Ceacht Giotáir agus Féinchomhlíonadh!

Guitar Lessons and Self-Realisation!

Guitar Lesson

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I started learning guitar online. It wasn’t live classes, but pre-recorded online classes. I really enjoyed them, and I studied and practiced diligently for a few years. Then, it occurred to me that I was almost finished with the course, and I didn’t know what to do next to learn more. I emailed the class teacher, Doctor McAllister, asking for his advice on the subject. What he said was that he would be in my area in a few weeks, and that he would be happy to meet me and have a class together. Although I was nervous about it, I accepted the suggestion. A few weeks later, we met and started the class.

I thought we would probably play songs together over and over again, until I could play it really well. But that wasn’t the case at all. He only asked me to play a song a few times, while he played rhythm guitar as accompaniment. Then, we stopped and this is what he said to me:

“You can learn and play songs, so we don’t need to spend time on that. It’s time for you to learn techniques, so it will be easier for you to improve and reach the next level.” Then, he showed me that my left hand was not in the correct orientation on the fretboard, but it was tilted. He was right, and although it was easy for him to see, I hadn’t noticed it before.

“Your muscles are too tight, Michael, and it’s hard to have facility of style without loose muscles. So relax before you play!” said Dr. McAllister.

Insight

That caught my attention right away, as my wife had recently said the same thing to me. We had been on a bus trip for a few weeks – something I was nervous about beforehand, as I get motion sickness quite easily. Fortunately, I didn’t have much of a problem with it this time. But my wife noticed something when the bus was rocking back and forth. “You’re fighting the motion of the bus, and you’re tensing instead of just letting go. You’ve got tight muscles not just on the bus, but all the time, and that’s not a good thing. You need to do something about that!” she said.

Both my wife and my guitar teacher were clear that I had a problem with stress, but what on earth could I do about it?

Recommendation

I asked ChatGPT (Artificial Intelligence) what the best way for me to relieve physical tension and mental stress was, and here is the answer I got back (which I have edited):

An bealach is fearr duit chun teannas fisiciúil agus strus meabhrach a mhaolú ná anáil dhomhain chomhtháite le gluaiseacht a dhéanamh – mar shampla, ióga, tai chi, nó siúlóid aireach (mindful walking).

  • Cén fáth? Comhcheanglaítear gluaiseacht réidh le hanáil rialaithe – rud a scaoileann teannas na matán agus a laghdaíonn leibhéil struis san intinn.
  • Conas é a dhéanamh? Roghnaigh gníomhaíocht a thugann rithim nádúrtha d’análú agus do ghluaiseacht – rud a chuirfidh ar do chumas do chorp agus d’intinn a nascadh le chéile i staid scíthe agus cothromaíochta.

If you had to choose one, mindful walking is the simplest and most effective option.

Crazy Old Man

One day, when famous investor Marc Andreessen was driving in Palo Alto in Silicon Valley, he almost hit a crazy old man crossing the road. Looking back, he noticed the man was wearing a turtleneck and blue jeans. “Oh my God, I almost hit Steve Jobs!” Andreessen said to himself. He was right. Jobs was walking near his company - Apple. He was famous in the area for the long walks he would take. He believed that there were great benefits to walking – for exercise and meditation, for solving problems, and even for holding business meetings. He was right, and experts agree that walking has these benefits.

I hope you don't think I'm crazy, walking every day like Steve Jobs, or Forrest Gump! But despite that risk, I will continue with the same walks, because they are already doing me good, no doubt. The walks get rid of physical and mental stress, and if you have stress of any kind, put on your shoes and go for a walk!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Litir ó Mheiriceá – Cruachás na bhfostaithe feidearálacha!

Letter from America - The plight of federal employees!

The Enemy Within

Everything is upside down in the United States of America (USA) right now, and it is a great pity. No other country can trust the USA anymore. It feels like President Trump is turning to the other side – the side of Russia. He is giving Russia the benefit of the doubt, while at the same time turning his back on his Allies, the European Union (including Ireland!), Ukraine, Canada and Mexico, to name just a few. This story will end badly, no doubt.

Even in the United States itself, Trump and his cronies are treating a large portion of their own citizens as if they were the enemy. His big ally, Elon Musk, is firing thousands of government employees, in a way that is brutal and cruel and, apparently, illegal. It reminds me of a movie called ‘Up in the Air’, starring George Clooney, and he has to fire people all over the country. When his boss suggests that he do his work on ‘Zoom’ or something similar, he has a big problem with that approach, because he has a conscience.

Musk goes a few steps further than that, because he fired many people at the same time, with a single email. He has no idea what he is doing, and many people are suffering as a result. Here are a few personal stories from people who have recently lost their federal jobs.

