Good things exist.

It doesn't seem like a great time, in the world or in my life. It's hard to tell which is influencing which more - do I feel more despondent about the state of my life partially because the state of the world seems unendingly and increasingly horrible, or are my personal concerns colouring how I see geopolitical goings on? Maybe it doesn't matter, the personal and the political are intertwined for me in such ways. It does appear that both are objectively not great - given external and commonly acknowledged milestones, right now neither my individual trajectory nor humanity's journey seem to be reaching exciting new heights or even traversing pleasant valleys, instead struggling through deserts and dangerously near cliff edges. While the Amazon burns.

But onwards we walk, and good things are crafted and built and created. Good things exist. And celebrating this goodness I can do. Here are some good things from the last month.

There is space Lego now. Inspired by real spaceships humanity has sent to space.

Someone has bothered to plant a biodiversity garden at the train station in Farranfore, Co. Kerry.

There is good street art by Dan Leo in Killorglin, Co. Kerry.

And some by Solus, which is even optimistic.

And Ireland is just so beautiful. Like here, on a beach in Co. Kerry.

So very, very beautiful. Like here, walking on the Sheep's Head Way, in Co. Cork.

So beautiful. Even in the rain. Even on the road. On the Caha Pass, travelling from Kerry into Cork.

So much great vegetarian food. At Organico cafe, Bantry, Co. Cork.

And incredible vegan food. At Veginity, Dublin.

And local, handmade cheese. Like these, all from Cork.

So many wonderful places where I've swum. Like here at sunset on the Sheep's Head peninsula, Co. Cork.

And here at sunset at Seapoint, in Dublin.

And people making art, and making a point. Like this great piece by ADW, in Dublin.

Good things exist. People keep trying to make things beautiful and better. Onwards we go.