Skip to main content

Beyond the Post-it Notes

In this episode, Beyond the Post-it Notes: Finding the Anam Cara . . . 

Last week, when I arrived at Dr. Don’s home to help him with computer issues and our biweekly lunch, I found myself reflecting on the wide range of topics we always discuss. We connect as if we’ve been friends for years, even though he’s 92 and I’m 68. It’s funny—during our conversations, age seems to disappear.

As we reviewed his list of computer questions on his Post-it notes, he surprised me by handing me a book. "Here, I want you to have this book," he said, his expression resembling that of someone offering something precious or secret.

Later that day, I found myself engrossed in its pages. The book is "Anam Cara" by John O'Donohue. For weeks, I had noticed it on his desk and felt curious, yet I had no idea what I would discover inside.

Right from the very first chapter, "The Mystery of Friendship," this book beautifully captures a feeling I experienced in that moment with Dr. Don—a profound connection that seems to transcend both logic and time. O'Donohue introduces the lovely old Gaelic term "Anam Cara," which means "soul friend."

O'Donohue discusses a type of friendship that transcends everyday pleasantries and shared activities. It is a bond where you can truly be seen, allowing the masks we often wear in the world to fall away. It involves recognizing the light and the landscape of another person's soul and permitting them to reveal theirs.

Reading this, I thought, “This clearly describes many of my closest friends.” There’s a comfort, openness, and willingness to share thoughts and feelings that feels ancient and easy. This mystery O'Donohue describes—how two souls can recognize each other and connect on a level that transcends the usual boundaries.

The book suggests that finding an anam cara is like finding a spiritual companion who awakens your life and helps you see the "wild possibilities" within yourself.

It got me thinking: “Do we truly appreciate the depth of our connections?” Are we brave enough to let ourselves be seen, and to truly see others? What magical ingredient makes one connection feel so much more profound than others?

Anam Cara delves so much deeper into these ideas, exploring how this soul-level connection impacts friendship and how we relate to ourselves, love, and the world around us. Just thinking about it reminds me of the incredible, sometimes unexpected, gifts life (and generous friends!) can offer.

This idea of a soul friend, an anam cara, feels like a gentle invitation to examine our relationships with new eyes and cherish those rare and beautiful bonds where our souls feel at home.

If this sparks something in you, Anam Cara may be a book calling to you, too!

I'm Patrick Ball. Stay curious and ask questions. See you in the next episode.

Labels:

Comments

Anonymous said…
That's Patrick.. Dr Don is truly a gift to humanity.. I am so glad you two have forged this deep bond
April 26, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Don Hanley said…



A wonderful and invitational book 'report', Patrick. And I very much appreciate the sentiments and connection.
April 26, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Post a Comment

Most Popular of All Time

A Mother’s Day Reflection

With Mother’s Day here and the world bustling with cards, brunches, and busy schedules, I find myself reflecting on something a bit simpler: taking a moment to remember the person who helped shape my earliest sense of home. Mauricette Elaine (Bontemps) Ball. My Mom. We arrived in Cuba after leaving La Rochelle, France, in 1959—a transition whose enormity I only fully appreciate now. My mother, barely in her mid-twenties, stepped into Midwestern life with remarkable courage. Her smile could warm the coldest Illinois morning, and her hugs lingered long after she let go—quiet reminders that you were deeply loved. Born February 16, 1934, the third of four children, she grew up in Nazi-occupied La Rochelle. As kids, we listened wide-eyed to stories of soldiers patrolling her streets and fear shadowing everyday life. Yet she carried none of that darkness forward. What endured was resilience and an unwavering devotion to family—qualities she carried across the Atlantic and planted firmly in C...
1 comment
Read more

Freedom 7 - 65th Anniversary

Podcast - Freedom 7; 65th Anniversary . "Man must rise above the Earth - to the top of the atmosphere and beyond - for only thus will he fully understand the world in which he lives." - Socrates, 500 B.C. May 5, 2026, marks the 65th anniversary of Freedom 7's launch. Commander Alan B. Shepard, Jr. became the first American in space. A 15-minute sub-orbital flight, a day for the history books; the entire world was watching. NASA and the world had witnessed many trial runs explode violently on the launch pad. The space program was in its infancy. Unlike today, there were far too many unknowns. This prompted me to pull out one of my favorite books from my office library,  Light This Candle , by Neal Thompson, copyright 2004. Light This Candle is a biography of Alan Shepard, Jr., you won't be able to put down. It's - "Story-telling at its best . . . every page is alive," says David Hartman, U.S Naval Institute. In the opening pages, you read endorsements fr...
Post a Comment
Read more

That Fateful Four-Letter Word

In this episode, A Masterclass in Efficiency. For nearly four months, the western border of our property has stood as a living monument to determination, dubious planning, and forensic-level lumber acquisition. Since February, our neighbor Steve has been conducting what can only be described as a masterclass in deliberate calculation. This was never going to be one of those slick home-improvement shows where a cheerful pair of men installs a fence between commercial breaks, sipping lemonade. No. This was real life in retirement. We scaled the vertical wilderness of our hillside. We mixed concrete with the precision of medieval alchemists. We bled, we sweated, and we fought hand-to-hand with a buried tree stump that had the structural integrity of a Cold War bunker. By this week—May 16th, for those keeping score—the glorious end was finally within reach. The fence stood proudly, the line was straight, and victory practically hummed in the air. Only one major task remained: installing t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Truth for Sale

This episode is inspired  by Elton John & Bernie Taupin On Memorial Day, I took my first bike ride  since the accident , seeking proof that my legs, lungs, and nerves still remembered the road. The morning air carried that familiar Southern California mix of ocean haze, exhaust, eucalyptus, and sun-baked asphalt. My tires hummed across pavement I’ve ridden for years. Somewhere between the steady click of the chain and the rhythm of my breathing, Elton John and Bernie Taupin’s The Captain and the Kid found its way into my ears. There’s a strange kind of magic when the cadence of a ride syncs perfectly with a song you know by heart. Suddenly, the music and lyrics stop being background noise and become a lens. And through that lens, the road started talking. I've been cycling on this road some, Can't help feeling I've been showing my friends around. I've seen it grow from next to nothing, To a giant eatin’ up our town. Called up the tealeaves and the tarots, Asked the...
Post a Comment
Read more