Orlagh Walsh
Let me tell you a little bit about myself. I’m Orlagh and I’m a mother of two girls, a wife, a homemaker and I run my own business. And of course, I’m a blogger with Hearts+Minds. I have a background in Science (I majored in Zoology in UCD) and then went into teaching, and now I’m a forest bathing guide. My hobbies include journaling, playing the piano and the guitar, gardening, making jigsaws, reading and watching TV. Life is busy though, I really have to make time for my hobbies these days!
I first heard about Hearts+Minds back in early 2020 (simpler times!) A colleague of mine, Máire, was talking about setting up a website where people, especially women, could log onto during their morning cuppa or break time, and browse some blogs and podcasts. I really liked the idea as I have always loved reading blogs and exploring peoples’ ideas and points of view. When Máire asked me if I would be interested in doing some writing I was delighted to get on board; I have always been a keen writer and it was great to have this outlet.
What attracted me about Hearts+Minds was the idea of a woman sitting down for 15 or 20 minutes a day, taking the weight off her feet and having some time to herself where she explores the ideas and themes of Hearts+Minds. I liked that. Life is busy these days, and what really struck me about Hearts+Minds was that it might encourage some people to stop for a few minutes a day and get some food for their souls. I was particularly excited about blogging because there are so many aspects of my life I think most people (especially women) can relate to. In my experience, reading about a situation or a struggle that you are familiar with makes you feel like you’re not alone. I wanted to do this for others.
Women in Ireland face many challenges nowadays. We are busier than we have ever been. We are generally the go-to person when things aren’t going right in the household. We have also, like everyone, lived through a global pandemic. Some of us did so with children, some of us gave birth to children, some of us lost our jobs, some of us had our mental health suffer. But it’s not all doom and gloom! We experience many joys too. We have more rights than our own mothers did; we have better healthcare and we are listened to. We are great for getting together and forming our “tribes.” I, for one, am so glad for all the women in my life; friends and family.
Inspiration for my blog posts comes to me in all shapes and forms. I spend a lot of time with my kids. Kids have a great mindset. They inspire me every day. My friends are all warriors, fighters, carers and more. They have given me so much inspiration for my blogs. Nature plays a huge part in my job as well as my personal life. I love sharing blogs about nature and all its benefits.
If I had to recommend a blog post to read? Anna Nugent wrote a great blog about feeling lonely, called The Beauty and Pain of Loneliness. It was a wonderfully written piece which really resonated with me and kept me thinking for days after I read it. I think that’s a sign of a good blog post!
