for the first half of my Mitchell year, I worked really hard to find peace. during the second half, especially in the midst of unprecedented climate change, a global pandemic that our governments have decided to let vulnerable bear the burden of, and violence and displacement across the world – hope for the future has felt impossible. hope for my future has felt intangible. so since landing back in Dublin from Ghana, I have spent each day trying to cultivate hope.
hope is the sea and the sun
shinning sapphire reflected in the Irish sea
smiling flame whispering through the clouds
as my body burns in the cold of the water.
hope is the Dublin Bay at sunset
a soft pink and purple that hugs the Poolbeg smokestacks
a fearless orange that hikes the Dublin mountains
while my feet follow the sea in the sand.
the sunset over Poolbeg (top) and over the general Dublin Bay (bottom). I am training for some races (:000 more coming in the final blog post) and I like to do my training at sunset-ish. such a nice time to go for a run or bike ride. hoping to do some sunrise swims/runs as the weather warms.
hope is the persistence of the seagulls
that sit on my windowsill each morning
knocking to wake me up, just like Mom and Dad used to
yelling to their friends about the joys of goldfish.
I befriended some of the Dublin 2 seagulls. they are absolutely NUTS but I have honestly enjoyed my time hanging out with them (or yelling at them when they start screaming during my zoom meetings).
hope is warm love from friends, new and old
on days where the cold grey seeps through the window
locking my body in the bed –
I have had so many amazing visits with friends! one of my besties came to visit and we went to Cork City (picture on left, on top of Shandon Tower). I spent Paddy’s day with amazing new friends from my masters program (picture on left). and another mit bestie is visiting right now and we are going to Sligo!
hope is purple and yellow flowers
stretching their stiff yet finally rested bodies towards the sun
hope is the grey turning green burning locks as spring lights my hearth.
