Life’s Achievement — Just clearing the mind

Jamie Ridealgh
Sep 2, 2018 · 2 min read
My dad, a keen Snooker player.

As I approach 42 years of life, I prepare for reaching a life achievement that has been on my mind since the passing of my father when I was a teenager. My father unfortunately passed away at 41 years of age caused by a combination of some risky health behaviours and other circumstances, which have never been clear to me really. To outlive or reach an age greater than my father was borne out of the adversities I faced and challenging relationship I had with my father in my adolescent years. A sad target one might think but I am seeing it almost, as a rite of passage in order to forgive and let go of some of the bad experiences I had, which continue to affect me in everyday life today as an adult.

I was always told that my mother left me when I was 18 months old. I was initially raised by my grandmother who was exceptional in teaching me good moral principles and values and so, I didn’t feel that I missed out on much in my early childhood, although some aspects of poverty were apparent on reflection. However, I now realise that I missed out on one of the greatest components in life and that is the love from a mother or a father and preferably both or arguably in contemporary view, two mothers or two fathers. The key aspect is love.

I have lacked confidence at times, had too much confidence at other times and faced further adversities growing up. With a stronger understanding and greater self-awareness, I feel ready to forgive a man who was supposed to be a father to me…I can see that his absence has still contributed to making me who I am and I am thankful to be here.

I have had what I would consider, a variety of success and failure in life but underpinned with a constant turbulence through opportunistic experiences. I am excited and looking forward to my 42nd birthday so that I can truly forgive, let go and finally stand with confidence in my own skin to be the person I want to be…A great father, husband, leader, follower, teacher, student and above all, a person who can give love to humanity.

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