John Lennon’s Beatles masterpiece Strawberry Fields Forever tells us “nothing is real”. Kevin Barry’s beautiful Lennon novel Beatlebone suggests nothing is real except the present moment.
Recent Posts
Never give 100%?
Is constantly giving our all – always seeing 100% as the bare minimum – the wisest or most sustainable approach to life and to work?
Beauty grows
Always move forward. Always engage with the reality and the beauty of life, the opportunities of change and growth that today and tomorrow offer us.
Joy & love & gratitude & kindness
Happy new year, gentle reader. Welcome to 2023. Welcome to today. How will you approach this new year? How will you approach this new day?
MJCarty.com: Top 5 posts of 2022
I present the five most-read posts of 2022 on MJCarty.com. If you have taken the time to read any words on this wee blog of mine this year, you have my heartfelt gratitude.
Frozen world
When everyday life grinds to a sudden halt, how do you respond to the frozen world? Your reaction to these rare moments of absolute peace can tell you so much about yourself.
Re-entry
Life is forever fresh, forever new. It might take a change of perspective to appreciate this. But life offers so many moments of re-entry, so many chances to start afresh.
The sun will return
The sun will return. No matter how dark the night. No matter how dark the mood. No matter how dark the moment. The sun will return.
Simple
What simple things mean the world to you? A simple wee post about the simple joy of finding time for the simple things.
Alas, poor Twitter?
Twitter: Is the outlook terminal? If the time of the tweet is drawing to a close, will you mourn Twitter?
Mastodon FAQ: Toot sweet?
Mastodon: the next big thing in social media? Here, I attempt to answer some frequently asked questions for new Mastodon users or the Mastodon-curious.
Brevity
Brevity is next to godliness. There is tremendous power in making your case with the fewest – but best chosen – words possible.
Strange horizon
Every day of your life has the potential to be momentous in its own little way. Every day of your life marks the point at which the rest of your life begins.
Like university finals forever
When stress gets out of hand, it can feel as if the stressful times will never end. How do you deal with stress?
Imagination can be trained
What is the best way to get your creativity firing on all cylinders?
What stories do you tell yourself?
How do you make sense of the changing world around you? What stories do you tell yourself about the world as you see it? Are they the stories you truly need to hear?
Coping?
Gentle reader: How are you coping with all that you are going through, right now? If you feel like you need help, never be afraid to seek it.
David Ogilvy’s genius: Of great writing, giants and Russian dolls
David Ogilvy was the advertising genius of the 20th Century. He was also generous in sharing his wisdom on the art of writing.
Mental health: Six things I’ve learnt in 2022
If you are experiencing mental health issues, you are not alone. You are never alone. Here are some things I have learnt about mental health issues over the first six months of my ongoing mental health journey.
Anxiety: Your own worst enemy
A post inspired by some wonderful and insightful words on anxiety from two very different people: TV chef Nadiya Hussain and novelist Robert Harris.
Happiness, more or less?
How happy do you feel, in this moment? What brings happiness to your world? What is the secret to happiness for you?
Open
Gentle reader, a simple question: How open and honest are you? With others? With yourself?
At the heart of things
What are you left with when things fall apart? What is at the heart of things for you? What truly guides you?
In our darkest hours
Gentle reader: As we enter the second half of 2022, how are you feeling? Truly and honestly? If you find yourself in dark hours, remember that the brilliant light within yourself can never be dimmed.
Some kind of surrender?
Does the secret to a good life lie in achieving the ideal balance between control and surrender?
Make it exemplary
Make it exemplary. Three simple but demanding words. They challenge us to do our best in whatever we do.
Mental health first response
What is your first response when you think of mental health issues? This post is inspired by some beautiful words from Gurprriet Siingh on his mental health journey.
No words?
Words fail me. Some words on nature, depression, music – and things that we really must try to put into words, no matter how hard it might be.
Listen without prejudice
To focus intently on just one sense is often to experience it anew. To listen – truly to listen – to another soul is to listen without prejudice.
Renewal
Feelings of renewal can make all seem right with the world once more. But they can also mislead. Be careful not to mistake renewal for recovery.
Coffee: Roast sip repeat?
Do you love coffee? Have you ever tried roasting your own coffee beans? Here I recount my first ever attempt at home-roasted coffee beans.
Into the infinity of thoughts
In times of heightened stress and anxiety, the mind can become like the turbulent surface of the sea. Anxiety and stress need to be taken seriously, before they become overwhelming.
Stay Clean
To live at all times in accordance with your core values should be as smooth and as natural as a fish swimming through the ocean.
The Palin principle
Michael Palin’s diaries from 50 years ago this month paint an oddly familiar picture of gloomy times with an underlying absurdity and silliness.
Neil Gaiman, Cafe München & the Comedian
Cafe München: long-gone… but perhaps not entirely forgotten? This London bar was home to so many stories, including Forbidden Planet signings by Neil Gaiman, Dave Gibbons, Bill Sienkiewicz, Alexei Sayle and a host of 1980s comics luminaries.
Did you just miss the love of your life?
How much of your life are you devoting to events that never really happened, and never will? Can wasting time be forgiven? A post on why it is never too late, inspired by some wise words from Sir Ian McKellen and Reverend Richard Coles.
What if you always did the kindest thing?
What if you were guided always by the decision always to do the kindest thing in any given moment? Imagine how your life would be if every decision you have made and will make were guided only by kindness. What kind of world you have helped to create? Being kind to all, and striving always […]
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