I Can Be Issue 3

I CAN BE E-MAGAZINE

ISSUE:3

BY MARY KEOGH EXCLUSIVE READER DISCOUNTS

SUMMER EDITION

#Staycation

ISSUE:3

STNETNOC

Mental Health & Addiction Seminar

EXCLUSIVE Interview with author; Eamonn Lynch

Amazing reader giveaway by I Am Selfcare

Are You On The Guestlist?

marykeoghacademy@gmail.com

INTERVIEW

Exclusive EAMONN LYNCH

Can you highlight your career to date?

Defining my career is an interesting question that I initially relate to my working career. In early 1975 I was released from Long Kesh following the phased ending of internment without trial.

With just two GCE O Levels to my name, a career was far from my mind but after drifting in and out of a

few

jobs,

I

eventually

was

employed

within

the

Health sector in a clerical role. I was on the bottom rung but it was a permanent job in the Public Sector, one that was very kind to me over almost 30 years where I obtained many promotions, eventually ending up

in

a

senior

management

position

as

Head

of

Procurement.

I retired from that role in 2008 but after 3 years decided to work again and spent the next 9 years working

as

Buildings,

a

Procurement

Stormont

for

Manager the

at

Parliament

Northern

Ireland

Assembly. The irony of once being interned by the state and eventually working for it in the heart of government has not been lost on me and indeed myself and a few colleagues often had a chuckle about how life can take you on a journey that you never imagined or desired.

I retired from the Assembly in February 2020.

In the midst of all this working life I had a much more fulfilling career, that of being a father to Emma in 1986 and in later times a grandfather to Davin and Penny. It is unpaid, yet nothing comes close in terms of the rewards. Unfortunately my marriage failed in 1997, but looking back through my life which had drama, danger, excitement, addiction and emotional turbulence, I see being a father and eventually a grandfather as not just the key successes in my life but also my saviour as a human being.

In the last two years the stars aligned and three

When did you find the passion for writing?

Derry

women

talents

that

came

into

would

in

the

life

end

get

the

book

and

copy

relationship failure a few years later was probably

proofed the book. For me she is a natural in this

the catalyst to my passion for writing. I found it

role and apart from the skill, tenacity and quality

cathartic to write poems. Initially I wrote about

of

life, love and loss in the vein of an aging country

narratives

songwriter, but there’s only so much self-pity and

Mary-Anne introduced me to Martina Doherty who

indulgence that I could take, so my poetry writing

took

morphed into something else and I began writing

Michael and turned into the Get That Boy Home

poems about major events such as the invasion of

book cover, a feature of the book widely praised

Iraq and the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. I still

by

do and in recent years Donald Trump has been at

website Derryyarns.com and what a brilliant job

the wrong end of my pen. In the midst of these

she made of that. With virtually a nil marketing

hard-hitting

writing

budget I decided to use the website to showcase

poems of a more spiritual nature. They probable

Get That Boy Home, facilitate book orders and

flow from my ongoing recovery from alcoholism

offer

particularly and gambling latterly, something that

potential readers. But I wanted it to be more than

has been a work in progress for many years, and

that, so I introduced the A Derryman Writes page

hopefully always will be.

where I have featured a number of my poems and

poems,

I

also

found

myself

the

so

back

had

and

concept

many

a

we

forth

sketch

readers.

profile

of

good for

craic

batting

several

months.

done

Martina

the

edited

offering

published.

efforts,

McNulty

each

The failure of my marriage followed by another

her

Mary-Anne

my

book

by

also

and

my

brother,

designed

the

my

writer

to

short stories which can be read or downloaded For a number of years I had a voice in my head

free of charge.

saying “there’s a book in you" but a louder voice told me, “the cheek of you to think you could write a

book”

2008

Somehow,

and

stories

as

I I

the

decided thought

voices

to

that

write

compromised a

book

wouldn't

be

of

in

short

me

going

above my station. However when I wrote the story of the jogger running along the banks of the Foyle I knew the subject too well to leave it there and so my book, Get That Boy Home was born. It took 3

