Where I've been (and my podcast!)
Six weeks in the life (originally published in August 2023)
Hi everyone!
Long time no chat. Since I wrote to you last, I have had a rollercoaster of emotion, and ended up in a pretty great place, believe it or not. It’s been a notes app poetry, bitten nails, unbrushed hair kind of August. I’ve gotten back into wearing my hair naturally and I kind of forgot how much having big messy waves makes me feel like myself. In 2015 I was (and arguably still am) the kind of person who identifies too strongly with mermaids. Maybe I’ll lean into it again, who knows.
So, I had time booked off work this month for a vacation that ended up not happening. I decided to take a trip to Edinburgh for the fringe festival instead, and it was incredible. Having recieved flyers on the street for everything from an onstage speed-dating show to a 9/11 musical, I can firmly say that the fringe is insane, in the best way possible. Check out ‘‘Burdwurld’’ if you’re there this weekend! It was my favourite show that we saw.
Sometimes when you’re in the throes of heartbreak, you need to pour your heart out to a stranger. Alternatively, you could come 3rd in a random pub quiz, complete an escape room with twelve seconds to spare, stay out until 4.30am dancing, or be the one person laughing heartily at a less-than-stellar comedy gig.
I’ve also been thinking a lot about the concept of long-term love. The thing that's so scary about romantic love and attraction is the fact that it can seemingly just…go away. That's what's so exhilarating and terrifying. Sometimes you just don't love someone any more and it's not their fault and it's not your fault and that's it. This doesn’t always mean the end of the relationship, though. Just because you’re not in love with someone anymore doesn’t mean you don’t still love them.
Loving someone is a choice you make every single day, and sometimes you just don't want to choose it any more. That means when somebody does choose you, choose it, choose to stay, that's a big deal. (To me at least).
I think of my paternal grandparents, married for over 50 years and best friends until the end. The absence of romantic love and attraction doesn't have to mean the absence of care and respect and friendship. I won’t pretend to know the ins and out of every marriage, but I think the ones that work best are the ones built on more than romance and sexual attraction. I think the ones built on friendship, are the ones built to last.
I don’t know what my exact stance is on love any more. But what I do know is that I’m thinking about it a lot, and that feels good. It means the next time I fall in love (and there will always be a next time) I will have a better idea of what love really means to me. Right now, it means friendship, and that’s pretty nice.
These past six weeks, I have spent so much time with friends, old and new. Another thing I have been focusing more on (with my newfound free time) has been my collaborative podcast project with Galway storyteller (and friend) Rab Fulton! The Celtic Tales Chronicles is part history, part mythology, part conspiracy and all fun! Here is a link to our spotify page, it would mean the world if you gave us a listen, and please remember to rate and review too! I know literally every content creator says this, but it really does make a huge difference. Here is a link to our latest episode detailing medieval flying machines, fairy boat races and interdimensional scientists!
This upcoming month, I have quite a lot happening. I am going to see Boygenius in Dublin, which I am SO excited about. I am taking part in a panel in the Galway City Library for Culture Night (22nd September) on local Galway podcasts, and podcasting as a medium for storytelling. I am going part-time at my day job, to focus more on my creative projects, which I still can’t believe is happening. This is my first real foray into the struggling artist lifestyle - to put it plainly, so far, I’ve just been struggling.
So, to recap: August so far has consisted of musings on love, working on creative projects, and plenty of laughter (at comedy shows and at myself).
Hope everyone is doing well, and I will be back with more news very very soon!
-K Xx