Tag Archives: ireland

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June 4, 2013

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#blogjune, Inspiration

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Inspiration

A vision board - a source of inspiration

Inspiration and reminders. These are our own making. They are a choice.

I have a vision board in my study room. It sits on the wall, above and to the right of my desk. I’ve written about my vision board previously, but perhaps #blogjune is an opportunity to stop and think what I have chosen to take up space on my vision board and reflect on the contribution each item makes.

Here are five things currently on my vision board.

1. Writing strategies - these are reminders of what I am to focus on to pursue my writing this year. I like them in front of me. What is pinned over the top is my planner for #blogjune.

2. Quote - “Crazy just might work”. This is a piece of inspiration. It also reminds me to not disregard ideas that may seem crazy at first. It just might work. ;)

3. Wordle. This came out of a bit of a content analysis I undertook of position descriptions I had saved over the last couple of years. I created this Wordle at the beginning of this year to highlight the kinds of areas or things that had appealed to me. It’s a snapshot of my interests and reminds me of what I could look for in my next step. I wonder what a Wordle of position descriptions I aspire to, might look like in a couple of years time?

4. Photos of places in Ireland. Specifically, Giant’s Causeway, the Cliffs of Moher and Newgrange. These are reminders of my experience and what I had achieved with that trip I took on my own. It reminds me I am capable of things if I really want them, that I can make things happen, and that I can pull myself out of a crappy time and be true to myself.

5. Flyer about a Balinese Writing Retreat. This is my reward when I graduate from my Masters this year. It’s a goal. I will book myself in for the trip next year if I graduate.

I’d like more pieces of inspiration to fill my vision board. And there are things that really shouldn’t be there. I like to be strict with my vision board. For example, I don’t like ‘to do’ lists on my vision board. I have one there at the moment, but it’s to remind me I really need to print a few Canada photos to place up on the board because it is where I’d like to potentially live and work (for a little while) sometime in the future.

What would you do with a blank canvas dedicated to inspiration?

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June 30, 2011

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A Source of Inspiration

Do you have a ‘thinking spot’? A place where you can be with your own thoughts? Somewhere you can just be you - no judgement, no expectations, no agendas? Totally alone.

The photo in the header is my ‘thinking spot’. Expensive to reach (from Australia) and one I experienced for only an hour. It’s Giant’s Causeway (Northern Ireland) right on sunset.

Two years ago I had done some soul searching and decided to make my adventure in Ireland a personal challenge, to drive around the country by myself. My trip to Ireland was highly anticipated and meant an incredible amount to me.

After battling Friday afternoon traffic out of Belfast and getting lost finding my B&B, I finally made it to the famous landmark. I found all tourists had gone. It was just me and a professional photographer. You couldn’t have wiped the smile off my face. The thought which kept repeating in my mind was ‘I made it. I did it.’ I sat and watched the sun go down. It was so beautiful. It was surreal. It was majestic.

Giant’s Causeway is my ‘thinking spot’. A place where my mind may be freed of clutter, allowed to wander and to reconcile. This photo in the header serves as a reminder to always be true and honest to my thoughts, my ideas and opinions. The time I spent in my ‘thinking spot’, my memory of the feeling I felt while sitting there watching the sun go down, continues to be my inspiration.

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June 16, 2011

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#blogjune

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Travel Highlight: Book of Kells

As I look over at my bookcase, I can’t help but notice the travel books jumping out at me from the shelf. I have a travel itch (again). I have a craving for another adventure.

Two years ago I travelled through Ireland and Europe. I drove through Ireland by myself for two weeks. Starting in Dublin, I visited Newgrange, Downpatrick, Belfast, Bushmills, Enniskillen, Galway, Cork and Kilkenny. My travels around Ireland were very personally significant for me. I’d wanted to see it for years.

In Dublin, one of my highlights was seeing the Book of Kells. Seeing the Book of Kells was like one of those ‘pinch yourself’ moments. I can’t describe how I felt. I wish I had the words. You couldn’t wipe the grin off my face. I lingered in the room for as long as possible, trying to convince myself it was real. As I moved on into the Old Trinity College Library (I should write about another time), I picked up brochures about the conservation program and desperately wanted to be upstairs working on maintaining rare and very old manuscripts. I secretly hoped someone would see how happy I was to be there and perhaps show me around. ;)

When viewing the Book of Kells, photos are (usually) not allowed. So unfortunately I cannot share my own.

 

Courtesy of Suiramuk http://www.flickr.com/photos/suiramuk/3916682592/

The Book of Kells was written (or should I say created) by Irish monks in the 8th Century. It was started on the island of Iona, then later moved to the monastery in Kells, where it was finished. The Book of Kells is an illuminated copy of the four gospels, written in Latin. Pages were made from calf vellum and the covers were encrusted with gold and jewels. The manuscript is unsurpassed for its beauty, skill and decoration. It is believed the Book of Kells remained in Kells until the 17th century when Cromwell gave the book to Trinity College in Dublin (or the Archbishop of Ussher presented it). Disagreement remains as to the origins of the Book of Kells and how it ended up at Trinity College Dublin.

McCaffrey, C. & Eaton, L. 2002. In Search of Ancient Ireland. Chicago: New Amsterdam Books.