Our autumn issue is out now! A thought-provoking piece by our regular writer, Margot Tubbiolo, explores how moving away from home shapes our perception.
Dive on in to learn more…
Spirituality & The City
What you appreciate in life…
Our Spirituality in the City series celebrates the moments of connection and transformation that can happen in the most unexpected places. This time, we explore how Appreciation can completely transform challenges or seemingly mundane moments.
Carol Lopez
When I think about a place I truly appreciate, my heart goes straight to our greenhouse.
It is much more than a place where we grow microgreens. It is a place that grew with us.
Years ago, this greenhouse was empty and abandoned, waiting for a new purpose. At the same time, our family was also beginning a new chapter. My husband left his career as a chef, I was rebuilding my path after moving to Ireland, and together we decided to bring this space back to life.
Little by little, with care, patience and a lot of learning, the greenhouse started growing again—and so did we.
Our son has grown up surrounded by seeds, plants and nature. He has seen that beautiful things take time, that mistakes are part of learning, and that with love and dedication something tiny can become something amazing.
Every tray we grow is a reminder of transformation. A tiny seed becoming food, an abandoned greenhouse becoming full of life, and a family creating something meaningful together.
I am grateful for this little glass house in Dublin—the place where plants grow, dreams grow, and where our family continues to grow too.
Patrick-joseph
For years, I searched for something more through different spiritual paths. Meditation, manifestation, energy work and the language of the universe all gave me moments of insight, but none quietened the deeper longing within me. Then, unexpectedly, I encountered Jesus Christ.
His name can be difficult to mention in many spiritual spaces. Some carry understandable wounds because of the abuse, corruption and crimes committed by people within the Church. Those wounds deserve compassion, but Christ is not the same as those who have failed in His name.
What drew me to Jesus wasn’t religion. It was the man He revealed Himself to be: unwavering in truth, rich in mercy, courageous in love and deeply compassionate towards the broken. He asks not for perfection, but surrender and an honest relationship with Him.
Following Christ hasn’t removed suffering or answered every question, but it has transformed where I place my hope. Instead of carrying life through my own understanding, I’ve found peace in trusting the One who knows me completely. I’ve met many sincere people searching within the holistic space. I know that search because I lived it. Perhaps the answer isn’t another path to discover but allowing Jesus Christ to search your heart and lead you.
Joanne King
When I think about the things that have shaped my life, I think of three: yoga, the sea, and my beautiful son. They are very different, yet they have all quietly taught me some of life’s most important lessons.
Living and teaching yoga by the sea has given me a deep appreciation for the healing power of nature. Some days the waves are gentle; other days they’re wild, but they always invite me to let go of what I can’t control and trust the flow of life. Whether I’m swimming in the sea or teaching a class to the sound of the waves, I feel deeply grateful for the perspective, connection, and peace the ocean brings.
My son has been my greatest teacher. He has shown me that the most meaningful lessons don’t come from having all the answers, but from being fully present. Through him, I have learned patience, resilience, and the quiet strength that comes with unconditional love. He has encouraged me to see the world with fresh eyes, to slow down, and to appreciate the small moments that are so easily overlooked.
When I reflect on these relationships, I realise they are all connected in the way they have shaped me. They have taught me to be more present, more accepting, and more open to life’s constant changes. They remind me that happiness isn’t found in striving or certainty, but in connection—to nature, to the people we love, and ultimately, to ourselves. To me, that is the true meaning of yoga, and for all of these gifts, I feel deeply grateful.
Hal Warren
As a kid, I learned that to do the right thing, one must be cautious, one step ahead, analytical and in tune. In rock climbing, we learn “sequencing”. The act of reading and rehearsing the movements in a climb before you even step on the wall. It kinda looks like a mime dance if you were imitating someone doing a really bad Macarena.
After 8 years of competitive climbing, 3 National Championships, and close to 5,000 hours of practice, being worried was something I learned to manage, not relinquish. This analytical side of my brain flourished and was given freedom to sprint, to be wild. But it always needed to be tamed.