Samantha Leach

Samantha Leach was happy eight months ago. She landed the job she loved at the Federal Bureau of Engraving and Printing, working with a team that respected her skills and dedication.

That joy was dashed earlier this month. She learned (via email) that she was among thousands of federal government employees on probation who were suddenly laid off. The insult was compounded when she read that she had failed to perform her duties on the job. But Samantha received the highest rating - five out of five, in her most recent performance review.

“I was good, very good at the job I was assigned. I did everything right - literally! But despite everything, I was shown the door. That was a terrible blow, for someone like me who just wants to be where I fit in, contributing to the success of the federal government.”

Tony Ruiz

Tony Ruiz, of Orange County, California, was fired on February 3, just ten days before his probationary period as a Service Representative working for the Department of Veterans Affairs was to end.

The disabled army veteran said he was hired after 15 years in the private sector to help veterans with their benefit claims — for example, help with paperwork to approve a medical procedure or to enroll a spouse in a policy. Tony said he often handles up to 40 claims a day.

He was shocked and appalled when he read in his termination letter that his standard of work was unacceptable. Last August, Tony became the first employee in his department to win an “employee of the quarter” award, which came with a $1,000 cash prize.

“You’re telling me (that) one of the best employees, who was awarded money, and was employee of the quarter ... is a worthless person?” he said.

Tony found it hard to even leave the house at first and is taking some time to come to terms with what happened to him.

“I’m heartbroken, I’m devastated,” Tony said. “I don’t think any American federal employee, especially a veteran, deserves this.”

Analysis

Musk and his team have done a lot of damage to the federal government and its employees. We saw Musk on stage with a chainsaw, showing how focused he is on cost-cutting measures in the government. Musk has likely overstepped his authority and violated laws that protect federal employees. He has targeted the FAA (Federal Aviation Authority), USAID (United States Agency for International Development), and NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), even trying to shut down USAID. Musk behaves as if the US government is part of his business. But the government is not there to make a profit, but for the benefit of the people of the country.

Trump’s ministers are not happy with the current state of affairs and Musk’s interference in their affairs. While Musk has given the boot to many people, the political responsibility for what he has done lies solely with the ministers. There was a heated meeting at the White House recently, with Trump, his ministers, and Musk in the room. There was a big argument between Musk and a few Secretaries, and in particular Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who heads USAID. The decision was made that Musk would no longer be able to directly give the sack to federal employees. He will put forward proposals on the subject, but the Secretaries will have the power to accept or reject them.

There is a power struggle going on between Musk and Trump’s ministers. Musk has been dealt a blow by the decision to make him an advocate without any power of action. But that is not a fatal blow, and I think Musk will not give up without a fight. But Trump’s ministers should have the power, so they will probably win the day. Without a doubt, Musk’s plan is falling apart, and he and Trump are up to their necks in lawsuits. In addition, public discontent with Musk’s actions is growing. It is clear that Trump or his ministers will have no desire to go further down the same road. Trump himself said they need to use a scalpel instead of an axe, because he understands the political risks of Musk's approach so far. I hope the US government will treat the federal workforce fairly, and stop mistreating these fine, honest people who are the backbone of the government!

 

 

 

 

 

 

M’Iarmhúinteoir Gaeilge!

My former Irish Teacher

Fógra: Beidh Micheál Ó’Diarmada ag tabhairt léachta ar an 16 Márta ag 7:30 p.m. i dteach tábhairne Bollards i gCill Chainnigh. Beidh sé ag díriú ar na focail Gaeilge a bhí coitianta sa Bhéarla agus é ag fás aníos. Beidh sé ag caint freisin ar an gcanúint dhifriúil sa chontae. Déanfaidh sé tabhairt freisin do chúpla amhrán Gaeilge a bhain le Cill Chainnigh agus a logainmneacha. Beidh an oíche idir shiamsúil agus fhaisnéiseach.

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I had no idea at the time, but my former Irish teacher, Micheál Ó'Diarmada, would have a profound and lasting influence on me.

Every Irish teacher in Coláiste Chiaráin, including Micheál Ó’Diarmada, had a high standard of Irish. Micheál was my teacher in my fourth and fifth years at school, up to the Leaving Certificate.

Micheál was a lively young man at the time. Because he was so young, he was able to understand his students well. Also, he was one of the lads, as far as we were concerned. Why? He broke the division between teacher and student, which was not often seen, especially at that time, in the seventies in Ireland. Most teachers in the country had an authoritative style, enforced with the rod! The rod set a hard boundary between the teacher and the students in their class. And that damaged the relationship between them.

