Hi there,
A Productive Morning
‘What is it about 4am that I love?’ I journaled last Tuesday, 12 March 2024, at 4.30am. ‘Is it the silence? Or a sense of being ahead of the posse? A sense of grounding myself, an awakening, through journaling, to self-awareness and self-expression.’
Milestones and Achievements
Next day, I journaled: ‘Ruth retired from teaching last September, six months ago. Since then, I have published my second memoir, published a revised edition of my first memoir, published both memoirs in hardback, with seven editions in Kindle, paperback, hardback and Audible available.’
Creative Ventures
‘I’m currently, slowly but surely, progressing the Audible edition of Book 2. I’ve also developed my Substack.’ And there are more new subscribers. Welcome!
Taking the Stage
‘I’ve won the Toastmasters’ Club and Area Humorous Speech contests and the Club International Speech Contest and am through to the Area Contest next week.’
‘I’ve done a radio interview, given an interview in Sligo and launched the second memoir last Thursday.’
Bonds Beyond Borders
Last night, 14 March, I was interviewed by Scott Stahlecker for his YouTube channel. I enjoyed it, and ended up singing Molly Malone! Well, Paddy’s Day is this Sunday, 17 March. Scott is a great musician and a member of The Clergy Project, which offers support, community, and hope to current and former religious professionals who no longer hold supernatural beliefs. I’m also a member.
Finding Wisdom and Community
Having been conned by the Big Lie of religion, even to the extent of committing our lives to it, I personally find great wisdom and support within The Clergy Project. It’s a community of people who have outgrown belief in fairytales and an Imaginary Friend and woken up to the real, adult world of wonder, as we relish this, our one and only life, and find our personal meaning.
Sowing and Reaping
In my journal of last Wednesday, 13 March, I also recollected that since September ‘I have overseen the felling of five ash trees. I have laboured hard splitting wood and storing it. And Ruth and I have planted and protected, we hope, 30 trees and we’ve had planted two hedges. And we’ve protected them by extending electric fences on either side of both long hedges.’
Gratitude and Fulfilment
‘We remain healthy and in love. We’ve had a party to celebrate Ruth’s birthday and friends have gathered for my book launch.’
I loved that I have ‘the freedom to write fulltime.’ It currently takes the form of journaling, Substack, recording and editing the audiobook of my second memoir and Toastmasters speeches. We love our home. Our children are grown.
Contentment and Purpose
‘In many respects, we’ve arrived,’ I journaled. Ruth is enjoying her retirement. ‘She is heading over to Australia soon to spend a month with our daughter. It’ll be the longest time we’ve spent apart since our marriage. I hope she comes safely home to me.’
Heartfelt Appreciation
‘I am so proud of my two memoirs. Exploring this one person’s life. As I strive to examine my life and know myself and understand and accept myself. As I respect and respond to my vocation to be a writer.’
Yesterday, 14 March, I journaled: ‘I’d a lovely email yesterday from my brother Paul. He wrote:
“Congratulations brother on your wonderful book launch.
“I really enjoyed your new song brother but what struck me most of all was your ability to answer all questions confidently and with good humour. It’s no surprise that you have awards for public speaking.
“Last Friday, I watched a good portion of Biden’s State of the Union Address (his best speech by far), and, having watched you the night before, the only difference between the two was that you mentioned Trump by name and he didn’t.
“Your very proud brother,
Paul.”
As one reviewer of my first memoir observed, my brother Paul was the real hero of In My Gut, I Don’t Believe, his family life ended, at such a tender age, by the death of his mother. I was thrilled that Paul attended both book launches, and his comment during the first one that our dad would be proud of me.
A Joyful Morning
This morning, Friday 15 March, I journaled: ‘I love what I do. I love my life. I love my wife. I love to write. To rise before dawn and journal and ready my day for creativity and communication. I’m doing what I was born to do. I’m a lucky man. A very lucky man.’
Happy days,
Joe
Click here to listen to a short clip from our yet-to-be-released new song by The Rayne, Andrea Patron and myself, So Glad I Married You.
You can listen to the launch of the first memoir on the Losing My Religion Podcast or watch it on YouTube. (I hope to upload the launch of the second memoir soon.)
Saved by a Woman is now available on Amazon in Kindle, Paperback, and Hardback editions.
In My Gut, I Don’t Believe is available on Amazon in Kindle, Paperback, Hardback and Audible editions.
Should the Amazon link to either memoir indicate that a specific edition isn’t available, simply modify the domain name or territory in the URL or address bar. For instance, change ".co.uk" or ".com" to ".de" for Amazon.de, ".co.uk," or ".com," depending on your location.
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Happy days,
Joe