Normal Conversations

Sometimes, the best laid plans fall by the wayside...

Like literally!

Restarts, attempts to reignite motivation and promises of tomorrow are made!

And yet, we can still fall flat on our face.

Does this mean failure?

It certainly can...

OR

What if we were to look on those falls as reminders of how NOT to live our lives?

What if we were to take them as prompts to give ourselves permission to stop and rest every now and then?

What if we were to take these moments/times to really connect to what we truly want?

This week...

I am very grateful for the time to nourish my body, mind and soul with what it deserves.
To take the time to answer questions that I've been ignoring for a while.
To stop for a while in a way that allows me to examine those 'falls', all with an attitude of love and kindness...

A reset and replenish, if you like...

www.breakingbeyond.ie

Soooooo....
Look at these photos!

Taken in the same 24 hours, post college chill time...

No prize for guessing which one is taken in Ireland!

I can't wait to be in Italy (4 days and counting!!!)

Yet, weekends spent with those we love the most are special, despite the weather.

This weekend, we both felt blessed to do just that!

www.normalconversations.com

Such wise words by Dickens...

And despite our tiredness as we approach the final few days of a busy academic year, we were chatting at the weekend and saying how grateful we are for the learning opportunities that we choose to engage with, as opposed to HAVING to suffer our way through learning because we have to!

And having each other at the end of the phone/whattsapp/video call, helps us through the deadlines...

And we seem to be ticking these off, one by one!

WoooHoooo!!!

www.normalconversations.com

Sometimes...
All one needs to do is move!

Run, walk, stop for a while and savour the late evening light? Or maybe a mix of all.

Either way, a great way to decompress after a really busy few days!

And breathe...

www.normalconversations.com

Oh, so easy to say and yet so challenging sometimes to embody!

And if you're not able to love yourself today, maybe there's something that you like about yourself?

What is bringing you down?

Is it your thoughts, the limitations that you put on yourself or habits and behaviours?

Maybe it's time to reflect on this now...

www.normalconversations.com

It's a Bank Holiday weekend here in Ireland...

A perfect time to kick back and relax a little, travel, visit or just take time out for you!

If I think about June Bank Holiday weekends past and get a little nostalgic...

BUT, I remind myself that all we have is now, I can NEVER go back (and to be honest, I don't know if I'd really want to, if I had a choice!)

When we romanticise or regret the past, what about looking for the lessons that we have learnt from our experiences and bring those little gems into the present?

Makes it a little more interesting...

And we can use these to propel us into the future, creating a life that we are more in control of and knowing that we have so much more life to live!

www.normalconversations.com

Staying balanced takes a lot more work than we give it credit for!

While we may be excited to move forward, it can be scary as well.
Don't let the thoughts hold you back.

Breathe...
Think about how you might like to move forward.
Find answers to the questions you have

AND

Stay grounded!

www.normalconversations.com

Self worth... The value that we put on ourselves!

And it has nothing to do with money, jobs, how many likes we get on our social media posts, etc.

When we find ourselves starting to raise up a storm, in an attempt to put us down...

PAUSE!

Ask if what we are saying is true?
Is it helpful?
Are we being kind?

And check if it is our inner critic who is speaking...

We've got to champion our own self worth!

www.normalconversations.com

Dr Martin Luther King Jr. is one of my all time favorite individuals. He was instrumental in the fight for civil rights and he was a gifted public speaker.

This quote of his reminds me that whenever life gets challenging, take a rest. Pause. Get your strength back, if you need to. Then pick yourself up and keep moving forward, no matter the speed.

All the while enjoying the journey.

Happy Sunday everyone.

It's gonna be a busy weekend for us...

We're both in college, JUST as Summer arrives in Ireland!

(Maria is glad that I get to experience a little taste of Summer and of what is the norm in her current abode!)

Enjoy and be safe...

www.normalconversations.com

I love this time of year... For many reasons!

The whole Summer to look forward to.
The bright evenings (when it's not raining in Ireland!)
Coming to the completion of really enjoyable projects, to name just a few...

I find it's also a really good time to check in and review the year to date!

Two questions that really focus me are;
*What has worked really well this year?
*What do I need to change?

This is a part of the conversation that we'll be having on our next conversation on the second Saturday of June, 11th June.

It would be great to hear what your challenges are as well as what is working for you.

Let's share ideas and really open up this conversation!

www.normalconversations.com

Just a 'normal' conversation for this little boy!

I just love his reactions and honesty!

Out of the mouth of babes!!!

