š Make your own life
š Make your own life
āļø An Irish author's inspiring advice
In honour of St. Patrickās Day this Thursday, Iām sharing some inspiring life advice from an Irish author. Ireland is known as āThe Land of Saints and Scholarsā and boasts approx. one Nobel Literary Laureate per one million people. Our Nobel Laureates include William Butler Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, Samuel Beckett, and Seamus Heaney. They don't include Maeve Binchy.
Maeve Binchy (1939-2012) was an author who wrote humorous, warm-hearted novels set in small-town Ireland. Most popular was Circle of Friends, which was made into a movie starring Colin Firth and Minnie Driver in 1995. Maeveās novels never received much literary acclaim but she was a beloved public figure, and her wildly successful writing career made her, at one time, one of Irelandās richest women.
She lived life on her own terms and was a great woman for no-nonsense life advice. I have the below quote by Maeve Binchy pinned to a noticeboard above my desk, and I try to live by it. (š± Screenshot the below image if youād like to use it for your phoneās lock screen.)
āLearn to type. Learn to drive. Have fun. Write postcards. (Letters take too long and you wonāt do it; a postcard takes two minutes.) Be punctual. Donāt worry about what other people are thinking. They are not thinking about you. Write quickly. (Taking longer doesnāt usually make it better.) Get up early. See the world. Call everybody by their first name, from doctors to presidents. Have parties. Donāt agonise. Donāt regret. Donāt fuss. Never brood. Move on. Donāt wait for permission to be happy. Donāt wait for permission to do anything. Make your own life.ā
š§ A gift for you: Songs for the Spring Equinox
Spring is finally here! The Northern Hemisphere celebrates the first day of spring, the Vernal Equinox, this weekend. If youād like to greet the new season with some lovely music, Iāve made you a Spring Equinox Spotify playlist. It features springtime songs from artists such as Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Nick Drake, Beach House, and more.
Spotify Playlist: Songs for Spring Equinox
It's not the first time one of your letters makes me tear up a bit. That quote was exactly what I needed today! Thank you so so very much!
Oh, I adore that quote -- what terrific advice! I especially like "Donāt worry about what other people are thinking. They are not thinking about you." My mother used to tell me this all the time. It wasn't until I became (an ostensible) grownup that I realized she was right.