AUTUMN WITH THE FOODS OF ATHENRY
Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.”
– Stanley Horowitz
It’s here! It’s here! I haven’t exactly launched into Autumn this year as I usually do, I’ve sorta’ slumbered my way in and slowly layered up the flannel shirts and red scarves with knitted socks. But, I made up for it all a few days ago when I dived straight into a pile of leaves in my October best, hot drink in hand and a mouth full of biscuits from The Foods of Athenry. No better way in my book.
It was a crisp day when we took these pictures, and to be honest, when I woke up I didn’t think I would be able to take the time out to prance about with Julia. Likewise, she had piles of boring adulting to do, but we persisted with childlike abandon and made our way to NUIG to immerse ourselves in Autumnal magic. Boy oh boy were we pleased, and proud as punch that we had dismissed that little voice that tells you the things your heart calls out for are frivolous.
A great deal of anxiety in this life comes from the things we tell ourselves we are unable to achieve. That perplexing web of thoughts, reinforced by society and the ideas of who we are and who we should be. We lock ourselves into systems, patterns and routines that feel heavy and concrete. Of course, we come from different backgrounds, experiences and beliefs which impact our ability to make choices. This can harbour our energy and impact our opportunities for moving forward. It’s hard to be as creative as we can be, to be as free as possible, when we have bills to pay and people to please – but we are deserving of the kindness we bestow upon others and we should afford ourselves that. How many times have you told yourself you should follow your own advice? Anxiety also comes from our fear of moving forward because in that we must let something go, but the changing of the seasons teaches us that with everything we lose there are always adventures to gain.
Julia and myself – we’re going through a bit of a phase at the moment, where we listen to the magical outpouring of creative possibility and we run with it. Rebels but with many a cause. I was feeling under the weather recently and had been listening to my fears a bit too much, as was Joules, so I think a day like this was much needed for the both of us. Our hearts were getting heavy and it at that point humans usually give in and succumb to the niggling thoughts. These pile up into an insurmountable muddled mess that can take some time to emerge from.
My favourite season, I believe that Autumn is beautiful because it teaches us how things change, from the leaves on the trees to the day you wake up and reach for another layer to cover your body. On this crisp day, we took the time out to enjoy ourselves, to mind ourselves and most importantly to truly be ourselves – having fun in the leaves on a morning in Galway that wasn’t expecting our presence. Claiming the colourful debris and taking them all for ourselves. I finally got to enjoy some of the vegan treats sent to me by the lovely local company The Foods of Athenry. I was doing what I love best, enjoying Autumn with good company and great food. I wanted to show these treats in the most honest way – how I would really eat them, not posed on a table with shiny cutlery – instead, submerged in Galway goodness with a big Keepcup of cinnamon topped Oatly oat milk from McCambridge’s. Happy, wholesome and heart-warming – just the way they are. I’ve more to share on them soon, and they too have more things to offer from festive vegan mince pies to gingery chocolate coated goodness when the next season rolls over and our homes are filled with a different kind of magic.
Make time for something that makes your soul happy, something which makes your eyes smile and helps clear that lump in your throat – that dormant resident who makes a shy appearance when you least expect it on an Autumn evening. It is in these moments we really have a shot at seeing who we hope to be. Open your eyes to them, and feel the colour rush in.
Images: @lovejoules
P A P E R M A C H E M I N D | I N S T A G R A M | T W I T T E R | F A C E B O O K