I will chop and change the selection of writings

years to write, mainly due to my lack of confidence

on that page as time passes. Finally the third Derry

and low-esteem. I was more worried about what

woman, author Jane Buckley was introduced to me

to do when I finished it than actually writing the

and

story. The fact that the first draft was completed

published writer with me and that just left all my

in 2011 and it didn’t make it to the publisher until 10

ducks in a row to get my book finally published.

years later was down to me not having a sense of

The

how

public,

good

family,

this

friends

book

years

particular

amazing

seem

to

and

have

a

the

taken

self-

Derry to

it.

so that played a part in keeping the dream alive.

people's interest. If it never sells another copy it

On

has

local,

national

brought letters.

and

rejection, That

sell

international

often

was

to

without

read

in

been

as

can see on Facebook how it has certainly caught

trying

strangers

the

has

experiences

manuscript and the feedback was always great,

side

few

Over

response

her

People tell me it’s a talking point in the city and I

negative

a

be.

shared

the

the

and

might

she

my

story

publishers a

demoralising,

reply

to

but

to

more

than

paid

its

way,

not

in

a

financial

just

sense (I never wrote it to make money) but in the

my

joy, fun, banter and satisfaction it has generated.

the

Honestly,

I’m

encouragement from those who took the time to

want

read

read Get That Boy Home kept a pilot light lit.

probably always will be.

to

overwhelmed and

talk

that

about

people

actually

what

write.

I

I

Do you feel that, challenges in life have helped shape the person you are today?

Who are the writers and authors that have inspired you?

Absolutely. My life from childhood through teens

As a teenager I read War and an Irish Town by our

and

own

into

normal

manhood

or

boring.

can

hardly

Writing

be

Get

described

That

Boy

as

Home

Eamonn

McCann

and

it

hit

me

hard

and

inspired me in equal measure. Other Irish writers

allowed me to inject many personal experiences

such

through the prism of Dan Feeney, the books main

Macken and Roddy Doyle all appealed to me in

character.

1950s

The

and

harsh

60s,

the

education civil

rights

system

as

Brendan

Behan,

James

Plunket,

Walter

of

the

how they could inject poverty, revolution, humour,

campaign,

the

dignity,

humanity

and

inhumanity

into

their

Troubles, internment, out of control drinking and

absorbing novels. Sub-consciously I suspect their

gambling all scarred me and impacted on my life.

influence was there as I wrote Get That Boy Home.

They

you

Someone recently compared Get That Boy Home

stronger and I have no doubt that coming to terms

to Roddy Doyle at his best. It doesn't get much

with all those tough experiences have shaped me

better than that for a Derryman having a go at his

to who I am today. Once you have learned from

first book!

the past it becomes an asset, not a burden and

Outside of Irish writers, I like thrillers and authors

that’s how I carry it all today. I’m one of the lucky

like

ones, I wake up with a clear head, a clean and dry

John Grisham all get my attention.

say

that

what

doesn’t

kill

you

makes

bed, have my family close in every sense of that word, have relatively good health for an ‘aging hippy’, have freedom and space in my head and can be depended on when needed. How fortunate am I?

What inspired you to write your most recent poem for the Peace Bridge of Derry?

My poem The River's Tale isn’t actually dedicated to the Peace Bridge. I wrote it in 2004 long before the Peace Bridge was built. The River‘s Tale came from a reflection on how we who live in Derry are transient

but

the

River

Foyle

is

constant.

So

I

started the poem with emigration and followed through to the end of the Troubles. Then I added a new verse ten years ago after the Peace Bridge was built, and more recently I added the verse relating to suicide that has been such a tragic feature

of

our

beautiful

river.

I

don't

do

proud

often, but I am proud of this poem. It's part of my ongoing love affair with Derry.

Dan

Brown,

Leon

Uris,

Fredrick

Forsyth

and

Do you feel that growing up during the Derry troubles overshadowed normal everyday life for its people?

Of course, is the obvious response. For me, a teenager during the Battle of the Bogside and the beginning of the Troubles, it became allabsorbing and I felt completely drawn into the conflict. I became an active Republican and was

interned

Ironically,

without

the

trial

introduction

in of

1974/75. internment

without trial in a democracy was the singular incident that dictated the path I chose.

