Not in the sense that I could see she was not perfect but because she wasn’t perfect! So many times on television you see the “perfect” celebrity who makes you feel inadequate somehow…she was imperfect and that is why I related to her.

I also learned a few things which I still try to do to this day

• She made time for people.
• She didn’t judge people she met in her capacity as a royal. Anyone who came to meet her got the same level of attention.
• She always bent down to speak to people at eye level – children, disabled, bed ridden – as a way of connecting.
• She touched people. Who can not forget her shaking the hands of the Aids victims when the world was treating them like lepers?
• She put her family first…..

Each year I remember her passing and think about whether I am continuing her legacy of compassion. Each year I think, Ok sometimes but as always we need to try harder….

Post from: Widows Quest

This week Prince William became the Royal Patron of the Childrens Bereavement Charity and spoke about his grief as a child. I particularly connected to two things that he said.

1) Initially, there is a sense of profound shock and disbelief that this could ever happen to you. Real grief often does not hit home until much later.

2) The theme is “Silence”. The silence that death leaves. The silence of death’s taboo. The silence of listening.

Both of these were true for me. I don’t even think that even now the grief has truly come out – mainly because I don’t allow it. I was always taught the upper lip way and I think that is still within me. I wish that the grief would come out – and this blog is part of the process – but added to the idea of silence that is how I know it is still there.

Image: sxc.hu

Post from: Widows Quest

I came across a site which shows the lyrics of songs for grief and loss  – is your favourite on there? I saw Candle in the Wind and that reminded me of how Elton John re wrote the words for Princess Diana’s funeral – I don’t know anyone who didn’t cry at those lyrics.

If you have written lyrics or words I would love to hear about them – you can email me at anna@b5media.com

{photo from iStockphoto}

Post from: Widows Quest

Diana will always be for me

• A beacon of hope, a beacon for the underprivileged people.
• A beacon of empathy….in a world that seems never to have enough time, she always did. She brought to the fore the need for all of us to be charitable, for all of us to think of others.
• A beacon of beauty…. but in a natural way. Her smile could light any room.
• A beacon of motherhood. Her love for her boys was there to see, loving in public and being a proud mother became “cool” in a world where people have less time for their children.
• A beacon for human frailty. Diana was not perfect, but somehow her imperfection just showed us the wonder of humanness.

Diana’s legacy will live on, both in words and through her sons. She helped the world see that we all need to be more loving and human. Her spirit will live on each time we take the time to help others…..

Post from: Widows Quest

“A French firefighter who could hold vital clues suggesting Princess Diana’s death was not an accident has come forward to give evidence at an inquest into how she died.

Christophe Pelat claims to have evidence about the death of a paparazzi photographer James Andanson who was believed to have been driving the mystery car that collided with Diana’s Mercedes before it crashed in a Paris tunnel in 1997.

Three years after the crash, Andanson’s body was found in a burnt-out BMW in the French countryside.

Pelat claims he found Andanson’s charred body and insists the photographer was shot in the head.

“He had a hole in his skull, as if he had been shot with a gun,” Pelat told the Daily Express newspaper”

When I read news like this my heart goes out to Prince William and Harry who continue to grieve for their mother. I cannot imagine what it must be like to be constantly reminded of your mother’s death – and yet I hope they are proud that 10 years on people still care about her, are still engaged with her personality.

What do they say a star never dies….

Post from: Widows Quest

Now I have to say I grew up at the time of the Dianamania and I was – and still am – a huge fan. Watching the concert I am thinking

1. What a wonderful celebration, memorial of a life.
2. What character to hold the concert on a day that would have been their mum’s 46th birthday and allow the world into their feelings.
3. How the world misses a woman that had so much compassion, love for the underdog and ability to connect people across the world.
4. Watching the clips how much I miss her – I know I didn’t know her but somehow we all felt we knew her.
5. That celebrating a loved one’s life is so uplifting

The world was a better place for her, it is a better place for having had her smile light it up our lives

Post from: Widows Quest