My dad, my hero, was taken from all of us on the 4th of Nov 2020 at 4pm.
I never left his side and somehow found the strength to make his transition as peaceful as possible by holding his hand, stroking his head and playing his favourite songs. When we turned to music off, to move him into another room, within a few minutes, he peacefully took his last breath.
It still seems so unreal, I wake up at night and expect him to be standing there waiting to have a whisky and I wake up every morning hoping that it was just a bad dream.
He loved us all unconditionally, I will miss him every day for the rest of my life.
I know he meant a lot to so many people across the globe, he has left a gaping hole and he will never be forgotten.
Many years ago, he gave me some advice, (dad loved to give advice) words that I have used every day since then. Many of you who have seen me present know the story behind this.
I wanted to share with you what these words mean to me now.
“Do the right thing by yourself and you will always do the right thing by others” – Jerry Jeraj
You must give back before you can take, be good to others, listen to understand, love yourself and hold yourself to the highest standards.
Your life energy reflects the energy you surround yourself with.
You must use your heart head and hand to understand the suffering of others. Your heart is to feel their pain and have compassion. Your head is to work out practical solutions and your hand is to deliver it without ever expecting anything in return.
Your efforts in anything that you do must be unrelenting. Only then will you truly find joy in the success.
You must work to lift those around you and always seek to be a better person. That is a never-ending journey.
No matter what life throws at you. Face it.
Leave behind a legacy that generations will connect with.
Live your life every single day with the zest and energy as if it were your last.