Just in Case
Or what?
Buíochas go léir (Lots of gratitude)
When I started the Gaelic Effect, I didn’t know there would be interest in what I’m passionate about: how Irish can teach us to see the world differently. Twelve months later—with more than 3,000 subscribers (and thirty-four paid subscribers), I am happy to say I am not alone. I am grateful for the community I have found here, with new friendships I never imagined possible via social media. Buíochas mór libh go léir. (Big, heartfelt thanks to you all. )
One of these friends is Josephine. An early subscriber and supporter of the Gaelic Effect, she too is passionate about Irish. She’s also a cat lover, artist, musician and writer; her book, We will Never Be Together, is beautiful and striking. This week, while I am at Irish school i mBaile an Fheirtéaraigh (in Ballyferriter), she agreed to write a guest blog. I am delighted with what she explores here: the original meaning of “just in case” and what the Irish language can teach us about facing our fears. I agree with her: “it’ll be okay” in Irish, Beidh sé ceart go leor. (all those vowels!) is especially calming.
Special offer: In celebration of the one year anniversary of The Gaelic Effect, all paid subscriptions are 20% off until July 19th. For about 60 cents per week, you can support the Gaelic Effect and also receive “thank you” gifts, including discounts on workshops, Irish language programs, and more. Bígí linn. Join us!
One “thank you” is coming up: all paid subscribers by July 23rd will receive a special 60% discount on my Somatic-Based Empathy course (plus two others) for $99 at NVC Academy. See the bundle here.
And now for this week’s Gaelic Effect, with text and collage by Josephine. Following the English language version is her translation as Gaeilge, in Irish. Fáilte! (Welcome!)
Fear of the fear
A few weeks ago, I was resting on my bed in the middle of the day. I like to take a break every day, usually in the late afternoon. On this day, I was thinking about my life. I know, that’s a big subject for a break!
But suddenly I thought about ar eagla na heagla, which translates as “just in case” in English. Its direct translation though is “on fear of the fear.” “Just in case” sounds simple, easy, innocent, preventative, but really there is fear in “just in case.”
My friend, Dian sent me this link, and that post sums it up:
“…the phrase ‘just in case’ derived from the legal system at that time being primarily ‘trespass’ for direct injury or damage and ‘trespass on the case’ being for indirect injury or damage. So ‘Just in case’ derived from being careful to avoid being the defendant in a case against you for being negligent causing damage or injury. ‘Just’ from Justice, ‘in Case’ from trespass on the case which is often now shortened to case. So therefore act as to be Just in Case.” (theidioms.com)
There is a lot of fear in “just in case,” at least in the original English meaning. Yet it’s morphed into something that sounds innocuous, “to do something as a precautionary measure, to engage in something that is meant as an alternative in case the original does not work.” (theidioms.com) Also, from the Cambridge dictionary, it doesn’t seem that fearful either: “Because of a possibility of something happening, being needed, etc.:I don't think I'll need any money but I'll bring some just in case. Bring a map in case you get lost.”
But then I was looking at my bedroom closet with my migraine medicines in it. While I stared at the closed door, I thought about my fear.
Real healing
I spent years doing mind-body techniques to help reduce migraines. The focus is on learning about the fear surrounding chronic pain, and also understanding how you might be doing things that are counterproductive to healing. Not everything is solely in the mind or in the body.
This one insight about “just in case” is in a very long list of insights and changes I’ve made in my life. I’ve heard it said that this is the work of a lifetime, and I feel like I’m peeling back the layers of a never-ending onion.
The next day, I threw out my old medicines, and I felt better! I kept some medicine because sometimes I need medicine, but the helpful kind. I tell myself, “be kind to yourself!”
I realized that I was keeping old medicines, medicines that didn’t help me. Just in case. What was this fear doing to me? It wasn’t helping me.
I felt better that day because I threw away some old meds and a little bit of fear with my “just in case.” But I still have plenty more work to do. I still have other meds I want to stop taking because they are difficult to get.
There will always be problems. This is life.
There are fears inside still. Sometimes, you can’t put your finger on it until you sit still and peel away some other, more obvious fears. I don’t consciously choose not to feel fear. I don’t believe that will ever happen. You feel what you feel, but you can choose how to react.
