A Few Words of Kindness
I
was recently asked, ‘What are some of your greatest moments so far?’ On
reflection I realised there have been many. I graduated with a first-class
honours degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from University of
Hertfordshire. I was awarded the ‘Matthew Hunt Award 2017’ by the Dyspraxia
Foundation; won ‘Radio Presenter of the Year 2017’ at the Trident Media Awards;
have appeared on Radio Verulam and BBC Three Counties Radio; have been
published in newspapers; travelled around Canada with my cousin; recently
passed my practical driving test first time in an automatic car; and of course,
spending time with you. In all of these occasions I am thankful to you. I know
I would not have achieved any of this without your kindness.
Kindness
probably started when I was born in the morning of Wednesday 17th
August 1994. Since I do not remember much of then, I would say it began when I
was nine years old. I sat on the sofa in the living room as an agonising pain
stabbed at my small intestine. I remember the sample pots; the charts which
likened poo to shapes of food; the misguided use of laxatives; and four years
of accusations I was ‘imagining’ the physical pain. I also recall my mum believing
the tears, screams and everlasting nights on the toilet. Her belief led me to
be diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at the age of thirteen in November 2007.
Since then, I know I can always rely on her. Thank you, Mum.
The
innocence of playing tin-pot rounders and attending chess club faded when I
joined secondary school. During these seven years I learnt the consequences of
having Inflammatory Bowel Disease; witnessed the health decline of my dad, who
was transferred into a nursing home and later developed sepsis, which nearly
killed him; and I was also bullied. In corridors I
was punched and kicked; belongings were broken and stolen; cups of pasta were
thrown on my shoulder; lisps were mimicked; and I recently recall someone
firing a small piece of carboard into my eye with an elastic band on the school
bus. It was not all gloom as a few amazing women in the learning support
department listened. They built up the confidence in my writing and also
myself. I am also thankful to a couple of close friends who defended me against
some of the bullies. Thank you both.
I
later decided to enrol at University of Hertfordshire to study English
Literature and Creative Writing. Like many of you, university was tough, mainly
due to flareups, panic attacks, deferments and it was also a time when I was
diagnosed with dyspraxia at the age of eighteen by an educational psychologist.
Nevertheless, it was also beautiful as I have fond memories including the
‘3…2…1’ ice-breaker challenges; playing lots of games of cards, including
poker; inviting guests to speak on my radio show; and laughing over tasty
burgers and sparkling lemonade at local bars.
The
proudest achievements would not have occurred without you. I would not have passed
my driving practical test without the humour and wisdom of my driving
instructor; not have achieved the ‘Matthew Hunt Award 2017’ without the
compassion of the Dyspraxia Foundation; not have spoken on the radio or written
in newspaper articles without the belief of presenters, producers and editors;
not have travelled around Canada without the courage of my cousin deciding to
study Sports Science a year abroad; and not spending precious seconds with you
without your empathy to ask if I am okay on the days where I would rather see
total darkness than play games of Articulate over a Chinese takeaway.
It
only takes a few words of kindness to save a life. Yours saved mine from
bullies, illness and even on occasion from myself.
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| It only takes a few words of kindness to save a life...Granville Island, Vancouver, Canada in 2016-2017 Copyright © 2016/2017- Jake Borrett and Rufus Lakin. All rights reserved. |
