Dearest July....Welcome to the party :)

On holidays with some of my favourite people in my favourite place - Ireland :)

July 2025

“Oh my, my, my, my July” as the Irish singer Mundy once famously sang (Here’s the link to that very song: July by Mundy & Sharon Shannon)…..July you are a beauty!!! With only four letters in your name, you offer so much hope and happiness and let’s not forget the most important “H”word – HOLIDAYS.

‘Tis the season to be happy and to feel a little more free of structure and to allow ourselves to eat ice cream for breakfast, dinner and tea. Do not feel guilty about having fun and going with all the flows that July offers. July is a bit like a river, you need to jump on that Lilo, flat on your back and just go wherever the water takes you.

Life is a rollercoaster and even though we often mislead ourselves to believe that if we are not working long hours and full days, we do not deserve fun and it is here I dismiss this myth. If anything, I think it should be a lot less work and a lot more fun. Life is fragile and we are all just given a limited time on this earth, so eat that ice cream, hug that friend and smile and laugh as much as possible. Oh and not forgetting, take lots of breaks to lie down & look up.

Just as a reminder July 7^th is World Chocolate Day. I never knew that myself so it’s a win for us all. A must-celebratory day – encourage all you meet to enjoy a sweet treat and with that treat, remind yourself how lucky we are to be alive and well and able to enjoy it! So many people are sick or poorly in hospital as we share these words together. People who are going through cancer treatment at this time, most likely have lost all sense of taste and chocolate or the sweet things no longer mean anything to them. Also let’s think and pray for people who suffer from Dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease who too no longer can enjoy the small pleasures of life as families watch on each day losing their loved ones minute by minute. The small things really are the big things and each day you have your health is a truly beautiful day.

The 18^th of July celebrates the wonderful human that was Nelson Mandela and rightfully so — an incredible person who really did leave an impact on us all. Let’s be more gracious and kind and carry strength and humility like Nelson as we travel through July.

World Chess Day is on the 20^th – Checkmate! ;) And also on this date, let’s also celebrate way back in 1969, this was the indeed day that Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong walked on the moon!

July is quite the beautiful month. I feel if July was a friend, it would be a person of solid character. Someone who knows who they are and who never wobbles in situations. July is the kind of friend who always shows up, is always there and arrives just as they are. My favourite kind of friend actually, and a very likeable month. When I think of July, I think of sandy beaches, blue skies, kites flying high with butterflies landing on beautiful flowers across the gardens of the world while we all lean back and look up. Thank God for you, Summer. You are what we have been waiting for and you arrive just at the right time in the right way! July is a reminder to be yourself and you will loved by being just that!

Be kind. Be love. Be peace. Be acceptance. Be faith. Be hope. Be friendship. BE YOU!

Keep looking up my dear human,

Love always,

Lou x

A Phrase To Focus On: I see the moon and the moon sees me. God bless the moon and God bless me. Thank you Martelle Gormley x

Tip for July: If you are stuck in a queue somewhere or there is heavy traffic on your journey, remind yourself that when God made time, and he made loads of it. Also maybe there is a reason you are being slowed down. Maybe there is a car accident about to take place further down the road and your delay is actually keeping you safe. We never know the bigger picture in our small picture.(Ps. I’ve included a little video clip down below of me stuck in some very heavy Irish traffic recently to give you a smile today :)

Song to Listen to: She Moved Through the Fair or Mna na hÉireann (Women of Ireland) both by Sinéad O’Connor – Thank you to Ger Brett & Chris Kane for your recommendations.

Joyful ideas for this month:

• Eat ice-cream - You know me not to be backwards about going forwards ;) So here is the proof of me enjoying an 99 Icecream cone….quite the Irish delicacy might I add haha :) Us Irish love our 99 cones….this one was nearly as big as my head as you can see haha :)

  

• Hug a friend

• Take a photo of you eating ice-cream and hugging a friend…This can be quite the fun task.

• Enjoy your life – it’s yours and now is the only time that matters!

• Look at your hands in detail. Notice your palms, your fingers, your fingertips, the sense of touch that you have and the flexibility and movement that comes with good health. This is something we often take for granted. Think of all the ways your hands take care of you and others all day long and then all night long, too. Thank your hands for being healthy and helpful.

  

Hope you enjoyed this letter about the beautiful month of July. These words have been taken from the calendar I produced for 2025 and hundreds of them now hang in so many of your homes not only in Ireland but all around the world.

Are you enjoying reading the calendar and I hope my words are helping you enjoy each month of the year and a reminder that you are never alone. I am here with you travelling along this road called life :)

Just putting a little quiz/poll down below as I start to think about whether I will make another calendar for 2026 when this year comes to a close. I’m just wondering if you bought one this year, would you buy another one from me if I designed and produced another ‘Keep Looking Up’ Calendar and if you didn't buy one last year, might you be temped to buy one if I did make one for 2026? I’d be so grateful for your reply in this poll as it would be very helpful. They are quite expensive to produce and print so demand would dictate me producing them again…Since I am an solo-entrepreneur and self employed and with that comes the pressure of financing them up front (never really knowing how many to order) your input is really vital to me at this point as I consider printing one for 2026. It just would be so helpful if I knew you enjoyed the calendar and would consider buying one for 2026? Also this question to you - would you be willing to pre order your calendar a month or two in advance so then I would have an idea of how many to print this time around aswell? Your input and support is always so important to me and I am very very grateful.

Thanks so much for reading my words and for giving me your time in visiting my writing home here. I am so grateful to you always.

Lots of love and keep looking up,

Lou X

Here’s the poll:

Thanks a million and I hope your July is as magical as YOU xx