dhéanamh le nach mbeidh tú ag smaoineamh air ar feadh tamaillín fiú.
I think people think that we shouldn’t avoid our feelings and what is happening but sometimes the only way through it is to avoid feeling it. We can only deal with what we can deal with so if what is happening for you is a little bit too much feel free to tune out and focus on something else for as long as you need to!

Tabhair aire duit féin agus do na daoine atá thart ort. Níl an tréimhse seo éasca d’éinne againn!
Look after yourself and those around you. This isn’t an easy time for any one of us!