Micheál never used the rod. He never punished us in any way. Many teachers used the cane as a crutch and relied on it to maintain discipline in the class, and to pressure us to do homework. But here’s the magic and even strange thing - Micheál didn’t assert control over us! He didn’t pressure us to do homework, either. He didn’t need to because he trusted us and we trusted him! It’s that simple, yet powerful.

Today, students can ask questions of the teacher and have a conversation with him, without restraint. But back then, the teacher had all the power, and a student couldn’t speak without first raising their hand to get the teacher’s permission. Micheál was a progressive teacher, and he was ahead of his time in terms of teaching practice. He had a friendly and inclusive approach, and as a result there was a relaxed atmosphere in the class, where we were more open and it was easier for us to learn new things. We never felt threatened by Micheál.

Micheál had a very direct sense of humor, which strengthened the bond between us in class. There was a book on the curriculum – Tóruigheacht Diarmada agus Ghráinne – that was not easy to read or understand. Normally, reading that book and discussing it in class would have been painful. But it wasn’t like that for us – quite the opposite. Micheál focused on the story itself, its plot and characters, and then he drew us into the discussion. He told us jokes, at the same time as he was explaining a grammatical point or the meaning of a word. He also asked us tough questions, which we couldn’t answer without understanding the subject. We also asked Micheál questions, first to understand the material at hand, and then to answer his questions. We were conversing naturally in Irish with each other and with Micheál during class while learning the spoken language at the same time. Remember that there was no emphasis on the spoken language at that time, and Irish was often taught as if it were a dead language. We were keen to learn Irish, both spoken and written, as it was always an enjoyable experience. It is no wonder, then, that we – Micheál’s students – did not have many difficulties with the Irish exam in the Leaving Certificate. On behalf of every student who was lucky enough to have Micheál as a teacher, myself included – a special thank you, Micheál!

 

 

 

Dírbheathaisnéis 12 – Jackie Robinson!

Autobiography 12 – Jackie Robinson!

In the last chapter, I was writing about the summer holidays, and what I used to do during those wonderful summers that stretched out almost forever at the time. But unfortunately, all good things come to an end, and eventually I had to go back to school. That change was quite difficult, because it not only involved going back to classes, but also having to gather my wits and say goodbye to my home and family until the next holidays. After the summer, I used to live in the school for three months until I had a good break at Christmas. I needed a little self-discipline after being locked up for so long. But unlike most students, who had to stay in school every weekend, I used to have a couple of days off every week at home, which I loved.

My life at school, however, was lonely. I was a fragile boy with asthma, so field sports were not for me. I developed a good camaraderie with the football and hurling players, but I didn’t have that opportunity. I played handball and although there weren’t many students playing, there were a few other regular players who I made friends with as a result.

I loved academic life, and I studied or read every chance I got. I stood out because almost everyone else in the school preferred to be outside, playing together. There were a few other students who were interested in the same things as me, and we got along really well from the start. It takes one to know one, as the old saying goes, and it was certainly true in my case.

My cubicle in the Dormitory

In my first year at school, I was in the small St. Columba’s dormitory. It was a gentle introduction, for there were only ten of us, and we had a supervisor – a young man who was studying at the seminary, named Jackie Robinson. My cubicle was by the door, and I didn’t have much privacy, but I didn’t care. I was the second smallest boy in the dormitory, and the other boys would play together before we went to bed every night. I didn’t usually take part in those games, although the smallest lad, Seán Ó’Cúiv, was always in the middle of the action. I had asthma and consequently wasn’t very strong. When Jackie heard the scream coming out the door and into to the room he was in, he would come in and settle us down. Then he would turn out the light. We would go to bed immediately, as we were tired after classes, studying and playing and running whenever we got a chance.

Because I wasn’t playing with the other boys, I drew their attention, and they were asking me questions trying to understand why I wasn’t joining them in their games at night. I didn’t want to seem like a loser, and I made another excuse that I was tired or something like that. But the boys didn’t believe a word of it, and they started to tease me every night. One time, Jackie saw me blinking my eyes to hold back the tears. He had a word with me discreetly and asked me what was going on. I told him that the other boys in the dormitory were ganging up on me, and hurling insults at me and calling me nasty names. He nodded his head and walked away. I still remember that the insults and names stopped before long. The other boys started chatting to me, and after a while I was comfortable in the dorm, laughing and talking to every boy there.

The next time there was a loud noise in the dorm, Jackie ran in to stop it. He looked at me knowingly, and said: “And you too, Michael - go back to your cubicle and take your pillow with you!” A big smile spread across his face, and he was out the door. I was one of the guys now, and I was very proud of that.