🤣🤣🤣

www.normalconversations.com

This child didn't help matters at all. #cars #carporn #carsofinstagram #carsireland #dublincars #carlover #juxycarz

It's the second Saturday of the month...

And it feels like it's later than usual, what with the way that the 1st May fell on a Monday!

How and ever, hope that you find some time to listen to this episode which discusses what it means to have a good life!

As always, we love to get feedback and ideas from you and so please do comment below or drop us a line to let us know what your thoughts are on a good life.

Thank you all so much for being a part of our first series, it was so lovely to have you join us on such an adventure.

And we're not finished yet...

Looking forward to series two already!

https://www.normalconversations.com/podcast-series

Podcast Series | Normal Conversations Every month we will have a new podcast for you to listen to. Currently, we are on season 1 where we introduce ourselves and the topics that are close to our hearts. Series 2 will start in the spring where we will have some very special people join us and tell us their story.

What can you do today, that will improve your life?

What will allow you to gain more enjoyment out of your life?

What awareness can you bring to make you savour having a good life?

Lots of questions and invitations to reflect...

Here are some suggestions that may help you;
*Be curious... Learn as much as you can and seek out understanding
*Volunteer your time to help others... It will give you new perspectives
*Limit your overwhelm... Focus on getting things done and success will follow

So looking forward to releasing our final episode in this series on this coming Saturday, the second Saturday of the month and discussing what a good life really means to us!

www.normalconversations.com

This thing called life is a minefield...

Doing our best to live with an element of humility, kindness and in the moment, as best we can...

I love this quote by Pema Chodron, it really hits the nail on the head for me! Its not always easy. But when we are patient, it certainly adds to the quality of life.

www.normalconversations.com

Some days are challenging...

And some days are great!

And things are a little more difficult, I become more aware of the golden moments that bring some light to my day.

After a miserable and wintry day, it was lovely to arrive home to my lillies in full bloom!

What are your golden moments from today?

www.normalconversations.com

What do you think?

An invite for you to reflect...

What can you choose to focus on that will help you to move forward? Because only you can make this decision.

Instead of focusing on what others might say/think/do, it may be more helpful for you to explore your possibilities.

www.normalconversations.com

A change is better than a rest!

So many things have changed over the past year.

We have had to be creative in our approach to work, connecting and maintaining some sense of normality.

It just proves how resilient we are!

There is ALWAYS a way... Sometimes we have to dig deep, change our attitude, use a more empowering narrative...

But the alternative can be found!

www.normalconversations.com

What makes a 'good' life?

Is it the monthly paycheck?
The house?
The holidays?

While all of the above are wonderful, it is aspects such as the connections that we have, purpose in our lives and our lived experience that really make our lives matter from the inside out.

What's makes your life good...
What are you enjoying...
What motivates you to keep going?

www.normalconversations.com

I have no choice!

How many times have we uttered this sentence? (And maybe threw our hands in the air in an effort to exaggerate our point)!

Yet, if we look closely, we always have choice...

Even if that choice means that we leave well enough alone until we feel better able to cope with a different choice and/or decision.

What choices are we making that are empowering us or holding us back?
What decisions are we making that allow us to feel good about ourselves or put ourselves down?

Choice is for everyone, not a select few. When we focus on the choices that are available to us, we're taking control of our lives.

Last Sunday, I chose to open and start to use a gift I received at Christmas.
I am glad I made this choice... Simply because it makes me feel good!

What do you choose to do today?

www.breakingbeyond.ie

Patience...

Sometimes we have alot, sometimes a little.

At least this is true in my case!

And to sit with emotions as they arise is sometimes the more challenging thing to do, yet it is the answer to understanding ourselves at a deeper level, whilst creating opportunities to respond skillfully to what is arising.

What do you think of this quote from Pema Chodra?

www.normalconversations.com

It's not the 'fabulous' lifestyle,

The 'perfect' body,

The 'ideal' ... [insert distraction of choice here]

It's an inside job!

When we start looking inwards and really taking responsibility for what's going on now, then we stand a good chance of finding a solution, when we dig deep!

There's freedom in this...

If you would benefit from some support in this 'dig', please reach out! It's alot more challenging to go there alone and find that scaffolding that will help you to reach your potential!

www.breakingbeyond.ie

It's the second Saturday of the month...

And so time for the next in our series of podcasts.

If you are thinking of making a change, in your personal or professional life, maybe this is exactly what you need to hear.

Today, we're talking about change!

Come and join in on the conversation. You might be very glad that you did!

https://www.normalconversations.com/podcast-series

Podcast Series | Normal Conversations Every month we will have a new podcast for you to listen to. Currently, we are on season 1 where we introduce ourselves and the topics that are close to our hearts. Series 2 will start in the spring where we will have some very special people join us and tell us their story.

