FURTHERMORE
By Gerry Moran
I sometimes read the newspaper backwards ie. from back to front! In fact I often read the newspaper from back to front. And why? Because of sport. Sport frequently features on the back pages of many papers and typical male that I am I resort to reading the sports results first.
Yes, I realise that wars are being waged with gruesome headlines splashed all over the front pages, but I want to read the review of the ‘wars’ on the sporting field first. I want to read the review of the ‘war’ between, for instance, Kilkenny and Limerick or Man U (my team) and Liverpool. I am not particularly proud of that ‘confession’ but, damn it, a fellow can get tired of reading about front-page atrocities around the world. One can get ‘war weary’, as they say.
Now a magazine that I always read back to front is the Sunday Times Magazine. I go straight to the second last page with the title A Life In The Day which profiles some celebrity or other (promoting some book, or show, or other) and what their average day is like. Nothing like mine I hasten to add.
Many of these celebs are up at the crack of dawn, gulp down an espresso, a slice of sesame toast and are in the gym by 7 am. No wonder they’re rich and famous. What’s this they say: “Early to bed, and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” Except I’m not too sure about the wisdom of that. Horsing around in a gym at that ungodly hour doesn’t seem too wise to me. Especially if you’ve been imbibing with the boys the night before. But then celebs are not inclined to frequent the local (if they have one) and are usually in bed by 10 pm.– a time when yours truly might be going out.
Anyway, what I love about these profiles is an insert where they are asked: Advice I’d Give. Me, I am always looking for advice even though I might not take it. I’m at an age when I should be dispensing advice not receiving it – though I wouldn’t advise anyone to take advice from me.
Here’s a selection from those celebrities and The Advice They’d Give:
Nancy Sinatra: Listen to your heart. Don’t let it get
mixed up. It’s a jumble in your head. Orlando Bloom (actor) Be the master of your mind.
Dan Brown (author of the Da Vinci Code): Live with an open mind, and even more open heart.
Simon Callow (actor): Try to keep a nice balance between pain and pleasure (I find that confusing).
Naomi Campbell: Only commit to things you feel passionate about. It has to come from within.
Eric Cantona: Receive advice like love.
Nigel Farage: Don’t worry about what society says you should do. If you’ve got a passion, follow it.
Dawn French: Every day is a clean slate. Whatever happened yesterday, you can get past it.
Joanna Lumley: It’s important to be friendly. Kindness gets the best out of everybody.
Seal (singer-songwriter): Try to enjoy every minute of your life.
Bjorn Ulvaeus (of Abba fame): Don’t be scared of getting old.
Johnny Wilkinson (rugby player): You’re exactly where you’re meant to be.
Benjamin Zephaniah (poet): Don’t follow the crowd.
On the topic of advice, Joe Dunne, an old neighbour and friend of mine, posted an interesting challenge on Facebook recently which read: Best advice you can give in exactly four words. Now giving advice is difficult enough but in four words! Well, in fairness, a lot of people rose to the challenge. Here’s a selection:
Always follow your heart * Be kind to people * Think before you speak * Mouth shut. Ears open * Don’t believe a word * Big boys do cry * This too will pass * Turn off your phone * Know your own worth * Mind your own business * Listen. Think. Then speak * Mother is always right
Which reminds me of advice my mother often gave me: Never touch a pin that isn‘t yours and do nothing unless you do it right.
As for myself, and regardless of what I wrote above, I’ll offer this: Be kind. Be forgiving and Never, ever, give up.
