Please tell me of your Nell's, anyone who inspired you ❤
I started working in care work the week of my 16th birthday.
I've cared for some famous, infamous, incredible, horrible, lady's and Lords, paupers and prisoners and I've met some characters. But nobody like Nell. Nell was the woman who inspired me most.
There's currently lots of women in awful situations on here, I hope if any of you read this, you can reach your inner Nell.
I first met Nell the second week of my job as a community carer. She was in her mid 80s, very beautiful and tiny. Frail and not very mobile but had a strong voice and was razor sharp with wit.
She hadn't had carers in before and I was new to caring, so we bonded over this awkward time as we navigated together her having a stranger in her home tidying around, and me being that stranger.
Once I was finished with the tasks she'd make me a cup of tea and we had a little chat. Over the following months she confided in me how dreadful her life had been at the hands of her abusive husband.
She left him at 83 years old.
With not a penny to her name.
Years of cruel words, physical violence and mental torture from him and one day he went "too far".
Her grandson had bought her an interactive DVD of a quiz show she had adored. One day she asked her husband could she put it on, and he smashed the DVD player to pieces.
So she simply left. At 83. Went to stay with her brother and his wife until she was able to get herself a social housing flat.
So once I'd finished my jobs for her we'd play this quiz show, every Saturday morning. Her grandchildren built her up a collection of similar things and she also became a movie buff. She showed me shawshank redemption, I'd never heard of it and I still love it now.
She realised how much she'd missed out on, but instead of allowing that to dictate the years she had left, she threw herself into technology!
Over the years I went (after I'd got a new job) she had even gotten a PlayStation and became an excellent gamer.
She lived her last years with more youth and vibrance than most. Most people in their 80s struggle with arthritis, Nell struggled with crash bandicoot! But absolutely bossed tomb raider.
She passed away in her early 90s and I still visited her regularly until she died.
I'm friends still on FB with her grandson who she tried the most to hook me up with. He often posts things in homage to her even now and she's been gone for many years.
Nell is the hero everyone needs and the bravery she showed in her final years always make me wish school's taught kids about nell.
It's never too late to be happy.