Inspiration by the sea.

Photo by Kees Streefkerk on Unsplash

Firstly, thank you to all for the best wishes and inquiries around the release of the journal last week, I have honestly been blown away by all the lovely messages and comments, about the night and the excitement to start their journey using it.

It would be no surprise to have this newsletter around the journal to explain to those who do not know about it and promote it a little more, but that subject and its content changed after today (kind of)

I would spend a lot of time by the sea, something about it gives me my ideas, it grounds me and allows me to be present and some of the best creative ideas come to me when I am around it.

And I would try to get there at least once a week on my own to let the magic happen naturally, away from the groups of the sea dips and coffee drinkers.

Today I decided to do just that, and whilst neck deep in the cold water I saw a familiar face wade in, after the dip I got to chat with Daragh Morgan (daraghmorgan98 for those of you on Instagram) this fella is defo worth a follow.

I have been following him for some time and have seen the extreme adventures he has taken part in over the past few years (mostly alone might I add, but generally accompanied by support and well-wishers along the way) his most recent was a run from Galway to Dublin in aid of a charity called SOAR where he has raised over 3500 so far (link in his bio to donate)

But from the conversations, I took so many lightbulb moments (or flint and spark moments, as Darragh frequently camps in the outdoors and survives on just what nature has provided)

Some of what I'd like to share, he spoke about his grandad, a man who bought his house just because of the garden and the prospect of what he could do with it, Darragh would spend time there as a young boy and be thought so much from his grandfathers knowledge, in how he used to say, we are our garden, we too need oxygen (fresh air), sunlight, the outdoors and water to survive and we have it at our disposal all of the time, but do we choose to use it. It is essential for our growth, just like the grass or flowers around us.

These "beliefs and values" are something that has stayed with him forever, he has grown his philosophy around that very statement.

Through "communication" and appreciating that "relationship" and what it gave him had stayed with him in everyday life.

Darragh has not been in a gym in 3 years once there is a tree, a piece of grass, or a park bench he can do a full workout and does so each day, whereas climbing a tree or hanging from a branch can build muscle and strength, "embracing that inner child" in doing so.

The charities he helps with his amazing feats of adventure are in fact "giving in silence" and his chirpy outlook and beaming smiley face are also a network of support to others for free.

But what I liked most was his statement that each day he tries to do something that will take him out of his comfort zone, Darragh it would probably be a causal 100k cycle on a Tuesday morning, but for us all it may be it a dip in the sea, starting a conversation with a stranger, to having a little dance in public when your favourite song comes on, whenever we think or feel "oh I couldn't do that" just do it, and see how it makes you feel, see how incidents like that “harnesses your energy"

All of those words in inverted commas in previous paragraphs above are some of the chapters within the what was what is what now journal, so in a way this newsletter was just about that, but its our individual story, it is whatever and however we wish to implement change into our lives.

These are Darragh’s choices, and mine was to go for a trip to the beach today when I could of just stayed indoors, I am so glad I made that choice.

Thank you to Darragh who has shown me that by applying each chapter into our lives (which he does naturally), we are sure to reap the rewards.

As always, thanks for reading.

Marcus