HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY

Being half Irish I celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Today I am making green cupcakes and trifle with green jelly.But the green beer is definitely out. Green food dye seems to react badly with beer and with the human digestive system. I wouldn’t recommend it.

We had a great laugh last night reading through an old book of Irish proverbs my grandmother gave me many years ago. The Oxford dictionary defines a proverb as ” a short, pithy saying in general use, stating a truth or giving advice.” Some well-known proverbs include – A friend in need is a friend indeed or A change is as good as a rest. Quite true, I think.

The Irish proverbs however, are quite different, mostly because they are quite funny.

Take this one –

“There is no need to fear the wind if your haystacks are tied down.”

Excellent advice, particularly if you are a farmer getting the feed in for the winter.

This is one I use often –

“It’s no use carrying an umbrella if your shoes are leaking.”

Absolutely true. I mean, what is the point?

I also love –

“There will be WHITE blackbirds before an unwilling woman ties the knot.”

Amen, to that!

I am also fond of –

” Men are like bagpipes. No sound comes from them until they’re full.”

Now I know that one is true!

But this is my absolute favourite mainly because its meaning is completely indecipherable –

“It’s as hard to see a woman crying as it is a bare-footed duck.”

Can somebody help me with that one?

I was reading an article yesterday which outlined that psychologists have discovered a phenomenon called dysthymia which is a mild, low-level depression many people suffer from which allows them to still function well in society but also dilutes the beauty they see around them, turning it into muted hues.

The reasons for this low-level depression seem to lie in the punishing pace of life, the breakdown of family relationships and a lack of real connection to people in an everyday setting. I have been thinking about this all night and feel it is a widespread thing. How often do you have a meaningful interaction with a work colleague? Daily? Weekly? Monthly? Do you know your mail man? The guy who makes your coffee in the morning? The woman who packs your groceries at the supermarket?

We are surrounded by people all day yet in many ways remain distant from them. Our ancestors existed in tribes – interacting, talking, hugging all day. They were social beings, as are we. Yet we often find ourselves in a state of isolation.

My cousin was named after St. Patrick. Patrick was a humanist, a political activist. He believed it was important to nurture our connections with people we like and to treat others kindly and fairly, that the smallest gesture of caring could make all the difference in someone’s day.

So I’d like to say in the spirit of my cousin, Patrick, and his namesake, the patron saint of Ireland, nurture a connection today. Be open. Unafraid. Reach out and touch somebody’s hand (not in a creepy way.) Make the world a better place if you can.

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK’S DAY !!!!!