Joy is an act of resistance💪💝
Despite the increasingly dystopian, authoritarian world we live in, my family & I continue to find peace & joy in our friendships, travels & outdoor adventures. Not being in denial of Israel's genocide in Gaza, enabled by our Western governments & the ongoing pandemic (repeated forced infections with a level 3 biohazard) is eviscerating. When reality is this twisted & cruel, feelings of helplessness & despair so overwhelming, the mind reaches for denialism. It's a short-term, unconscious survival strategy: shutting out that which seems impossible to bear. In the long term though, living life disconnected from reality is a form of psychosis, which causes harm to self & others.
As a therapist, working with trauma patients, the most threatening act was inviting them to revisit their traumatic events(s). Opening old wounds, covered in layers of tough, unyielding, sinewy scar tissue, exposing the rawness and pain to daylight: hurts. Moving from a state of emotional dissociation & repression, known to cause physiological & psychological harm, to processing those triggering feelings & confronting reality, is where the healing & harm reduction begins. The acute phase of the SARS2 pandemic, the lack of preparedness and the chaos, mass deaths and disablement that ensued, resulted in collective trauma which is being exploited by our political leaders. We're just cogs in a bankrupt (morally & financially) capitalist system, the survival of which depends on us consuming tat (online, social media, "reality" TV) & not feeling or caring very much at all.
I choose to care: About forced disablement, forced displacements, genocide, our planet and the future of humanity.
I choose to feel and process this trauma.
I choose to resist.
I choose reality & living life without causing harm to myself or others. I haven't been sick in 6 years & am fitter & healthier than I've ever been. I choose to live my life without SARS-Cov-2 (or any airborne) infections. Without being forcibly, repeatedly infected with a vascular, neurotropic, organ damaging, level 3 biohazard. Turns out the scientists that warned disease prevention is the best way to safeguard population health, were right. RIP public health science.
Choosing reality in this timeline is a tough gig. So, I pace myself & repeat my reality check/stayingsaneinaninsaneworld mantra since 2020: Grief & joy in every day. Making room for both. Helps me stay grounded in reality whilst protecting body & mind from the enormity, anger & grief of that. It's a life hack that I swear by. Requires mindful use of social media. Highly recommend.
Random joyful moments (just a snap shot): March-August 2025. In no particular order👇
When you find a secret river spot deep & clean enough to swim in & hang out with friends on hot summer days. Bliss.
Wild lake swimming👇
First attempt at growing tomatoes not too shabby
I do like to be beside the seaside...
When your Shaolin monk mate says it's time for Kung Fu💙😎
Sprat haul, off the pier, deep fried in batter. Yum
May: Wonderful day seaweed foraging & touring the magnificent Mungo Murphy's seaweed & abalone farm in Connemara. Learning all about the science of aquaculture https://www.mungomurphyseaweed.com/ Amazing, sustainable, ethical business run by two hugely knowledgeable, brilliant, badass women 💪👏😎💙
Teens in their natural habitat💙💖
Foraging for berries
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