Answering your Phone to the Unknown....
And what good can come from it!
As I was just about to start to write this substack I received a call from a Dublin number I didn’t recognise. In the world that we now live, often unknown numbers are a thing a lot of us avoid but in recent months I’ve decided I was going to rebel and start answering the unknown…Not only did I like the idea of dealing with a phone call on the spot (I prefer to deal with life as it arrives in the moment) but I also was testing the idea of the old fashioned way of answering the unknown caller for the unknown reason.
We now live in a world where we can control so many aspects of our life. From when we want to travel to when we want to eat, to when we want to switch on the light to take away the darkness in our homes to when we want to meet with a friend to when we want to speak to another human. Our world is amazing and has so many delightful reasons in which it has developed and progressed but there are parts I remain unsure of….Like maybe us being able to control our space and time so well is not always such a good thing. Let’s just say for me, the jury is out. And why I say that is when there was that time of scammers ringing all our phones, remember that time… How could we forget all those random robots ringing our landlines and mobiles and trying to suck us in to give them credit card details. I’m happy to report that seems to have completely quietened off now and please god those scammers never come back to life because they were a real head wreck weren’t they? I guess you are wondering to yourself, where is Louise going with this line of thinking. Well I’m crossing a few thoughts really. I’m thinking of hard it is to a be a cold calling sales person in 2022. Also I’m thinking of how when I was young, the landline ringing was such a joy. We were all so excited by it and hoped, wished and wanted the call to be us. The famous line ‘is it for me'?’ and ‘I’m getting it’ still echoed in my memory and oh what a lovely memory that is….and then to find out it was someone ringing for our mammies and daddy’s intention not our best friend from school..who even though we only left them a number of hours ago at the gate, we missed and we wanted to hear their voice….I guess the reason I’m thinking of this is the pure innocent joy we got from the phone ringing and hoping it was for us……And looking at today’s world where for most of us, we often can be overwhelmed with the phone ringing. We now live in a world where we are potentially too contactable (if there is such a thing) as in there are so many ways to ‘get us’….There’s phonecall’s and voice mails and text messages, what’s app bings, voicer notes, messenger, comments, emails and the list goes on and on and on. In ways we might just have went overboard just a tad on that end and into the extreme maybe and therefore we can feel slightly overwhelmed with the old reach out from so many in so many ways. I can totally understand that. But in thinking about that idea, I was also drawn to my phone ringing with this unknown number on it and how I had decided quite awhile ago to see could I change my mind around about the phone ringing. Could my mindset be unset so to speak. So now when my phone rings unless I am in company, I answer my phone as best I can. Now I want to emphasise that I ‘TRY” my best. I might not always achieve it but I try. Today was one of those days I achieved that goal. The phone rang- my phone in this instance! I didn’t recognise the number and I answered it. A total rebellious act of 2022. Imagine something so small had now become so big. And of course I’m now going to tell you why this small act led to something bigger. I picked up my phone, answering with a ‘Hello.’ in which the callers voice, somewhat low, stated ‘Is that Louise Coghlan’. ‘Yep it is indeed me. Thinking to myself, well… I’m either after winning the lotto or I’m in trouble here. There is no middle ground when answering the unknown right?……So as the lady’s voice started to strengthen in tone (probably in the joy that I had answered her call to start with)… she followed with the infamous line of ‘Have you got a minute to talk?’ …..doooo duh doooooo…….I was on my writers hour at the time but I decided to say ‘Yes I have a few minutes as I’m on a zoom but I can definitely hear you out.’ Instantly I could hear happiness inside this lady’s voice.
Now the big question was, what had I let myself in for? I had taken the risk and answered the unknown, now where was it going to bring me? Well this is why I’m sharing this story…See you never know what good can come out a spontaneous act of opening a door…or in this case, just answering the phone…..The call went a bit like this…
“My name is Carol and I’m ringing on behalf of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service. You are on our database here as having giving blood quite a few times but not so recent and I was just wondering might you be interested in donating your blood. Stocks are at all time low at the minute and we could really do with your help Louise.”