Everyone was impacted by the Troubles, not just the combatants. School, work and leisure were carried out with bombs and bullets, army and police raids and death and injury as the backdrop. The physical carnage was clear to be seen, but the mental and emotional scars of the Troubles are untold, and will probably be here for at least another generation. But the people of Derry are stoic, and will come out the other side of our history stronger and better

providing

we

learn

enough

from

our

past, not to repeat it.

What would be your one wish for the city?

It has to be about our young people, so the development of our University or, better still, a completely new one has to be high on my wish list for Derry. Alongside that, full employment in

meaningful

and

well-paid

jobs

is

also

a

passionate aspiration that must be delivered if Derry is to prosper. We can’t continue to be an afterthought or play second fiddle to Belfast when

it

comes

investment.

to

locating

quality

jobs

and

Mental Health &

Addiction Seminar A HUGELY SUCCESSFUL evening was had for our very first Mental Health & Addiction seminar held in Derry. We had a full house and we’re joined with some fantastic speakers, each with a unique story they shared with us all. After the tremendous turnout and highlight encouraging feedback, we will be hosting a series of events in the coming months to follow on from this. Keep an eye on our social media for updates.

t s i n m u l o C

Pat Slattery

Self Belief

Each of us has beliefs and values. Some of these we were taught from our family of origin, and others we have developed as we grew older.

Most of us have beliefs in theory, but have not had them tested. Many of us have had them tested – but have not acted in support of them. Then there are those who hold so strongly to their values, they feel a calling to take action.

I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence but discovered it comes from within.

This is true for you too!

Facts About Core Beliefs • People are not born with core beliefs— they are learned.

Beliefs are personal, unique, and typically, strongly held. Being someone who is willing not only to believe, but act upon said beliefs, is an admirable quality as well.

• Core beliefs usually develop in childhood, or during stressful or traumatic periods in adulthood.

• Information that contradicts core beliefs is often ignored.

• Negative core beliefs are not necessarily true, even if they feel true.

• Core beliefs tend to be rigid and longstanding. However, they can be changed.

As

you

have

probably

gathered

if

Sometimes

this

happens

but

not

you have taken some time to know

intentionally, sometimes the people

some

in

things

about

me

that

I

had

your

environment

have

no

idea

some limiting beliefs many times in

that the beliefs that they instil onto

my life.

you

One

of

BFO’s

my

greatest

(Blinding

learnings

destructive

and

most

likely it is not their intention.

You must realise that you can truly

Obvious) (or lightbulb moments) was

be, do, have absolutely anything that

when I was attending an event.

you truly desire.

During the presentation it really hit

You are deserving of everything you

me,

dream of.

prepared

to

of

be

The

Be

Flash

or

can

change

your

beliefs often.

I

am

not

speakers what

Choose to own your dreams and do

even said

words

sure it

or

were

which even used

of

the

exactly but

the

what you would do if you were to live them.

“Never bend your head. Always hold

message was loud and clear.

it high. Look the world right in the

I realized that some of the strongest

eye.” – Helen Keller

beliefs that I had (and I did not even recognize

them

as

beliefs)

were

“It

is

not

because

things

are

responsible for most of my greatest

different that we do not dare; it is

setbacks in my life.

because we do not dare that they

If you are holding onto a belief that

are difficult.”

doesn’t serve you then ask yourself why,

why

would

you

hold

onto

Be prepared to change your beliefs

something that does not serve you,

often.

where did you learn this belief?

For sure this was one of my greatest

What if you didn’t have this belief,

learnings.

what if this belief didn’t exist.

Have an Outstanding Day

What if you believed the absolute

(I Know I Will)

opposite was possible? What would you do that is different from now?

What

would

that

feel

like?

What

would it look like?

Ask yourself what is going on in your environment? Is this affecting your beliefs?

😊

t s i n m u l o C

Katrina Crilly

When we take time to get under the surface of the difficulties faced by our children we find a huge lack of belief fuelling

a

poor

self-image.