This is the magic of Irish for me: “on fear of the fear” versus “just in case.” It helped me become aware of my fear and how I was reacting to it.
Calming the mind
Sometimes I would like to quit Irish altogether. It’s very hard!! But then I remember, ar eagla na heagla, and other magical insights of Irish.
I even use Irish to calm my mind now. If I wake up in the night, I will repeat, “It’s gonna be okay.” Then in Irish, Beidh sé ceart go leor. It will be okay, even if it seems like it won’t. There’s no point in feeling fear in the middle of the night and not being able to sleep. So I tell myself I will be okay, and my mind rests.
Beidh sé ceart go leor.
As Gaeilge… in Irish (translated by Josephine)
Note: I’ve been learning Irish for three years now, so my Irish is ok, but not perfect. Here’s this article (mostly) in Irish.
Tabhair faoi deara: Tá mé ag foghlaim Gaeilge le trí bliana anois, mar sin, tá mo chuid Gaeilge ceart go leor, ach níl sé foirfe. Anseo é an t-alt seo (den chuid is mó) as Gaeilge.
Cúpla seachtain ó shin, bhí mé i mo luí, ar mo leaba, i lár an lae. Ar laghad, sos amháin gach lá. Ar an lá seo, bhí mé ag smaoineamh faoi mo shaol. Tá a fhios agam, sin é ábhar mór le haghaidh sos!
Ach, go tobann, cheap mé faoi “ar eagla na heagla.” “Just in case” as Béarla, seo é simplí, éasca, gan dochar, “preventative,” ach go háirithe, eagla atá ann i “just in case.”
Mo chara, Dian, sheol sí dom an nasc seo faoi “just in case,” agus seo tuairim ón nasc. A lán eagla atá ann le “just in case.” Ar a laghad le nath bunaidh, ach anois, gan dochar.
Ansin, thuig mé rud éigin tábhachtach faoi cad a bhí mé ag déanamh le mo leigheas mígréin. Bhí mé ag féachaint ar mo vardrús le mo leigheas mígréin ann. Nuair a stán mé ag an doras dúnta, cheap mé faoin m’eagla.
Bhí mé ag coinneáil seanleigheas, leigheas nár chabhraigh liom. Ar eagla na heagla. Cad a bhí an eagla seo ag déanamh dom? Ní raibh sé ag cabhrú liom. Ar an gcéad lá eile, chaith mé amach mo seanleigheas, agus mhothaigh mé níos fearr! Choinnigh mé roinnt leighis. Uaireanta, teastaím leigheas uaim, ach an leigheas cabhrach. Deirim féin, bí cineálta leat féin!
Chaith mé blianta ag déanamh “mindbody techniques” mígréin a chabhrú. D’fhoghlaim mé faoin eagla timpeall pian ainsealach agus go raibh mé róghnóthach an t-am ar fad.
Go macánta, bhí léargas agam, a lán léargas chomh maith le hathruithe i mo shaol, ach is foghlaim ar feadh an tsaoil. is oinniún é gan deireadh.
Mhothaigh mé níos fearr an lá sin mar gur chaith mé amach mo seanleigheas agus beagán m’eagla, ach tá níos mó oibre le déanamh.
Beidh fadhbanna ann i gcónaí. Seo é beatha.
Is é an dea-scéala, níl eagla orm faoi mhígréin anois, ach tá eagla eile orm fós. Mothaím eagla an t-am ar fad, ach roghnaím an chéad rud nó smaoineamh eile.
Ach seo é draíocht na Gaeilge! Ar eagla na heagla seachas “just in case.” Cabhraíonn Gaeilge liom gach lá. Bhuel, ní fíor é sin. Uaireanta, ba mhaith liom éirí as an nGaeilge ar fad. Tá sé an-deacair!! Chaithfinn gach rud amach ansin bheinn sásta, ach ní fíor é sin. Bheinn brónach. Ach ansin, is cuimhin liom “ar eagla na heagla” agus an draíocht eile le Gaeilge.
Úsáidim Gaeilge mar go dtugann sé suaimhneas intinne dom. Má dhúisím i lár na hoíche, deirim “Beidh sé ceart go leor” féin, ansin tugann dom m’intinn sos.
Go raibh míle maith agat, a GhaelSpell agus a Thoin Gaeilge.
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