MIDNIGHT - FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 16TH, 2022: WOLVERHAMPTON, WEST MIDLANDS, UNITED KINGDOM

In the simple words of the legendary late Queen of Soul of Aretha Franklin, "Every Birthday is a Gift. Every Day is a Gift."

And in the thinking of one of the world's best Television Presenters and Interviewers, Oprah Winfrey, "Every year should teach you something valuable; whether you get the lesson is up to you. Every year brings you closer to expressing your whole and healed self."

As I mark at 16:12 this afternoon the 25th anniversary of my birth at the long-demolished Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Ronkswood, Worcester, and simultaneously my resignation as a Member of the West Midlands Young Combined Authority after three extraordinary years, those two quotes from those two incredible women perfectly symbolise what September 16th, 2021-September 15th, 2022, has been.

Getting through the grief of losing one of my best Brother on Christmas Day, alongside the forever-lasting pride of playing a small but critical part of Birmingham and the West Midlands' biggest ever Sporting, Cultural and Economical event, on top of a house move, running for public office for a second consecutive year, raising £880 for three incredible charities and being part of a third book among many things – all give me a lot of emotion and gives me substantial reflection.

Kieran's loss at just 25 forever pains me – not least because of how he passed, which won't be said publicly until we are comfortable. It feels even more striking that due to my busy nature, I haven't had a lot of time off and therefore suspect that post my end date at Birmingham 2022 in 2 weeks' time, I will slip into a short but needed period of personal mourning.

However, making my Beloved Brother look down with the deepest possible pride has greatly spurred me on, knowing there is a lot to live for, fight for and be part of.

That is what has made me delighted with the things I've done as stated above, alongside volunteering with NCS at the Jubilee Pageant in early June, forming part of the first-ever Wolverhampton Wanderers EDI Advisory Group, continuing my engagement with the West Midlands Trains Stakeholder Equality Group, Volunteer at the biggest Motorsport event in UK history of the 2022 British Grand Prix at Silverstone and complete a Business Administration Apprenticeship, which included being received by His Royal Highness Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex.

To know I've achieved such things in such an uncertain world makes me stand 3 inches taller, and even if I at present I don't have a job post-September 30th (do contact me if you can help me a hand on that!), I know that the opportunity out there will be substantial.

One thing I do say here, though, is that even if it's short, I don't intend to be on Universal Credit for long if I need to make that step, knowing I AM ABLE, I HAVE CONTRIBUTED AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE POSITIVE IN SOCIETY, and the prospect of being Unemployed during the upcoming winter scares the hell out of me!

As a Disabled Person who has successfully worked for nearly 25 months without issue, this gives me the belief that whatever my next step is, it will be just as fruitful as my time at B2022 has been.

And despite my world being a different place than this time last year, I take great comfort and appreciation from all the support given. At the moment, to celebrate my 25th Birthday, I do so that the despite the rollercoaster ride it has been, I know Chapter 26 has unknowns which I will encounter with humility and determination.

Happy Birthday to ME, and cheers for the support, guidance, and love by you all over the last 12 months!