Finding my Voice
How an ending became a beginning; a tribute to my Grandma.
Many times, I’ve been told my voice is soothing, calming, and clear. After creating this word cloud from feedback, many layers seemed to appear!
Hint: the biggest words are the most common descriptions of my voice.
Why now?
I actually always wanted to be a narrator but, at 18yrs old having left home early, I could never afford the equipment. So, I parked this dream for a rainy day. That never stopped me from actually doing it though… I’ve always loved to read aloud!
Reading aloud helps me learn new things. It helps me understand and give context to Shakespeare. I used to read aloud to my schoolmates whilst my teacher pottered around the classroom!
Later, I became a school play narrator over several years in a row. I read both children’s stories and adult books with character voices and ‘colour’ to suit the topic, the characters, the era, the mood and location.
I’ve even enjoyed recording chapters of a meditation book on a group chat which, according to my friends, helped them to fall asleep… Zzz…
Over the years, I’ve also read countless poems. This is something my kind, intelligent, supportive, beautiful, open minded and loving Grandma also loved to do – and she loved to share words with others – just like me (this is most likely where I get it from)!
My Grandma passed away in August 2021.
We were heart broken.
One poignant piece of advice she gave me stayed with me though…
Grandma had always wanted to become a rambler when she retired; the walking kind, not the talking kind – we’re a family of ramblers in that department! Sadly, Grandma began to suffer with what was later diagnosed as an autoimmune disease called rheumatoid arthritis, before she could ever enjoy being part of a rambler’s club.
This meant she was never able to physically extend herself without ending up in agony. This was a huge contrast to the previously active woman she once was, who loved gardening, played tennis in Africa, took care of 3 daughters – and helped manage the daily running of a post office!
Grandma advised me to ‘never delay’ in doing what I wanted to do and, because she had waited and inadvertently missed out, she didn’t want me to do the same. As it turns out, this valuable lesson finally enabled me to pursue my true calling.
Writing and reading a eulogy poem for my Grandma, helped me to reflect on everything she’d ever taught me.
This is where an ending became a beginning
So here I am, in tribute to my fabulous and wonderful Grandma, doing what I want to do now, not wasting one more precious minute of this incredible journey through life
– to shine some love the way she did –
and to share the same advice with others.
