Friday 4 October 2019

Nothing good ever happens in October - Ciaran Murtagh


The leaves are falling from the trees, the nights are drawing in and I turned on the heating in my shed for the first time in months. Nothing like the scent of the million fly carcasses that have tumbled down the back of the radiator slowly turning into charcoal to get the creative juices flowing. They do say that for every great work of art there has to be an act of sacrifice, I wonder if this is the modern equivalent.



It’s October, our country is in a period of flux and uncertainty, the Christmas adverts have appeared in the shops, it is tempting to think that 2019 is nearly over. Put off whatever it is you were going to start until the halcyon uplands of 2020 appear. Anything’s possible in 2020. We’ll probably be writing with laser beams, commuting on hover boards, or more likely, fighting over prescription drugs and reminiscing about what bananas tasted like.



What I’m saying is, nothing good ever happened on a damp Friday in October. Nothing. The promise of the year is waning, curl under the duvet and think of Christmas. Being self employed we don’t even have office parties to look forward to – not that I ever really looked forward to them, but at least someone else bought the beer.



It can be hard to remember that there’s still three months left. Three whole months. That's loads of time to turn it all around. As a redhead, it's always been my favourite time, and frankly the only one my colouring coordinates with. 



But in a world governed by advertising, we’ve had our summer holidays, there’s just Halloween, bonfire night and then Christmas left to go -  what's the point in starting something now? It can be easy to get demotivated, to start wishing the days away, to take a cue from the seasons and start bedding down for the year. 2019 is done. 


Don’t.

There’s loads of time. The best is yet to come. Make the most of it. It could still be your year. 

Write the thing, do the thing, make the thing.

Everyone wants to give up their job and write a book in January. Nobody wants to do it in October. Be that person, steal the march, get to the agents when they’re quiet (er). Get your ducks in a row, make your plans and don’t be conned into thinking 2019 has passed you by. October is where it’s at baby! 

2019 isn't done and dusted.  You’ve got a quarter of the year left. 2019 could still be your year.  Grab it.



4 comments:

Penny Dolan said...

A very wise, timely and much needed reminder, Ciaran. There are still plenty of days and a long way to go before the end of the year.

I came across - aghast! - Christmas symbols on a tube a fruit pastilles last week while I was On My Holidays. I really hate the way advertising & the media try to push and shape the pace of our days far too fast.

Enjoy the days and months ahead in that shed, Ciaran.

Joan Lennon said...

Yay! I'm on it!

Rowena House said...

Lovely post. And interesting how people react differently to the mists and mellow fruitfulness. I always get restless at this time of year, and want to fly south with the last departing swallows. October also brings some of the loveliest light of the year on our south-facing Devon coast. A month to be out foraging rather than curling up!

Anne Booth said...

I feel very encouraged by this! Thank you!