The Pulitzer Prize-winning author writes on the turbulent writer’s mind, how coffee somehow helps, and the merit in serving an apprenticeship Annie Dillard first came to my attention several years ago when I came across the perhaps now over-played, yet accurate quote; “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives” […]
Welcome To The Sunday Letters Archive
Welcome to the Sunday Letters archive where you can read all past issues of the weekly Sunday Letters publication. Sunday Letters goes out weekly to subscribers to my material. Each week I try to present to you a different perspective of the world in which we live and work in an effort to encourage you to perhaps think differently about yourself and develop the courage to follow your creative passions. Subscribe free to get Sunday Letters each week.
How To Be An Optimist
A psychological model for reducing pessimism, increasing optimism for the future and developing meaning and purpose in one’s life. I have always been interested in having a go, taking a punt on an idea in spite of the potential for failure. It’s both a strength and a weakness of mine. This doesn’t mean that I’m […]
Bertrand Russell on Happiness & Unhappiness
Thoughts on happiness and unhappiness from one of the twentieth century’s most notable philosophers, mathematicians, and activists. I was doing some research about eighteen months ago for a series of articles on the nature of happiness, and material came my way from mathematician and philosopher Bertrand Russell . If you have not heard of him […]
Oíche Shamhna
A little background on the Celtic New Year festival that went global Millions of children and adults around the world celebrate Oiche Shamhna or Halloween every year, but perhaps few are aware of, or indeed care about, its ancient Celtic origins. Here in Ireland when I was a kid, we’d call to the doors of […]
Longtermism: Something You Should Know About
The dangers of a philosophical ideology that threatens the lives of millions and the future health of the planet I’ve written before on the insanity of our species. In fact, you might say that most subjects upon which I write for Sunday Letters lean towards the dysfunctional aspects of human behaviour. It’s hard to ignore […]
How To Turn Off A Humming Fridge
We seldom hear it and hardly know it was there at all until it stops. But sometimes we need help to flip the switch. This time twelve months ago, I decided I’d seek out a therapist. Not because I felt I was in turmoil, that I was anxious or depressed or otherwise at odds with […]
Cyclical Time
Songs serve as a cosmic map for life experience. One song earlier today triggered 1989, 14 years old, down the lane on St. Philomena’s Road beside our school. The La’s were playing There She Goes in my head and I was smokin’ a Carroll’s No.1 with two classmates, painting my name in Tipex on the wall. I […]