I still don’t know what Jackie did behind the scenes, but it’s clear that he had a few words with each of the guys. Because we all respected Jackie very much, we listened to what he had to say to us. He did the job without me knowing, but at the same time I knew he did the job. I learned a great lesson that our ancestors have well said: there are many ways to skin a beast. Without a doubt, diplomacy is the best way to ensure peace. I had a better life at school after that, and I am always very grateful to Jackie for what he did for me.

Fibriliú Atriach – cuid 2!

Atrial Fibrillation - Part 2!

I had been as brave as a lion up until the day before the operation. But then the truth hit me, and I realized for the first time that it was a heart operation. I had understood the words earlier but I did not understand them personally and as they applied to me. That operation would have been easy for another person, but now I understood correctly that it was not for another person. I might die, I told myself. Don’t be silly, said another voice in my head. It is a minor operation, and I will be back home tomorrow evening. All right, said the other voice, if everything goes without a problem, but there might be a problem, and what would happen then? The other voice was ready for it. You are as safe as a bank note, son! Doctor Gibson performs the same operation day after day, and his patients have never had a major problem. And another thing, he told you about the new, even safer surgical technique that he is currently practicing. The surgery is shorter, and people are back to their old selves more quickly too. I understand, says the first voice, but can’t I avoid any risks and continue with my medication regimen? But there are risks involved in that direction too. Your atrial fibrillation is getting worse over time, and it’s already a life-limiting condition. Not only that, but it’s more likely than not that you’ll have no other option but to have the surgery in the years to come. In that case, the surgery might not be as successful when your disease is more advanced.

 

I understand what you are saying, sensible voice, and although I am still worried about it, the right thing to do is to have the operation without delay.

With that I went to bed and in the morning I prepared to go into the hospital. I had a fasting day before the operation because I was going to have a general anaesthetic.

I was told to come in at eleven o’clock. After half an hour in the waiting room I was taken into the pre-operative room. I put on a surgical gown, and then I had to wait. My wife was with me and we were able to talk and chat together. Unfortunately, however, the surgeon had a few difficult cases that delayed my operation. It was a long day, and at five o’clock the surgeon arrived and was sorry that my case was delayed, and that he was going to do the operation anyway, and that I would have to stay in hospital overnight. My wife was then able to go home, and the surgeon would call her after the operation.

Bhí mé stiúgtha leis an ocras agus spalptha leis an tart, ach ní raibh mé in ann bia nó deoch a bheith agam. Tar éis tamaill, chuir an ainéistéiseolaí é féin in aithne dom, agus chuir sé cúpla cheist orm chun cinntiú go raibh gach rud i gceart. D’inis sé dom faoin bpróiseas maidir leis an ainéistéiseach, agus go n-ionsáfaí tiúb i mo scornach chun cuidiú le m’análú le linn na hobráide.

Finally, around seven o’clock at night, I was taken into the operating room and then onto the operating table. There were large machines on each side and a wall of screens showing all kinds of measurements and images. There were also medical staff in the room, all of whom were very busy doing various tasks. One person placed sensors on my chest and back. Then, I was laid down. The anesthesiologist was positioned behind me. The surgeon was not there yet.

The next thing I knew, I was in the pre-operative room, and awake. A nurse told me that everything went well, and that my heart was now in the right rhythm – which I saw on screens next to my bed. I was taken to another building on a trolley, and into a nice room with a nice view of the city of San Diego. I had to stay in bed for four hours, to make sure there was no problem with my femoral artery bleeding. A nurse gave me water and food (crackers). I ate everything there was and drank a lot of water. I couldn’t go to sleep because of a slight pain in my chest. The nurse gave me medicine to relieve my pain, and before long I was able to sleep.

Early in the morning, I ordered a big breakfast, and promptly ate it. Then, I texted my wife, and then I called her. She was so happy to hear from me, and she said that the surgeon had called her after the operation, saying that he was happy with the operation, and that I was recovering.

My wife arrived at the hospital, and by lunchtime we were checked out and on our way home. I had received post-operative orders, and the main order was to take it easy for a week – no exercise other than walking, and no heavy lifting. I followed the instructions without question, and I had no problems. I then resumed my normal activities, including exercise. I had no problems at all, quite the opposite. I felt better than ever, and I was able to do everything and more after the surgery than before. It’s almost two months since the surgery as I write this, and I’m going from strength to strength in terms of energy. If you have any irregularity in your heart rhythm, I would recommend that you go to the doctor immediately. And if you have fibrillation, be sure to ask the specialist about ablation. That surgery could radically change your life and give you back your health. And don’t worry about it, the benefits are definitely worth the trouble!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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