The climbing gym ultimately taught me how to just be. I learned how to achieve high things, but slowing down is hard for me. Not moving for longer than 5 minutes is hard. Existing is hard. But you don’t have to “be” anything at this refuge. I’m so grateful to be under the trees, smell the coffee and hear laughter that welcomes me and the strongest-hearted people who embrace me. My identity was built around doing, but my attempt is to shape it by rest. The climbing gym asks that you show up for both. My recommendation: stay a little longer.
The Power of Appreciation
Each reflection reminds us that a perspective of Appreciation can completely transform our relationship to the present moment for the better.
It’s a real-life superpower giving us the ability to see the beauty in the ordinary and the blessing in the struggle. What can you transform using the power of appreciation today?
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The Spring 2026 Issue Has Arrived!
AVAILABLE NOW AT HEALTH SHOPS NATIONWIDE OR HEAD HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE MAGAZINE!!
Our newest issue of Positive Life Magazine is here! And it’s filled with inspiring stories, uplifting wisdom, and powerful conversations around this season’s theme: Appreciation <3
To offer readers a break from the fast-paced world we live in, we have chosen to focus on longer-form articles this time, so sit back, relax and get ready to fully immerse yourself in the wellness worlds below!
Inside this issue you’ll discover:
Fascinating interviews with our cover stars, Anita Moorjani (@anitamoorjani) and Bruce Lipton (@brucelipton), who will be joining us in Dublin this autumn
A selection of wonderful products, events, and wellness businesses in our Vibes section, including a hyperbaric oxygen centre located in Clondalkin (@howellness_centre), a luxurious retreat in Georgia (@healthoptimizingclinic), and stellar magnesium supplements! (@orielmagnesium) (@powerfulireland)
Inspiring perspectives and experiences of Appreciation from our regular writers and community
The story behind Dublin’s favourite wholefood restaurant Cornucopia (@cornucopia_restaurant)
Introducing our new Breathing Space section, which includes reflective pieces from curious people involved in everything from hypnotherapy to Rolfing to microgreens (@rory.rolfing) (@daintygreens_cmh)?
Systematic kinesiology, yoga nidra & so much more! (@askireland_)
We hope this issue brings you as much joy and inspiration as it did us in creating it, and that it allows you to appreciate the things around and within you, even just a little bit more <3
Pick up a copy at your nearest health store!
Scan the QR code to subscribe or head to positivelife.ie/subscribe and get every issue delivered to your door.
We absolutely loved hearing about former supermodel Sophie Anderton’s healing journey and ongoing plans for her wellness sanctuary, Anam Kara Wellness, located at Glendalough House Estate. Read the full piece from our Spring 2026 issue below!
We absolutely loved Alison Canavan’s article in our Spring 2026 issue, which pinpointed the energetic difference between true kindness and people-pleasing. Read the full piece below!
Tantra writer and educator Dawn Cartwright is one of our much-loved regular collaborators, and we greatly enjoyed her piece in our Spring 2026 issue, on ‘the language of kindness’. Check it out below!
Spirituality & The City
An act of kindness that took your breath away…
Our Spirituality in the City series celebrates the moments of connection and transformation that can happen in the most unexpected places. This time, we explore how simple acts of kindness can be enough to restore faith in moments when it’s dwindling.
Farzana Maudarbaccus
Ireland has been my home for the last 15 years and I feel pretty settled here. However, on days that have big meaning for me, like Christmas or my birthday, I miss my family who still live in my home country, unless I am visiting, which means I am close to them. My own family here is my little cocoon but I still feel a pinch on those festive/special days and thank goodness for video calls.
This year, for my birthday, one of my friends decided to pay me a visit and brought me a card and flowers. And it brought me to tears. And here’s why: It was the thought behind it and her telling me she knew I did not have someone close who could drop by with a cake or something. It was the fact that I knew her days are full with work and looking after her two children. It was the fact that she carved out time to get me something and drive down to my place to give me a hug. It meant so much and I am so grateful to her for all her love and for being so thoughtful.
