Why am I influenced by other people?

In my teens, a close relative made an honest observation about my personality, I am easily influenced. It never occurred to me until then, but my likes, dislikes, moods and general behaviours were moulded into shape by the people around me.

Do you ever listen to conversion stories and wish you could experience a similar transformation? Is our approach to belief too reductionist, where the Gospel is a biography and the psalms akin to inspirational quotes. In this week’s podcast, we discuss how we can learn from the early Christian communities and the role of Scripture in their lives.

When it comes to relationships there is a lot to talk about.

How can we improve interpersonal communication? How can we develop our perceptions and responses so that we can get good at managing varying expectations? Or how do we manage our emotions better?

It’s our first birthday this May 2nd!

Birthdays are to celebrate, to look back at what this last year has brought with it.

The other day I was with a friend and her newborn baby. As the adoring Mum held her little bundle up “She said she can’t really see you, you know that?” It’s true babies are not born with perfect vision, and in fact they see blurry images for quite some time.

What does it take to live a happier life? In this episode, Dr. Marta Rocchi suggests the answer to this question addresses the very “why” of human existence.

It’s easy to think it's spring when the days begin to get sunny and a warm breeze wafts over your skin.

Not as easy when hailstones are bopping off your hat and coat. But that has been the extremes of weather this past week in Donegal.

The earthquake that struck Haiti in 2010 was the most devastating natural disaster ever experienced in Haiti. On our Guest podcast series Denise O’Mahony describes her experience at the centre of a logistics operation to bring relief to a devastated people.

I spent a good deal of time looking after my parents as they got older. And sometimes (because of the particular time and situation) it used to seem as if it had been going on since forever. I know that I am exaggerating as I say that. Because I never lived with them when they got older. I might stay for a night or two, and then come and go.

So, while I carried out this ‘job’ many times whinging and complaining a lot, the time came when I learned to accept it, and yes embrace it.

God comes to meet us is a well-known phrase of Pope Francis. With no mass or religious ceremonies over the Easter period, it can feel as if I cannot go to meet Him. How can we make the most of the end of Lent and Easter? Holy Week provides us with an opportunity to do precisely that.

Home should be a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life – a place where we can retire after a long day and get recharged for what lies ahead.

About 17.1 million people watched Oprah Winfrey's interview with Prince Harry and Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle on CBS, making it one of the most-watched events of the TV season (but still well behind the Super Bowl). Certain things were said, much left unsaid, other things insinuated and a lot has since gone viral.

JRR Tolkien once said deep roots are not reached by the frost. Our guest on our Guest podcast series today, Lissy Clement did not know her roots.

‘Wherever there is a man who exercises authority, there is a man who resents authority.’ - Oscar Wilde. I was reminded of the truth of this statement recently. I was driving back from having taken a walk with a friend (within the 5-K zone), and I was stopped by a Garda.

If you could choose one aspect of yourself to shape the rest of your life, which one would you choose? Probably not self-doubt.

As we suffer together in lockdown, it may be hard to see the reason behind it all. What is God's plan in all this? How can I accept this plan if it is a source of suffering for me or for those I love?

A friend informed me last year, to my near-horror, that I was too ‘old school’ when I told her I needed to write things down in a diary, and like to keep a ‘To Do’ Checklist. She keeps up-to-date with the latest tech news, and has tried and tested every Time Management app, planning tool, and productivity management system that one can think of.

There’s nothing quite like a good night’s sleep. You waken well-rested and ready to face the day’s challenge. Yet sometimes the effort of trying to get a good night’s sleep can tire us out; plumping pillows… right room temperature… no screens before bed…warm milk…soothing app…good book (but not too good).

Do you feel as if your relationships are as good as they could be, or are they sometimes a little stuck?

Here we are again, third lockdown, this one more serious than the rest. I don’t know about you, but my anxiety was at its highest over the holidays and into January. What a relief we are now in February!