Return to centre 💌
Hey.
This is months late. I’ve been a hypocrite. We talk a lot about making space for life, for creativity, people we love, avoiding burn out and .. I burned out hot and fast this year. It was really f*cking ugly.
The people I admire most are not necessarily the people getting everything right, but the people who are trying to do the right thing, trying to do good by others, trying to be kind, understanding, compassionate. I don’t think I have patience for people who aren’t trying to be good any more, and I don’t think I was being very good - to myself or anyone else. I guess it happens. We live in A Society, we’re under pressure, there’s a lot to juggle but instead of a round-up of things I have been doing, here are the things I’m not doing anymore:
Overtime. Working weekends. I’m free five nights a week - it’s weird!
Producing Splanc ar Newstalk - buíoch as an deis agus daoine iontacha ach abair faoiseamh!
Worrying about the wrong opinions, especially if they’re behind your back or online. It’s hard to swallow, but if they’re not on your side, they literally don’t matter.
Worrying about letting people down (professionally). As someone who just quit a load of stuff I can say: you’re replaceable (in the best way) and often their response will tell you what a good decision you’ve made.
Using my entire social battery in the office or bringing work home with me
Making things that are meant to be chill like yoga or painting stressful by worrying about doing or not doing them when I don’t have time
So, correction: this is not late, it’s right on time!
A few months ago I shared the Creatives’ Toolkit but here are a few things that have been helping me recenter this time and might be useful if you’re feeling the same:
I don’t know that you should waste your “Authentic Self” at work at all, but there was a lot to take from this podcast. Not JVN giving me the managerial skills my workplaces never taught me…
Said it before and I’ll say it again, the Belfast accent can fix anything:
Not your usual newsletter because … I really haven’t listened to that much music lately. Everything’s been setting me off. I think I’ve said it before but working in pop radio when you’re not in a good way is unhinged - “here’s Ordinary by Alex Warren and the sound of me choking up in the studio”. Tina Turner’s Simply The Best blared from a car in the Liberties and I wiped a tear outside the new empanada shop (the spinach and feta is delicious). I love being in my feels but enough’s enough.
So I’ve been taking it slow, and the songs that have eased me back in are the classics. Cohen’s “There’s is a crack in in everything, that’s how the light gets in” gets thrown around a lot, but Anthem’s real gem is “forget your perfect offering”, a solid daily mantra.
These are the songs that have had me swaying in the kitchen again (a lot of Joni’s Blue): Trying to ditch Spotify so this is an Apple Playlist, which I can’t seem to embed in a cute way? (I have a degree in computer science lol x)
I’m trying to not treat keeping up with music like a job (it’s literally my job), but working my way through new releases:
Expected to love new Haim… Relationships wasn’t for me at the time, I hope we get the rock album we were promised
Was initially rolling my eyes at the prospect of a new Bon Iver record, but… I love it! Love Danielle on If Only I Could Wait, love Mk.Gee and Dijon’s appearances, love the fun production. Good to cry to, good to cook to. It’s a 2/2!
Was prepared to gloss over Lana’s belated country album but Henry Come On is one of the most beautiful songs I’ve heard in a long time. I’m a sucker for a string section.
In Irish music: predictably loving Kean’s singles, addicted to Morgana’s latest releases, and love Holly Munro’s Domsa, Duitse, Oscailte. They’re all here:
I also listened to a lot of Japanese music back in Feb/March and these albums are very different but worth a listen. Happy End are a very cute Sgt. Pepper-style 70s band, and 90s’ POiSON GiRL FRiEND is for you if you’re into The Marías right now:
Things are slower now, it’s good. I’ve actually been writing a lot - just finished a music journalism course in Maynooth University, and a song writing course with Laura Marling which was lovely, so maybe I’ll share bits of those in the next while.
Most excitingly I’ll be writing for The Irish Times! My first column was a review of Barcelona-based Cushla’s Tech Duinn. Writing feels like a much more sustainable, enjoyable way to engage with something I love without killing myself to do it so I’m really glad this has fallen into place and am excited for the interviews and ideas lined up, buíoch as an deis :)
Anyway, normal service will resume shortly but will probably be slower and simpler. I hope you’re taking care, go maireann an dea-aimsir agus go bhfuil samhradh geal séimh suaimhneach lán sonais is sóláis amach romhainn <3
Grá mór
Emma x
Maith thú, a spéirbhean!! ❤️