Discover Duhallow Issue 60

Flying the flag with pride

By ALICE O’BRIEN, Churchview Psychotherapy, Millstreet

As we come to the middle of March every year, we are livened up by the presence of green, white, and gold. We hang our tri-colour flags from the windows, the signpost, and anywhere that we can proudly display our love for St. Patrick. This year we have an added friend, an injection of other colours; the yellow and blue of the Ukraine. We have hung the national colours of their country to show our support and solidarity for their people, to show that we walk with them and feel compassion for their current plight.

When we think about the events in the Ukraine it is easy to become stressed. We held our breaths as we waited for Covid to pass, and now, very soon after, we hold our breath again while we wait in hope for another crisis to pass. Thoughts of catastrophe are understandable as we face more uncertainty in the future.

It is very normal to feel anger, helplessness, and worry at this time. It can be very triggering to watch the news bulletins, but we need to be aware of headline hysteria. Newspapers and news channels are trying to grab your attention so they need to be sensational. We watch the news and read the papers so we can be informed but watch out for the shock factor as it can often exaggerate the reality.

We have a duty to ourselves to look after our own mental health during these times. It is important that we do the things that bring us pleasure and joy, that we practice gratitude for what we have, for the peace we live in and for the comforts we are lucky to enjoy. It can feel conflicting knowing that there is a war occurring for our neighbours but we owe it to ourselves to have peace inside our own front doors.

So, as we wave our green, white, and gold this year, we carry the yellow and blue in our hearts.