Monday, March 26, 2012

Cnáimhseáil


Stan Carey of Sentence First explains the Irish language (Gaeilge)title of my blog post better than any translation I've seen.

I've been knawvshawling (the phonetics and pronunciation of the above word if you're up for it) far too much lately. Whinging, whining, complaining - yeah, that's where I was at.

Isn't it odd that when stress and "too much" and "OMG not another problem/task/item/project!" takes over the brain there is very little room for joy or just plain presence in the moment.

One of my cast members reminded me of that after rehearsal today. I had told her last year that I never miss a sunset and she said since I said it to her she has taken the half an hour every day to drink them in and see life through a different lens.

I was too ashamed to say I'd just been peering out my office window at them for about a minute (busy, donchaknow)recently and needed to get back into the saddle of gratitude and joyful reflection.

So enough with the cnáimhseáiling and on with the attitude adjustment.

18 comments:

  1. Thats my girl. Pick yourself up, dust yourself down and start all over again.

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  2. Right there with you, WWW. We can do it! :) It's not how many times you fall down (or off, or forget), it's how many times you get back up (or on, or remember to change/fix it)! ;)

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  3. By the way, LOVE that picture. So beautiful...

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  4. That's a good attitude my friend.Smell the roses or be in awe of the beautiful sunsets is good for the soul.

    Btw I am always struck by how similar your sunsets are to the one here.

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  5. GM:
    We should have that phrase printed on a 8 X 10 (I'm talking feet not inches) and hung from where we fall into it all the time!!!
    XO
    WWW

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  6. BG:
    How very true!
    And yes that sunset is right outside my door, most days!
    XO
    WWW

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  7. GFB:
    Thanks and yes, those sunsets are extraordinarily similar. More salt in mine I expect :)
    XO
    WWW

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  8. Just catching up on the last few posts, WWW - your good news (good!), and your knawvshawling . :-)
    Good word - just wish I could get my tongue around it! It reminds me a bit of the Jewish (I think) word meaning much the same thing kvetching.

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  9. I have a friend who makes the most interesting New Year's resolutions. One year it was Always Say "Yes", another year it was Dance Every Day. This year it is Appreciate Beauty Every Day. My friend is not a Polly Anna, she happily admits to being a Bitch, but she puts some of us to shame when it comes to appreciating life.

    We all need reminders of the joy and beauty available in life, and to do a little dance and say Yes when we think No. And isn't it funny how one's own words come back to bite ya?

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  10. We must be careful not to complain too much lest something really bad befalls on us. Always turn it around and add smething positive to it. I have to get up and walk straight to the window in order to peek at the sunset and very often I don't so I only imagine it like I do so many other things in life. There's much to be said for a fantasyfull life.
    xox

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  11. T:
    I'd never thought of it being that close to the Yiddish, yes of course it is, maybe a common linkage?
    XO
    WWW

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  12. Annie:
    Oh I do like your friend. And yes words do come back to bite us.
    I've another friend who says I changed his life by telling him my mantra: "Do I want to be right, or do I want to be happy?"
    And when I've had a whole week of arguing behind me, he tells me how improved his life is because of me. Ahem.
    XO
    WWW

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  13. My sunset is a wee bit foggy as I write this Irene but still it is after 7.30 and I am so grateful for the extension of the days.
    XO
    WWW

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  14. Any fool can complain but taking the time to fully appreciate the beauty that is all around us takes a bit more sensitivity - and patience.

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  15. Nick:
    And a sprinkling of gratitude for all that we have and not focussing on the "have not".
    XO
    WWW

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  16. On with the attitude adjustment makes much sense to me. Way to go. I am rooting for you.

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  17. One of the downsides of my present accommodation is that I don't have a view of the evening sun. But at least that motivates me to get out into the fresh air.

    Taking proper reflective breaks is the main thing, whether or not we choose or manage to time them to coincide with the sun setting.

    Thank you for sharing my post on cnáimhseáil, by the way!

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  18. What I'd like to know is how you got those fadas on there? I like to try to emphasize the positive and count my blessings too---knowing how the "heavy shyte" that can happenin a few minutes can make your current problem seem like a walk in the park...Thanks for the reminder to Live in the moment, deal with the future when it gets here.
    Beautiful sunset, by the way. We get some stunners down here too...

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