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We're All Teachers - In Memory Of My Dad.
14-01-2019
We are all 'teachers' and with every one of our actions, reactions and behaviours we are teaching those around us about how to operate in the world. We are often completely unaware of the impact (both positive and negative) that we are having on others, the beliefs and values we are instilling and leave behind us. What would you like to teach those you come into contact with - your children, family, friends and colleagues at work? Strength? Resilience? Self-worth? Self-belief? or Fear? Anxiety? Guilt? Low self-esteem and low self-worth?
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Today is the 14th January, the date may not be significant to many people but it was the date my Dad died, exactly 2 weeks before my 6th birthday - so a long time ago! My very last memory was looking up and waving to my Dad whilst he was standing at the hospital window - as children weren't allowed into hospital wards back then. There was no "bereavement counselling" for children, the closest to it was returning to school the next day and sitting on my teacher Mrs Coffee's lap, as she told my classmates what had happened. It sounds harsh nowadays but somehow we just got on with it as a family.
As I have grown up I realised that although my Dad died when I was very young he has continued to be my teacher throughout my whole life. He has taught me a huge amount! As a result of his death he has taught me to be: resilient, independent, resourceful and that happiness always follows sadness, the real meaning of love, never to give up, how to deal with life's 'curve balls and plot twists', that life is to be lived not feared, to learn as much as I can, to be fair in my treatment of others, to forgive...the list goes on and on.
When I was diagnosed with breast cancer (coincidentally at the same age as my Dad when he died) it was unknowingly that I turned to him for help to find a positive visualisation. One of my last, happy memories of being with my Dad was being curled up next to him on his bed in our lounge, with my sisters, watching the film "White Christmas" with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. Little did we know that exactly 3 weeks after Christmas he would be gone and that film come to have so much meaning and help me deal with my cancer - hence the title of my book. Dad was still teaching me about my own inner strength all these years later!
I hope that I've been a good pupil and have become, and will continue to strive to be, a good 'teacher' to those that I have ever had contact with. Thank you Dad. I miss you.
