Busy as a Bee

I come from a long line of busy people; both my parents worked extremely hard to provide for our family. The first forty years of my life embraced their hard work ethic, but after my father’s untimely death in 1995, I took the decision to leave my busy natural medicines practise behind and move to the home of my ancestors in Donegal, Ireland.

I have never regretted this decision.

Slowing Down

The slower pace of life suited me well, and I built up a small but successful healing and teaching business over a period of four years. One of my long held dreams was to travel to India, and it became a reality in early 2003, when I spent six weeks on a spiritual pilgrimage.

Sadly, five months later I developed a series of frightening symptoms in the aftermath of a raging bog fire which had circled my home. Fire is often viewed as a cleanser that paves the way for new growth…

Stopping the World

The first sign of imbalance was an ache in the upper part of my left arm. Several days later this developed into severe shortness of breath, accompanied by pressure on my chest. Further symptoms were soon added to the list:

Swollen lymph glands in my left armpitInability to lift my left arm above 90 degreesSwelling in the middle fingers of my left armMultiple joint pains like hot knivesDifficulty in keeping warmAching over my left shoulderAching eyes and whites that turned bluish greyInsomnia…

All investigations proved negative, bar lung function tests which showed my left lung was not inflating properly, and my lungs were working at 70% capacity.

I was unable to work for more than a year, and I had to face one of my deepest fears – lack of financial resources. It was incredibly tough having to rely on benefits but I had no choice.

Healing

Facing these fears brought a remarkable change on my outlook on LIFE.

Instead of spending my days inspiring others on their self healing journey, I had to focus on my own inner healing.

Thus I finally learned to SLOW DOWN.

One night I had a dream of rebuilding a house with new stronger foundations, and I felt reassured that I was making good progress.

I found that keeping a gratitude diary helped me enormously.

Small steps in my healing progress were included, as well as simple JOYS that filled my day:

MEDITATIVE WALKSENJOYING NATURE – one highlight was watching the birth of a neighbour’s calfCREATIVITY – joining a local singing class and a creative writing classPOTTERING IN MY GARDEN

My natural medicines toolbox helped me enormously as I tweaked my diet, benefited from treatments of both reflexology and massage, practised daily meditation and visualisation…

Life in the Slow Lane

In April 2006, I moved to a new home that had once belonged to a keen gardener. I had always enjoyed gardening and felt the spirit of the previous owner inspiring me to travel in a new direction.

A few weeks later, I inquired about retraining in organic horticulture a short distance way.

Fast forward to June 2006, and I was working and studying part time, earning a wage and forging a new career that eventually led to my teaching in schools and inspiring children to create organic wildlife gardens.

However, the most important INSIGHT I learned on my self healing journey was:

“First, learn to love thyself.”

Brigid  P. Gallagher is a  retired natural medicines therapist, passionate organic gardener and author of “Watching the Daisies- Life lessons on the Importance of Slow,” a holistic memoir dedicated to the art of mindfulness and healing from debilitating illness.

She lives in Donegal, Ireland –  an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/r5GCjaetgZk

Facebook: https://facebook.com/watchingthedaisies/

Goodreads: https://goodreads.com/author/show/16119226.Brigid_P_Gallagher