October Stories

Monday, October 28, 2013

October 2013 Stories

Temple Bar, Dublin Ireland [October 2013]. Photo By:M.

The month of October has been one of the best Octobers I can remember. I am continuously blessed by the beautiful nature here. It's been a wonderful and natural gift to watch life turn from summer into fall.

The time change was this past weekend, so now it gets bright earlier in the morning, which is nice and makes for an early morning. Alternatively, it gets darker much earlier, which I noticed out running this afternoon when the sun literally started setting around 3pm.

There aren't pumpkin patches, corn mazes, hayrides, fall festivals, or state fairs the way I remember from "home" in Georgia. But fall is in the air for sure and there are new things to try. Actually, it's not that different from home with Halloween parties, ghost stories, jack-o-lanterns, trick-or-treating, and dress up, but the things that are different this year make for fun experiences and memories.

The differences are interesting and fun: Oktoberfest, houses decorated for Halloween, kids playing in the streets at all hours, costume shops in town, pop culture costumes that have inside jokes I only just learned about from moving here (i.e. the tv character "Demo"), haunted ghost tours through town (some of the most haunted places in the world are right here in Dublin....spooky), house parties, pub crawls, Dracula festivals, and my most recent trip to London.

The leaves continue to change deeper shades of red, yellow, orange, and brown colors each morning; along with there being dozens and dozens of more leaves that have fallen from the trees to the grass and pavement.

Photo By: M.

 I like the fresh air here and the weather, as unpredictable as it is. It's warm, cold, rainy, sunny, chilly, windy, and perfect all in the same day sometimes. The air is so fresh it cleans my lungs; the colors are so rich in color everywhere it nearly takes my breath away; the sounds of traffic from buses, cars, taxis, bikes, and pedestrians keep me on my toes; tourists faces changing daily; new activities on the calendar; and restorative days filled with yoga, running, reading, homemade cooking, writing, talking on the phone, and wandering around the park.

I have had more job interviews and that is encouraging, challenging, and still placing me in the 'waiting room'. I can't complain or control how it falls into place, so I just keep my attitude in check and keep moving forward.

Photo B: M.

Sunny walks through town. Photo By: M.

Job interviews remind me of swim meets. I get butterflies just before it begins as if I'm standing behind the blocks, I pray my whole way through the training and prep work, and swim as hard as I can talk. As hard as I push myself I know everyone in line or in the lanes with me is trying just as hard: to win.

I want to win, 'but every dawg has its day'. The champion in me won't give up or stop trying to improve. I have improved personally and professionally on this journey and honestly am proud of the progress I've made. I'll keep at it.

The books I've read while I've been here so far. Photo By: M.

Yogatober at home :) Photo By: M.

One of the things I find myself the most thankful for this month is the gift of unmatched time. Each day I wake up with the power to change my attitude and better myself.

I aspire to learn something new everyday, make time for my passions, exercise and love my body, and work hard to reach my potential in ways that I don't yet even know I can.

Daily devotionals from the book "God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea"; Photo By: M.

Celebrating Caoimhe's 18th this month. Photo By: M.

October has had some hearty laughs, beer festivals, yoga progress, long walks and runs around the parks, travels to other famous lands, tough lessons on timing, growth in wisdom, glory from the harvest, and joys that can't be measured. I even just celebrated my first Halloween here. I went to a party as "Kim Kardashian" and my date was "Kanye" with a baby spud as our "North"- hillarious night and other great costumes. But I most enjoyed dressing up as "Minnie Mouse" and giving out goodies to the kids. They performed tricks and treats to take home chocolates, crisps, or 'monkey nuts' (peanuts in the shell). Their excitement, and even appreciation for seeing 'Minnie' reminded me of how happy it makes me to be a teacher. I love bringing joy to others, because it returns as joy to my heart.


For anyone else who finds themselves on the edge, driving across boarders, waiting for a change or adjusting to one.... keep smiling, persevere, don't give up, be flexible, be patient, remain kind and generous, stay grateful for where you are, and most importantly live.

Halloween in Irish-land. Photo By: Mammy Cronin.

Now, October and all it's 'spook factor' may be over, but I still have a few haunted ghost tours to go on. Did you know Dublin is one of the most haunted places in Europe? Well, I'm not one for usually being 'spooked', but I might as well check it out and see more of what this city and country have to offer!


Cheers,
M