And it was as easy as that…A lady picking my number off her database and ringing it…the hardest part of this process is to get us humans to answer….but this was indeed a reminder to me that my new little habit of trying my best to answer the unknown callers was worth it…Just for this call alone it was really worth it. I explained to lovely Carol that I was terribly sorry that I hadn’t went back to giving blood in so long. I explained in cocooning with Gran that I had completely gone off their radar in that I had went nowhere during covid & I had intended to return recently but it honestly just had got pushed down the line. Carol, the very much joyous voice on the phone at this stage explained to me, that it was completely understandable and that she was so happy that I might consider returning. In which I said ‘Yes book me in as soon as there is an appointment & I will be there.’ So in that sentence, we sorted a time for Monday for me to donate my blood to those who really need it. She went on to explain that I have one of the rarest blood types there is & that less than 7 per cent of the population have it & that they would be over the moon if I was to donate again. I’m O negative and I realise now that my blood type is rare and hugely beneficial to those who end up in an emergency room or in need of it during surgery, because any donor can receive it. It’s a blood type that can save anyone’s life and isn’t that special? Why would I keep something so magical inside me when I can share it…and maybe just maybe save someone’s daughter, son, mother, father, husband, wife, grandparent or best friend? I had never realised this before about my blood type even in all the years I had donated it. But today this phone call from a random strange unknown number from a very kind lady named Carol had awoken me to the very special superpower I had within me. O negative blood can of course be used on anyone who falls into an emergency case as they don’t need to check what type blood they have, they can just transfuse my blood straight in without worry of doing damage but instead can save their life.
I was so happy that I answered that call today and come Monday evening I will be back on track donating my blood to those who need it. I would love if you might consider if you are well and healthy donating your blood to the transfusion services of your area/country. It definitely is not something you will ever regret and as I like to do, I just think if ever I end up in hospital in need of a blood transfusion someone somewhere made the same decision as me to try help someone else. In this world, we are here to help each other & what an easy move to make in donating what we already have too much of. Sharing is indeed caring….And don’t forget answering that phone is not always a bad thing x
Also before I close this weeks letter I just want to update you on a few little bits of news on Granny Nancy’s book:
I have a special Black Friday offer in place for the next 24 hours as well as next Friday too. I’m running this offer for two Friday’s in a row for all orders received for Ireland and the UK. The book is available to order online from www.livingandlaughingwithlou.com
#perfectchristmaspressie
**This offer is in place for a limited number who order the book.
Also there is great excitement building as I’ve just announced the second part of ‘The Granny Nancy Book Tour’….Since the launch I’ve been having the time of my life out and about on the tour….and just today I’ve confirmed the dates for the next two weeks…more will be added right up to Christmas week and potentially more alongside the dates that are already in place. A huge thanks to all my Facebook family who have been unreal in all the help they have given me to make this happen and so many other people who are just amazing in their support. A big shout out to Martina Jones, Eileen McGovern, Pauline Corrigan, Eimear O’Connor, Rosaleen Foster, Breda Rogan and a special mention to my mam Olive for being the legend she is! Also I’d like to mention Melissa Weidmann & Patricia Lane for a very special zoom meeting I had with this amazing ladies this week - something very exciting is in the pipeline…..
Also I’d like to give a big shout out to one of my best friends
as she embarks on her Australian trip home from her other home of Canada....I'm so excited for you Lauren & even though Canada is going to miss you an awful lot, I know there are a lot of hearts waiting to be hugged in your homeland! To be loved in one country is a lot but to be loved in two continents could only be achieved by someone as special as you! Travel safe and I look forward to reading all about your adventures down under in your magical substack newsletter. I highly recommend if you are not subscribed to Lauren's newsletter yet, to jump on board that bus by clicking right here: You're a wonderfully talented writer Lauren & what can be said, you're an awfully deadly human being who I'm very lucky to know & have in my life xI’d like to also send my best wishes to my very good pal Linda & also Tracy x
Also I’d like to send a big congratulations to the wonderful writer
on the launch of the Furphy Anthology in which Marian's writing is included and is a highlighted recommendation by all who know her! You are a gifted writer Marian & I look forward to seeing your best seller novel rise to the top when you let that baby out to the world next year hopefully!Okeydokey I think that’s all for this week folks,
I hope life is being good to you and you have a wonderful weekend whatever you get up to. No matter what keep going, day by day, step by step! Keep being YOU! Keep looking up and I’m so proud of you!
Love and loads of it being sent your way,
Your biggest believer,
Lou x
Missed these letters so much, got to catch up on last week's. Had a bad couple of weeks, just lost interest in everything.
Talking about phones reminds me of a conversation I had with mum recently. I said sometimes I wish mobile phones weren't a thing. It's all to easy to send a text to somebody instead of actually picking up the phone and talking. How times have changed.
Hi Louise, such a timely reminder to those of us willing and able to give blood, and for those of us unable to do so for whatever reason, maybe we can do something else nice for somebody this weekend. I am loving the book Louise, a friend picked one up for me recently. Well done on all your success to date, you are amazing and give me a boost to keep going when I read your posts. I am really looking forward to catching up with you at a venue soon. Much love and kind regards for now. Martina.