r/CasualIreland • u/lsdlemons • 22h ago
Casually positive! 🤗🥳🤗 Dear Ireland
Where do I even begin?
I feel so dramatic writing this but I've had it in my head to get this out.
I was so nervous about my trip here, I almost cancelled it. I've never been more happy that I said fuck it and went through with my plans.
My time here isn't over just yet but I leave next week. Yesterday and today, and as my leave approaches, I feel my heart aching more and more because I have to go back "home". I have never felt so in the right place before my trip here. Back home I always thought I was just the type who's not interested in doing things or going out. But the problem is no one back home is on the same wavelength as I am. I'm so glad to know that I've found my people but I'm so sad that soon we'll have to go back to being miles and miles and miles apart. I'm so proud of myself (thank you to all the Irish gals I've met telling me how proud I should be) for doing this and coming here.
I also just want to say thank you to everyone I've met (not that they'll see this lol) but you all truly made such a big difference. To all the other traveler friends I made & local Irish friends I've made, even if it is a "one and done" kind of deal, I still will forever be so thankful that I got to meet any of you. I've felt so safe and just acknowledged. Why can't I put Ireland in my pocket and cherish it forever, so unfair.
One big reason I couldn't get myself to go through with cancelling it was that (and maybe this is cringe) I felt like I was meant to learn something important about myself mentally and especially spiritually. Learning more about the culture and history made that feeling even stronger especially since my ancestors have a history that's similar & different in ways. While I was at cliffs of Moher, all I could think about was the spirits of my own ancestors and the ancestors of Ireland. I felt like they both were coming together to tell me something. (I know this sounds silly but I really cherished that feeling, it was powerful and peaceful). It's like a gut feeling, but for your heart.
And I know like every country, Ireland isn't perfect or how the locals would like it to be in regards to certain things. And I truly hope that you guys are able to make things better for your communities. I truly wish I could stick around and help. Believe me I would.
But anyway, I've truly never felt so free? Happy? Like myself? Since I've been here. I love who I am when I'm here and I'm going to do my best to keep this version of me alive when I leave. But again, I still have time! More pubs, more food, more sights, more friends, more Ireland. I hate to think about it ending already but I guess I'm mentally prepping a bit! This won't be my last visit & I hope you'll have me again soon.
Anyway this is making me teary eyed a little bit but I'm just so happy and a little sad. Ireland will always be in my heart.
Alright if you made it this far, please do have a pint in honor of all the good parts of Ireland. And if you don’t drink, then have a smoke. And if you don’t smoke, then you’ve gotta do a cartwheel. I don’t make the rules (yes I do).
Have a lovely night all of you🫶
edit: well my bad guys I just wanted to share something positive LMFAO hell 😭
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u/pervperverson 22h ago
Americans need more time off
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u/Ellielands 19h ago
Idk, I’ve travelled the same amount of time to different countries and none of them felt as good as Ireland was. It felt a way I can’t describe just walking through the countryside, that I haven’t felt in other places. I guess you could call it magical, but I don’t know it’s like a way the land just…idk, you can FEEL it. Like it’s saying, “it’s ok, just take a deep breath” and your body listens without you struggling. That might not make sense, but it me the closest I can describe it as.
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u/broats_ 13h ago
Like it’s saying, “it’s ok, just take a deep breath”
That's actually one of the lads we leave hiding in the bushes to whisper to tourists. Every council employs a few yank-whisperers. Great job if you can get it.
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u/Ellielands 12h ago
Well my whisperer did a great job, might owe them a pint if I ever get the chance
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u/lsdlemons 21h ago
true
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u/Warducky9999 20h ago edited 11h ago
We Americans get emotionally attached to any foreign country we visit because it’s the only time in our lives we get free time and associate those happy feelings with the specific place instead of just the absence of responsibility.
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u/MambyPamby8 10h ago
They also need to learn about paragraphs. 😂 (I'm joking ftr - I'm glad OP loves our country)
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u/octoberelectrocute 6h ago
I’m American and I gave travelled to many countries but after visiting Ireland, my heart aches for it. My son is begging me to move there. It felt so peaceful and I’ve never seen my mother so happy as when we visited. Life slowed down and we connected with each other and with the earth. Irish people are the kindest, funniest people I have ever met. How can you not fall in love with the place?
