subject: The Power of Irish Wisdom [print this page] The Power of Irish Wisdom The Power of Irish Wisdom
We all know the Irish have the gift of gab and the ability to bring light to challenging situations with their words. I wonder sometimes though if the Irish realize the power of this gift and what it means to those around them. I have always been proud to be part of a culture that takes life in stride by "rising to the occasion" while keeping a strong sense of humor intact. They say laughter is the best medicine and the Irish have certainly figured out how to use laughter and light-heartedness to see them through many challenges. After being raised by an Irish American mother, very important that I mention American because my mother always reminded me that I am an American of Irish descent, who had an expression for every life experience; I can personally attest to this. I remember as a child when I would become jealous of my sisters or feel sorry for myself, my mother would say to me in a sing-song voice: Nobody loves me, nobody cares. I am going to eat whole lot of worms and die--big fat juicy ones and itsy, bitsy teensy ones, and I am going to chew them up and spit them in your eye. After hearing that, I would immediately start laughing and realize how silly I was being. Remembering these funny words and the way in which my mother delivered them still makes me laugh and reminds me to take a step back and re-evaluate a situation. Her ability to do this through humor taught me to keep my sense of humor in life. That is a powerful lesson to teach a child with just a silly little statement. When I share my mother's funny antidotes and wisdom, I am able to make others laugh at themselves or a situation and pass that wisdom along, which is the gift the Irish give to those around us.
