Reasons to be Cheerful
In times of strife, let's look at what brings a smile
The world seems to be in a pretty parlous state right now.
Pugnacious felons and psychopathic bad actors hold power in many of the world’s countries, even in many of the world’s democracies. News reporting of the actions of these bad actors is unceasing, and creates the impression that we are in a doom spiral, a vortex of calamity that has no end.
Thing is, the world has always seemed to be in a pretty parlous state. The fact that American incomes doubled between 1950 and 1980 actually was of no benefit to the Black citizens who were discriminated against every day of their lives by Jim Crow laws.
Ireland’s incarceration levels of innocent people back in the days of Holy and Apostolic Ireland would have made Stalin proud. Before the 20th century, your chances of recovering from serious illness or injury were virtually nil. Lives were nasty, brutish, and short.
The difference today is that we know so much about what is happening, everywhere. The horrors of Gaza, the depredations of Venezuela, the climate changes that render us so helpless in the face of man-assisted natural disasters are all things about which we could write a term paper and be confident of getting a good grade.
But geo-political events are not actually the most important things in our lives. They are important, of course, and what is happening in the USA and in Ukraine and Gaza can and does impact us all in many ways, because these actions have long tails.
But here’s the thing: the actions that have the longest tails are actually how we behave one to another in our daily lives.
Every time we drive up to Cork city we marvel at the wonder that is the Togher flyover. What’s to marvel at, with this most ordinary bridge? Just this:
Traffic heading east along the N40 exits at the ramp to the bridge, then heads uphill, where they are met with traffic crossing the bridge from the airport side.
And what happens then is genius: each car coming across the bridge pauses to let one car coming up to the bridge to gain access to the traffic line heading to the city centre. One, and One. One, and One. Like an endless recital of orders from an Italian chip shop, the One’n’One system means the traffic never gets stalled.
Sure it takes time, but everyone knows that the guys crossing the bridge will pause, and everyone waves when they let you access the bridge. If this didn’t happen, there would be traffic chaos at Togher every single day. But there isn’t. Instead, there are waves of gratitude and thanks, smiles, co-operation.
The Togher bridge, eh? At a time when we’re blasted with so much bad news, it seems a good time to count the many reasons to be cheerful that don’t make the media.
The guys and girls in the motorway toll booths who always give you the time of day.
Honesty Boxes.
Hand written signs - thanks to our daughter Constance for drawing our attention to these. You know them “Turf and Coal, Call John 087…” “Missing Cat” “Beauty Dies Where Litter Lies” (on the N22). And the classic above, photographed by butcher Jack McCarthy. “It’s like a conversation” says Connie, “and handwriting is part of a person’s DNA”.
Cancer Connect - the best of volunteerism helping others.
Community Litter pickers.
Buskers.
Kenji making an Irish crisp sandwich - “Teeth marks in the butter and shite white 10/10” (to quote Mani Pizza on Kenji’s Insta).
Thanking the bus driver.
A whole country prepared to wait for a pint to settle.
A local farmer sporting an umbrella when it isn’t raining.
Irish sandwiches - crisp sandwiches, salad sandwiches, funeral sandwiches. Always made with love and a sense of hospitality.
Rural Irish postmen - wearing shorts Feb-Nov and making light of frosty roads
Having an Irish Passport - ranked #3 in the world by the 2025 Passport Index. Citizens can visit 178 countries visa-free.
Roads that hug the craggy coastline. They are everywhere, and they are exquisite.
Carlow Weather.
Irish funerals.
Ireland’s UNESCO heritage for Literature (CMcK)
@garron_music
Ireland is the only country in the world to use a musical instrument - the harp - to define itself (CMcK)
Every stranger saying hello on our daily walk.
Passport Controllers who welcome you back by name (thanks to son Patrick for reminding us of that).
The Irish weather. To quote PJMcK “bright and sunny or very cosy when it’s raining - never dank or extreme”.
On the whole, people drive politely and surprisingly well in Ireland. Lots of consideration, despite fairly terrible roads.
Buttered Toast - Might be a bit cliché but buttered toast just has another level of taste to it. (PJMcK)
What makes you smile right now, wherever you are based? Join our Subscriber Chat on the App and share a bit of joy on an otherwise troubling day.
Thank you to all the people who emailed us about this. Indeed, it’s the simplest things.
Perfectly timed for a grey Monday morning, thank you