Gargi Pareek
‘I have a divine self’…hmm. Is ‘self’ the right noun, is ‘have’ the right verb? As I landed in Ireland alone. Standing in the biting Dublin wind with three heavy bags, I felt the crushing weight of homesickness. At the air coach ticket counter, I asked the man for a ticket to Sandyford. He peered at my luggage and said, “You can’t take three bags on the bus; you have to pay an extra 10 euros in that case.” I gulped. What should I do now? I had little cash, just enough for two months’ rent and groceries. After a few seconds, miraculously, the clerk whispered, “It’s alright, go.” Lost in a blur of tears, I asked an Asian girl standing in front of me in the queue for help. We sat next to each other on the bus, and for self-satisfaction, I asked her whether she was sure I had boarded the right bus. To this, she insisted on verifying with the driver who was then driving the bus. I asked the driver, to which he shouted, “Didn’t you hear me back at the airport! This bus is going to the city centre, not Sandyford…”. I got off at the next station, and surprisingly, she got off too. She did not abandon me. The right bus finally came, but the driver said, “I have no space in the luggage compartment. If you can make some, go ahead.” I struggled alone to shove my heavy bags into a cramped compartment. Bitterly, I thought, “Why am I here…If it were India, hundreds of people would have come to help me.” After squeezing the bags, I thanked the girl with tears in my eyes and stepped onto the bus, choosing a window seat. I saw her still standing there, watching me as if making sure I was settled. When the bus pulled away, I saw her vanish into the crowd. I felt a profound longing. I was certain she was someone “He” sent to help me.
Niall
I remember when I was living on London about 10 years ago. I was really struggling living in the city and struggling mentally in myself. My boss at the time said ‘We value you, we want you here. Take a month off, we’ll keep your job for you. Go and do what you need to do and come back when you’re ready.’
It was such a big thing at the time because I felt like someone really had my back and valued me and who I was and also recognised that I was struggling and didn’t just let me go.
His name was Peter and he completely changed how I thought about leadership and how we can impact people’s lives as leaders and managers.
Brona Malone
May 2020. Lockdown is well under way. A close friend is undergoing chemo for breast cancer. I discover a lump on my breast and my mind immediately jumps to fear and worry. I’m alone, it’s Sunday. I can look into getting it checked tomorrow, but I’m not going to sit in fear and worry in the interim, waiting for someone else and something outside of me to tell me everything is ok.
When life happens, we all lean on something. For me, I lean on a strength beyond my own, call it God, Higher Power, Source, Divine Intelligence. I close my eyes and sit into stillness, asking to know and feel the truth of this situation. Immediately, I feel relief. All is well and good.
Later, I’m sitting on a blanket in a crowded park. Out of nowhere, the cutest little 3-year-old girl walks up to me. Very matter of fact and with absolute clarity, she hands me a feather: ‘This is for you’.
Wide eyed and stunned, I watch this little Queen strut on.
Staring at the feather, once again I’m lifted. The innocence of this little being, a vehicle of the Divine. Love overcomes fear.
Joseph Beattie
What is kindness? I think kindness is giving without counting the cost. A few years ago, I was working in Dublin city centre and was walking down Wicklow street. I passed a young Dublin guy sitting on the ground begging with a coffee cup in his hand looking for change, he looked like an able bodied person so I stopped and asked him why he didn’t have a job instead of begging. He told me he was homeless and couldn’t get a job because he didn’t have an address. I felt sad that this young Irish lad was in the situation his was in. I impulsively went back down Wicklow street and went into a music shop that sold instruments. I bought a tin whistle with an Irish song book on how to play the tin whistle. I walked back down to the guy and gave him the instrument, he looked at me confused and I told him that people would appreciate him busking more than begging and he would likely make more change in his cup while all he had to do was learn the first song in the attached music book which was The Fields of Athenry. He was still a bit confused looking as I went on my way. As I was going back up Wicklow Street after getting my coffee, I could see him trying to play the tin whistle. It made my day.. he was there again the next day playing and people were putting coins in his cup for being a troubadour (busker) and not begging. I met the guy a few years later and he told me he had a flat and now plays with a trad music band. There were tears in my eyes. KINDNESS can change a life.
The Power of Kindness
Each story reminds us that the effects of kindness travel far beyond what we can perceive, planting seeds of hope, joy, or inspiration that may sprout in ways we never expected.
Kindness IS the new currency. Pay it forward. And watch the people and places around you transform.
Subscribe to Positive Life Magazine
Love stories like this? You’ll find Spirituality in the City and more uplifting features in every issue of Positive Life Magazine.
Subscribe now to receive inspiration, community stories, and conscious living insights delivered straight to your door!
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