From the beginning particles of creativity, determination along with pigheadedness, stubbornness and a sense of humour are a few of the bits that formed the beginning and inner part of the mould. These were possibly passed down from my Irish and Scottish forbears. After I was born my parents between them carefully took the shape and continued working on it, adding honesty, respect, punctuality and discipline and then polished the mould with love and compassion.
My maternal grandmother also had a hand in the shaping by adding humility, understanding and awareness and instilled a tiny touch of fear. As I grew and ventured off to school the nuns, my teachers, took the mould in hand and added more knowledge and discipline and of course the love and fear of God. One nun in particular found hidden below the surface, particles of dance, art and writing and nurtured them until they became visible and ready to be polished. I will be forever grateful to her for her firmness, encouragement and valuable help in all manner of things.
Eventually I made my way out into the wider world and the shape of me began to change slightly as chips and cracks appeared in the surface. These were caused by frustration, doubt and lack of confidence.
But fortunately as the years rolled by things changed. With new experiences and influences by the diverse people and situations I have come into contact with along life’s rocky road, cracks and chips have been repaired. Filled with pieces of support and encouragement, then sanded down with confidence and finally polished with fresh knowledge.
Although the shape of me may have altered slightly and will possibly go on changing in a small way, the basic mould or shape is there, as solid and secure as it was always meant to be from the beginning.
Betty Milligan,
May 2018
My maternal grandmother also had a hand in the shaping by adding humility, understanding and awareness and instilled a tiny touch of fear. As I grew and ventured off to school the nuns, my teachers, took the mould in hand and added more knowledge and discipline and of course the love and fear of God. One nun in particular found hidden below the surface, particles of dance, art and writing and nurtured them until they became visible and ready to be polished. I will be forever grateful to her for her firmness, encouragement and valuable help in all manner of things.
Eventually I made my way out into the wider world and the shape of me began to change slightly as chips and cracks appeared in the surface. These were caused by frustration, doubt and lack of confidence.
But fortunately as the years rolled by things changed. With new experiences and influences by the diverse people and situations I have come into contact with along life’s rocky road, cracks and chips have been repaired. Filled with pieces of support and encouragement, then sanded down with confidence and finally polished with fresh knowledge.
Although the shape of me may have altered slightly and will possibly go on changing in a small way, the basic mould or shape is there, as solid and secure as it was always meant to be from the beginning.
Betty Milligan,
May 2018
