Thebrightnessofitslight

Over the course of eight weeks I asked thirty individuals in various care settings in Galway city and county for the
best advice they could give from the life they lived. I would like to thank all of the participants who generously
gave me their time, ideas and personal experiences on how to cope with what life throws at you. I would also like
to thank Margaret Flannery, Arts Co-ordinator Galway University Hospitals Arts Trust; the staff of St. Rita’s in Gal-
way University Hospital;. Sonas Day Centre, Mervue, Galway City;
Ionad Lae Day Centre Leitir Meallin, Co Galway; Karen Magee, SHS Sales and Marketing Limited, (CARA Matches);
Maeve Mulrennan, Galway Arts Centre; Galway City Museum; Megs Morley, Tom Flanagan and Tony Cording.

Although our troubles are inherently personal, most problems are universal and have been faced by the elders in
our communities. This project is an attempt to share the knowledge and advice of some of them.

This project was funded by the Community foundation of Ireland.

Louise Manifold
Active Citizenship Project Facilitator
2014





Talking is good, but not as good as listening.

You only value being able to listen once you lose the ability to hear properly.

PPeople need to spot your star.

So if you can stand out, then make sure you do stand out.



People get really worked up about things
they cannot do anything about.

As you get older you go through experiences
that make you learn

that the only thing you can do
is to not to take it all too seriously.



40 or 50 years ago, money was only real when it was printed,
and people still kept savings in their own possession.

If you believe that everything comes down to money,
then you need to realise that a day will come

when you will be unable to go out and earn money.



Until you make peace with who you are,

you will never be content with what you have.



Do your preparation well.

It is not as easy to get away with saying foolish things when you are 40

as it was when you were 20.

When you have lasting love that is all that really matters.

Love and respect are great things. Romance is a truly wonderful thing.





Social media can be most unkind,

it offers a false way of overcoming loneliness,
as you stop making the effort to know people in reality .

In the end you become more isolated then you were in the beginning.

Pay attention in life: one small act of kindness

can have huge consequences to another human being.



There is no such thing as a leader in a country where no one is
held accountable.



I never owned a dishwasher; it’s a dependence, not a necessity.

Dish washing is a great time for daydreaming, why ruin it with a dishwasher?

Don’t wait until you are 75 to take a good holiday.

Do not regret growing older,

it is a privilege denied to many.