The

first

question that comes to mind is where does

this

limited

in

their

They

most

The point is not the event or the words

definitely were not born with a lack of

that were said but the impact that it

belief in their abilities, just look at the

has on the child. No two children are

complex tasks they master at a young

the same what may knock one child’s

age,

confidence could have the opposite

potential

come

walking,

themselves, answer

from?

talking

the

must

belief

lie

list in

goes

the

environment

has

things

they

hear

and

judgements

they

then

their

capabilities.

that

children

come

from

on

The

impact

their

homes

belief,

see

and

make is

a

not

lack

or

by

on.

their

This

with

eating

the the

about to

of

families

say

belief that

instil a lack of belief, it is much wider than that. The lack of belief can come from that one time that they did take a

risk

in

learning

and

got

knocked

back, the exam result, the comment made

by

an

adult

attemptedsomething answer

they

gave

everyone laughed at.

when new

in

or

class

they the that

impact on another.

So

what

can

we

do

to

increase

that belief?

We can help our children take small steps, take small risks with learning and

create

opportunities

where

they can step outside their comfort zone are

in

the

knowledge

supported

and

that

will

they

not

be

judged. Fear of being judged stop our children from taking these risks

Be the support network that moves

and

it

is

outside

only

their

when

comfort

they

step

your

zone

and

zone

child

outside

towards

experience success and growth will

development,

they

belief soar!

begin

to

believe

in

their

potential. We need to be mindful of our words around our children and ensure that their perceived lack of belief is not confirmed by what we say

and

do.

We

must

not

make

excuses for them either and allow them

to

stay

within

their

comfort

zone because whilst we think this is being lack

supportive

of

belief

it

that

also have in them.

confirms they

think

the we

only

their

comfort

growth then

will

and the

Mary Keogh Take your life out of reverse and move it into forward Our life story is precious it unique and only ourselves can tell it we have a If you want to change your life you must first make yourself a priority.

or make it a story from hell.

If we struggle to know who we are and

what

we

want

in

life,

then

we

can’t give away what we haven’t got for ourselves.

make sure that they are not struggling and no matter what it takes we will help and fix them, but in the process of all of this we forget our own needs and we struggle to identify with who are.

anxious,

We

become

stressed

and

worn

down,

depressed

we

are always attending to others needs and totally neglecting our own.

We

are

solely

responsible

neglect

them

then

our

to

nurture

we

begin

and to

protect

live

stop

writing the story of our lives and start gate

crashing

other

people’s

story’s.

We don’t do it intentionally it us always looking

to

time we would rather eat the crumbs from

other

people’s

tables

than

to

place

chapters of life.

a

part

We all deserve the best this world has to offer, and we are the only one who can make it happen, no one is going to knock on our door and give us a bag of everything we need to create the life we desire it’s not happening there’s no magic wand, but we have all that we need within us we must learn to trust and believe in ourselves we must take our lives out of reverse

for

thought’s feelings and actions and if we

We all have choices but most of the

reach for the ala carte menu.

Yes, we do try and fix everyone else

we

choice to make it the best story ever

in

their

and put it in to forward because there is nothing in our past that will create our

future

there.

Our

unless pat

we

has

constantly

nothing

live

new

or

exciting to offer us so let it rest in the past. The pen of your life is in your hands always

you

can

wanted

create but

stop

the

life

putting

you the

pen in other people’s hands to write and direct your life it’s your pen for a reason .so pick it up and begin.

I Can… And I Will!

Women’s Empowerment Programme

Have you heard about our new weekly group?

We have just begun our newest group on the Academy

and

the

feedback

has

already

been wonderful. Our women’s empowerment group offers a unique and intimate setting where we cam discuss a variety of topics, techniques and goals. To find out more get in touch with our team!

CO

LU

M

N

IS GREG T FLETCHER Looking For Joy

Creating Belief When Have

you

ever

wondered

what

self

belief really is? Have you ever tried to distinguish the “self” from “belief”? Are they different things or are they the

The “self” is everything you “believe” it be.