Change can be scary...

That first step may feel like your jumping into the unknown and I guess you are, if you make the decision to do things differently.

We don't have to do it alone tho'!

There is always support out there, remember this.

www.normalconversations.com

Taking Action...

Two simple words and yet can be so difficult to do!

We can think about taking that first step, ruminate, catastrophize and procrastinate.

Sometimes, we might never what's needed, in order to take us in the right direction.

I love Edith Egar. A survivor of the holocaust, she talks about positive thinking being futile, unless we take positive action. This, in my opinion, hits the nail on the head!

What action can you take today that will lead YOU in the direction that you want to go?

www.normalconversations.com

Change...

It can be scary, it can be challenging, it can be exciting and it can be fun!

One thing is for sure, when change happens, things are different! The old makes way for the new...

Join us this coming Saturday, the second Saturday of the month and time for another episode of Normal Conversations, where we explore change a little deeper.

www.normalconversations.com

Starting the conversations way back to last year was the easy part for us both...

It was looking at the possibility of creating a podcast and learning 'how to' was the challenge.

And yet, we persevered... stumbling and learning along the way, with LOTS of conversations that we don't record along the way.

Getting messages like these are the reason that we started recording in the first place... We knew how much they opened our eyes and really believed that they would help others aswell.

www.normalconversations.com

One of us IS a mother...

The other isn't!

Either way, we are thinking of you all today and respectfully keeping those of you who may be finding today challenging for whatever reason, in our thoughts and hearts.

www.normalconversations.com

I LOVE Saturdays...

Time to catch up with myself, whether that's time spent with family/friends or on my own.

How do you spend yours?

www.normalconversations.com

Do you find that some weeks can completely throw you off kilter?

That 'things' get in the way and schedules are in disarray?

That's life, I guess and this week was certainly one of those weeks for me!

THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY!!!

www.normalconversations.com

St. Patrick's Day...

Maybe you celebrate it, maybe you don't.

Either way, sending love across the oceans... ☘️💚☘️





https://youtu.be/2vRx6CczPGg

St. Patrick's Day 2022 Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine”“We live in each other’s shelter” On this stands in solidarity with the people of a...

For some reason, I miss my friend Maria a little more on weekends that we launch a new podcast!

We talk all the time, video call and text...

BUT...

I just can't wait for that ONE day... a second Saturday of the month, where we're both in the same room when the new episode goes live!

Until then, I'll settle for an Italian coffee, gifted to me by her lovely husband (shhh, don't tell him that I still haven't figured out how to use the dispenser, as my sink will attest to!)

If you haven't already checked out our 4th and latest podcast, here's a little reminder!

https://www.normalconversations.com/podcast-series

The second Saturday of the month is here and so is the latest episode of Normal Conversations.

This is the fourth episode in our first series of six episodes and we are really excited about this one as it was the first one we recorded together in the same room!

The sound, unfortunately is not great - sorry we are not sound engineers so give us this one - we promise it won't happen again 😍😍😍

Enjoy and feel free to give us any feedback you feel is appropriate - but be kind in your delivery 🤗🤗🤗

https://www.normalconversations.com/podcast-series

Podcast Series | Normal Conversations Every month we will have a new podcast for you to listen to. Currently, we are on season 1 where we introduce ourselves and the topics that are close to our hearts. Series 2 will start in the spring where we will have some very special people join us and tell us their story.

It certainly takes courage to be vulnerable...

Courage amongst many other things!
In our latest podcast, we talk about vulnerability and how it can help us move forward in our lives.

Join us tomorrow morning, the second Saturday of the month, @ 10a.m to tune in!

www.normalconversations.com

I guess, one cannot talk about vulnerability, without talking about Brene Brown...

Tune into our new episode on Saturday to hear our take on it.

www.normalconversations.com

'Vulnerability is the willingness to show emotion or to allow one’s weaknesses to be seen or known; willingness to risk being emotionally hurt' (www.dictionary.com)

And this takes courage...

It also reaps rewards in abundance!

Join us next Saturday as we dive into this topic on our 4th episode of Normal Conversations.

www.normalconversations.com

Happy International Women's Day!

There have been so many amazing women down through history. This quote is from one of them, Gloria Steinem, a woman I have admired for many years for her relentless commitment to advancing the rights of women in the world.

It is people like her that we have to be thankful to for all the freedoms we enjoy in the 21st century.

We have come a long way, but we still have work to do.

Do something nice for the special women in your life today. Show them how important they are to you.