Across the Plain of Shining Books: Micheál Ó Coinn: Five Words

Across the Plain of Shining Books: Micheál Ó Coinn: Five Words: Writer/poet Micheál Ó Coinn visits today from Waterford, Ireland to talk about his writing journey and his publishing debut. He has a new...

Thought

This is a duplicate post as seen in my WordPress blog. I feel strongly in not only getting the most from life, but also to give back more than I have been blessed to receive. 

It is with pleasure I entertain the many projects in my daily schedule. I could wish for and dedicate a large portion of my days to doing nothing...true. However, it is my choice to stay busy, to mix and mingle, to write, edit and revise continually as well as share all of this with all of you; this is what makes me happy.

I maintain a healthy balance for all that, that matters in my life, such as: Family, friends, literary projects, and travel. It is to each one to find their own balance in life. I recommend that your balance be a construct of all those things that make you smile to wake up every morning. One life is all we get (so the theory goes) to make the most of things; don't live in regret of not having lived 'your' life.

I wanted to give all my friends one gift before I myself pass on to whatever lies beyond this life; inspiration. Now, should that inspiration come from my poetry or other literary pieces or from an example of life I lived, makes no difference. What makes a difference is the inspiration itself. A little philosophy that has lead me to wake most every day with a smile and hope;  and I quote the great, Henry David Thoreau : " I went into the woods because I wanted to live deliberately. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life ... to put to rout all that was not life; and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."-H.D.Thoreau

My friends, wake to live deliberate, smile because you can and welcome all challenges with resounding ambition to overcome.

Live, Love & Literature

Micheál O'Coinn

Emotional Mayhem

It's not as though you can just wake up and say, "I don't want to do this today." It's not like ringing in ill to work, you're pregnant, the choice is now gone. Most of you at this point are thinking about the woman's perspective no doubt, however, I'm referring to the father. Any concerned father or father-to-be knows the responsibility that happens with the preparations of a new child and taking care of the overwrought mother-to-be. The work can be exhausting. In fact, making sure that your new mom is healthy and comfortable doubles your daily workload (Remember, I said concerned father-to-be). Even though we don't, in fact look at it as work, but our duty to act, makes it no less exhausting; it merely softens the edges of stress.

A father of one already, I am aware already of my duties and responsibilities and I look forward to each of them. It is a privilege and an honor to embark on such a fantastic journey with the woman who braves all to nurture the miracle for the 40 week adventure. I am thankful for the opportunity to share this most incredible experience I, though sluggishly some days, revel in the joy that is...pregnancy.

Keep your heads up and your wits about you fellas; it gets better. All the emotional ups and downs you've survived are minimal in comparison of the happiness you are bringing into the world. The moment you see that which you helped create, you realize all that lead up to that moment was a water droplet in the ocean. Nothing compares to the joy of holding that baby in your arms for the first time!

So, take care of that beautiful woman with child. You can do it with love, hugs and plenty of "I love you's."

So you want to be a Poet/Writer?: Why? Why? Why?

So you want to be a Poet/Writer?: Why? Why? Why?: Not only the question we ask ourselves, but more-so, the question that others ask us. Why do we do it; why do we write? Why do we write what...

Why? Why? Why?

Not only the question we ask ourselves, but more-so, the question that others ask us. Why do we do it; why do we write? Why do we write what we do?

It is easily the most complicated answer to give someone. It's not that we don't know, it's just difficult for those who don't have a passion filled desire to do something to understand. Imagine being asked the question, "Why do you breathe?". I suppose the answer seems obvious...or does it?

Some may give you the response,"...to live...," or maybe, "...because we have to..." Whatever the reason, our answer as writers are much the same...because we have to, to live. Simple enough answer with an incomprehensible number of per-mutated reasons. From money, to the need simply spreading a message, the origin makes no difference. It is simply that a writer has to write.