A Week of Wins

even when I’m late in posting this week

I’m late in writing this week. It’s hard for me to not feel like a failure because of it, but here I am, showing up and writing again nonetheless. That’s a win!

It’s been a busy week, but also not. Trying to integrate my being in a new country requires more than I thought. I’ve been listening to my body by taking naps when I need to, drinking water, cuddling with the animals, and going for walks when my body allows. Things still feel surreal and like we’re on an extended holiday, but I’m slowly getting there.

In the meantime, here are some of my weekly wins that I’m proud of:

I got my stamp 4 family visa so I’M LEGAL for the next year! Huzzah!!

I went on a 5 mile hike (straight up a mountain— I thought I was gonna die) that rewarded me with glorious 360 views of green farmlands as far as the eye can see and back down through forests as old, thick, and dark that my eye could only see a few feet into the trees from the trail I stood on. Nothing grew under the canopy except where the light could reach. It was creepy and cool.

I’ve been published!! My piece, “A Letter To My Unborn Children” was included in a collection of writings titled “Our Stories” for World Childless Week. You can read it here on Substack or here: https://worldchildlessweek.net/mon-2023/a-letter-to-my-unborn-children

I met another American! She and her husband live in Strokestown as well— they moved here a year ago and she invited Martin and I to their tailgate party for football season. I hope I have a new friend!

I may have a job and we may have a house. More details to come as I’m afraid to jinx them by talking about them too much…

I made it to the ocean and now I feel like I’m in Ireland. I am such a water person, it was great to smell the salt air and watch the waves as the wind whipped through my hair. It was overcast but I could still see a couple shades of turquoise before the water faded to pewter in the distance.