Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always been creative.
I used to love drawing, painting, and colouring. I used to love music. I used to love writing. When I was a bit older, I loved video making. Everything creative, I was all over it.
But that creativity was always met with an opposing force. At school, I was told by my teachers not to pursue art – because I would never be good enough. At home, I was bought these little junior instruments – but never given the support to learn to play them. I was laughed at when I would sing – because obviously, I’d be horrifically out of tune.
When I grew up a bit, I decided I wanted to be a YouTuber – like almost all boys my age at that time, really. This is yet another thing that I wanted to do, but was immediately discouraged from.
Through all of this, there was one person that never, ever put me down. That always encouraged me to reach for the stars, chase my dreams, and do whatever the hell I want.
That person is my Uncle, and today is his birthday.
In many ways he shared my love for all things quirky and creative. When he visited, we would sit and show each other stupid videos and giggle. When I was in the hospital after an operation, he brought me silly little gifts. Things that only he really knew about and understood.
Despite the pushback against making videos, he thought it was a great idea. And when I was miserable at my job a couple of years ago, it was him that pushed me to make this website. He wanted to make sure that no matter what happened in my life, I never lose that creative edge. I never lose that ambition to do something more than work in a warehouse, driving a forklift and selling wall sockets. To this day, this website and making silly little videos are my only real creative outlets.
He passed away last year, after what was, thankfully, a relatively short battle with cancer.
As much as I’d have loved more time with him, I’ve watched people suffer before. I’ve watched people slowly decline until they have no will left. In the grand scheme of things, I’m glad that his battle didn’t stretch on that long.
As I’ve said before on here, his passing came right in the middle of a really tough period in my life. I wasn’t actually able to attend his funeral in person because of my own health, and that’s something that haunts me a bit. It all happened so quickly, and came at such a horrible time. Of course, not that there’s ever a good time.
But still, I know for a fact that he’d of understood. After all, he is one of the kindest and most understanding people I’ve ever known.
I remember at school one day, many years ago, our “learning objective” was to write about a personal hero. I chose my Uncle. He always suffered from a myriad of health issues, but despite that, and despite bad things happening all around him, he always found the strength to be positive and lift up others in his life.
I wanted to write this today. In part to honour him, and in part to remind anyone reading to never, ever give up on your dreams. Always be creative and nurture that creativity, because that’s where the real joy is in life. If we aren’t silly and whimsical and creative, then what are we really?
So, to my Uncle:
I miss you greatly, and I still think about you all the time. I’m still writing and I’m still being creative, just like you told me to. I’ve upgraded my website and I’ve kept pushing on with my videos, too. I’m sorry that you never got to see it all, especially the things you helped me to set up.
I love you so very much, and I hope that wherever you are today, you are resting peacefully and happily. Happy Birthday.
And to the rest of you, I’d like to leave you with this image. This is an image that he sent me 6 years ago today, on his birthday. We were discussing COVID, and lockdown, and how it was affecting me at the time. I think it’s quite apt, and it sums things up perfectly, really. So, from me, and from my Uncle, too:
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