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u/fionnycurrano 9h ago
But if they got time off then how will they spearhead the AI revolution to destroy the world!!!!
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u/InternetCrank 21h ago
Well someone needed a holiday.
Sounds like you should try and travel more often!
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u/No_Sky_1829 13h ago
Ignore the dicks who haven't learned to scroll past the posts they don't like 😅
Thank you for showing some love for Ireland. I'm glad you had a great time and it's sweet that you got all spiritual & stuff. I do that too in some places where I can feel the essence of whoever lived there before seeping out of the walls. Keep spreading the good vibes 😊
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u/Glad-Pomegranate-831 21h ago
Are you the one who met the guy in the pub and he drove you to cliffs of moher the following day ?
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u/mg7recruit 17h ago
Beautiful post - glad you had a great time OP, and make sure not to leave it too long before you come back 👏🏼 😎
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u/Serendipitygirl14 22h ago
It’s a beautiful letter & written from the heart. Ignore the punctuation police-be very proud of yourself-you didn’t just step out of your comfort zone-you catapulted yourself out of it. You have shown yourself you can do hard things. Onwards & upwards😊
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u/lsdlemons 21h ago
thank you you’re so sweet 🙏🙏 I’m not too worried about the debby downers, just thought I’d show some appreciation ‼️
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u/HannahBell609 21h ago
I moved here five years ago after experiencing the same feelings. Ireland feels like home more than home does. I've never once regretted the move.
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u/Bluerocky67 13h ago
Are you me? Moved here 5 years ago too, definitely happier here than I was in my place of birth!
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u/Team503 18h ago
Sounds like you should be working towards immigration. A work permit is hard to get but not impossible.
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u/lsdlemons 10h ago
I wish😭 I’m still in uni though, I may try to do study abroad for a semester or something, that would be pretty cool
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u/Team503 5h ago
You can still work towards immigration. What's your major and what do you want to do? Will you be pursuing a grad program?
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u/lsdlemons 4h ago
chemistry major, I’d like to go into psychopharmacology (or as I like to say psychedelic research), and yes I’ll def be going for a grad program
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5h ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/CasualIreland-ModTeam 5h ago
Your post/comment was removed because it's not deemed casual. While we don't mind the odd vent, this isn't the sub for negativity so we wanna keep things cheerful where we can.
As always, hit us up in the modmail if you have any questions
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u/Available-Talk-7161 22h ago
Please, when you go home, learn how to construct paragraphs in blobs of text.
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u/WolfetoneRebel 8h ago
Must have caught a couple of lucky sunny days. There’s honestly not a better place in the world when we have blue skies and sun shining(obviously quite a rare occurrence).
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u/lsdlemons 4h ago
True! Weather last week was very good, it was so sunny out. The day I went to see Howth was absolutely perfect as well, just gorgeous
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u/ironlungforsale 20h ago
Is there a TLDR for this.....an American I assume?
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u/lsdlemons 20h ago
basically me just going on about how much I enjoy Ireland & appreciate the culture and people I’ve met!! sorry I know it’s a long post!
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u/angilnibreathnach 19h ago
There are assholes in every country. I hope you met enough nice people to drown out some of the bitter comments in this thread. Glad to see most of them were nice though! Lovely outpouring of positivity. Glad you had a good time!
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u/lsdlemons 10h ago
LOL don’t worry, the grumpy people haven’t changed a thing for me, though hopefully they turn their frowns upside down eventually LMAO thank you though ur so sweet!!!
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u/MoonlightonRoses 16h ago
She was just saying how lovely your country and your people are. Thanks for proving her wrong and being a dick
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u/midnightlushie 20h ago
This is a lovely post. As a woman I haven't taken the plunge yet of travelling alone(outside of Ireland). It scares me but I am so glad to hear that you have had a good time here. I'm so happy for you 🥰🥰 it sounds like you really needed the break!