FAMILY. THIS IS FOR YOU, GRANDAD.
Family.
Now there is a word to start my first post off for 2016.
It's the most important word there is after all.
It's what life is really all about.
A life to love, to experience, to adventure, yes; but at the end of the day it's who we let into our hearts that truly count. Whether the people surrounding us (physically and figuratively) are blood relatives or friends, to me they all come under the same word. Family.
My grandad taught me that. My amazing and incredible grandad who passed away in his home, surrounded by the love of his family on the 30th December 2015.
I've no words to describe my level of heartbreak, only that it is a small price to pay, however painful, for everything he gave me. He taught me how important life is, especially in his last year. He left us with a family bound by his love and our love for him. That was his gift to us, a gift that cannot be taken away.
I could write forever about my grandad, but what I want to do is instead show you a video. A glimpse into my grandad and his beautiful, simple legacy, family.
The video captures a weekend of all our family together celebrating my grandad's 80th birthday. A birthday we had been warned by doctors he might not make. He did, and we weren't surprised. My grandad wasn't going to give up this life easily. He was a fighter.
I'm so happy that my grandad, himself, got to see this video. His first response was, people need to see this. I don't think he was talking about yourselves in that moment, per say, but I knew what he meant. He was so proud of his family and everything he had achieved, I think that's what he wanted people to know. To gift people with the simple knowledge which is to love and cherish those dear to you. Do that, and you can't go wrong.
So this blog is for you, grandad. My most favourite reader of all. A man who read every post I ever wrote and would complain when I didn't update ;).
I love you more than words can say, and I will keep writing for you.
FAMILY from Claire Stewart on Vimeo.