The

“self”

is

the

operating

procedure that navigates the physical universe

and

it

operates

from

the

beliefs that are used to create it. The “self”

is

an

expression

of

our

belief

structure and of all that we hold to be true. It is a creation which we build, mould and cherish internally and then deliver into our outer environment for others

to

experience.

What

create

and

develop

our

self belief from this vantage point, we

are

building

experiencing

ourselves

ourselves

up from

and a

perspective that is in alignment with our wishes and desires. When we are

same thing with a different label?

to

we

is

important about our self belief is that it is aligned with the life we wish to experience, for it directly impacts the life we live, from the way we walk to what we are capable of achieving.

experiencing joy, we find it easier to interact with our Soul and so create and build from our highest ideal.

We are each an expression of the Devine

wishing

to

experience

the

best that life has to offer us during the passage of time available to us.

Joy is the simplest access point to the Devine and so when we allow ourselves

to

experiencing

feel life

joy,

from

we

our

are

source

within. In this space we will find all the

ingredients

required

to

experience the life we desire.

The feelings that flow from our place of joy are very real and are just a taste of what is always available to

Self belief is an internal task that is best created and built from a place of inner joy, from a vibration that is clear and transparent to us alone. To live an authentic life, our self belief must be what we believe about ourselves and not

what

about us.

we

believe

others

believe

us.

The

longer

we

can

stay

with

those feelings, the more believable they

become

and

the

more

they

become part of the self that we are creating. And as the self becomes more comfortable with the feelings and relaxes into them, absorbs them, so those feelings become our belief - our “self belief”.

We then begin to move in line with the self belief that we have created.

Our actions begin to change and we start to notice new and “unexpected” results forming in our lives.

The more often we experience those”unexpected” results, the more comfortable we become with them. That comfort quickly begins to form into self confidence and so the unexpected becomes the expected - our self belief has manifested into our physical experience and the life we desire to live.

When we spend the time and energy on creating and building a self belief that will provide us with the life that we desire, we live our life in each and every moment and life is no longer a chore - it is no longer to please others, but to please ourselves. Through pleasing ourselves, we are much more able and capable of pleasing others because they receive pleasure in the joy that we express as we externalise our self belief to the world. For the “others” are seeking joy too, seeking to live from their highest self and experience the same self belief values that we project into the world.

Do not allow the external world to tell you who you are and dictate the life you want to live. There is only one person who has the key to your kingdom of Heaven, and only you have the power to turn that key and swing the doors wide open. Go ahead - experience joy and create and build the self belief that will deliver your dreams.

FEATURE New Business

I launched my business, I am Self-Care, at the end of January 2021. I handmake wellbeing products in small batches using therapeutic grade essential oils which are vegan friendly, cruelty free and contain no synthetic fragrances, toxins or chemicals. My products include Reed Diffusers, Wellbeing Mists, Aromatherapy Roller Oils and Essential Oil Blends and handmade eye pillows. The Reed Diffusers and Wellbeing Mists are a blend of essential oils mixed with an eco friendly solvent made from renewable sources using innovative technology which is non toxic and a low carbon footprint.

Edelle Harrigan-Edgar

There is a positive message behind the business name as well, as the most powerful words we can use are 'I am', what we tell ourselves, we become. My business ethos is about taking care of yourself and having a positive outlook on life. I have 5 collections in my product range which are: I am...Relaxed; I am...Energised; I am...Loved; I am...Grounded and I am...Focused. The essential oils in these ranges are expertly blended to either relax, energise, help with emotions, stay calm and grounded or help with focus and motivation.

My I am...Relaxed Wellbeing Mist and Aromatherapy Roller Oil is also stocked at Inish Pharmacy in their 3 pharmacies and online.

I have a new I am... collection coming out in the next couple of weeks and I can't wait to launch it!

I recently launched my website below.

www.iamselfcare.co.uk

Exclusive Giveaway For your chance to win a fabulous WELL BEING BOX Tell us, on which month did I am self care launch?

Email your answers to; marykeoghacademy@gmail.com

We Donate A Percentage Of Our Sales to Action For Children Every Month.

hello@iamselfcare.co.uk 07840 097093

“The person who says it cannot be done… should not stand in the way of the person who is doing it”.

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