My Inspiration #internationalwomensday

This is a picture of my wonderful Nan taken 8 years ago shortly before she died. I love this picture because it represents everything my Nan taught me: Imagination, comfort, resilience, creativity and a can-do attitude. On the face of it, it looks like an elderly lady reading a book - but the subtext is very different. During this time my Nan was slowly deteriorating and her emphysema made her weak and unable to hold conversations for too long, even doing something she loved like reading a book had become difficult - but I love that in this picture I managed to capture a glimpse of happiness.

Growing up my Nan was my inspiration. She sang with me, we danced together, she taught me about nature and to love flowers and beautiful gardens. She took me outside a lot and when it was raining she helped me build a den so we could sit out in the rain and listen to it whilst it pattered on the makeshift rooftop. She laughed with me, she comforted me and she taught me that 'there is no such word as can't'. I hear her beautiful Irish voice still whenever I feel like things are too difficult or I want to give up. When things seem impossible I remember how brave she was and how she never let me give up - even when I cried with frustration.

One important lesson my nan taught me was how books and stories could change the way you feel and that reading could make you smarter, wiser, more creative and knowledgeable. She read to me from an early age. I can still remember 'The little red hen' a story I had my nan read over and over again. The story was about a little red hen who asked different farmyard animals to help make some bread at each stage of the bread making process. As everyone refused to help - at the end of the story the hen kept and ate the bread herself. Thinking back I think it was the sense of justice that made me love that story - no one believed in the hen, no one thought she could do it and no one wanted to help her, but with hard work she made it all by herself. This is so true for many women today and my Nan always reminded me that hard work will pay off.

She wasn't perfect, but the memory of my nan is perfect to me and I strive every day to be the woman she knew I could be and more importantly teach my child to love reading, play in the rain and most importantly - There is no such word as 'can't'

Miss you every day

#internationalwomensday