People who inspired me

And they probably have no idea 🧡

May 01, 2025

This post is inspired by a recent piece from

who writes the beautiful Unwind Substack. Mansi wrote so beautifully about the journey we take through life and those that we meet along the way.

We find connections in the most unexpected of places and sometimes the most fleeting of encounters can lead to a profound and moving change in our life’s path.

You can read the post here:

Unwind

A Whisper of Gratitude

I have been thinking a lot about life's journey lately. They say you come here alone and leave alone. In the long journey between these two events (which all of us reading this are lucky to have), we experience what it’s like to be human. We make mistakes. We fall. We learn to get back up and make things fall into place. We fall again and the cycle cont…

2 months ago · 13 likes · 3 comments · Mansi Kwatra

After I had read this piece I found myself grabbing my pen and a journal and quickly making a list of the people that came to mind. People who have significantly influenced the directions I’ve taken during my journey so far and who made a lasting impact on me and the approach I take to life.

So without further ado:

A random list of people who have made a difference

My A level biology teacher who believed in me when I didn’t. He told me I was good enough to apply for a university degree when I didn’t think that was an option for people like me. He undoubtedly changed my life for ever by sitting me down with an application form - yes it was on paper back then - and helping me go through the process. I doubt he is reading this now - he may well have gone to the great sixth-form in the sky - but on the off-chance - thank you Mr Slater.

The midwife who helped me bring my first son into the world. All I know is that her name was Jude and that she was a brand new midwife. She only confided the latter fact after my (slightly prem) son had been born and she gave me a farewell hug, telling me I was her first solo ‘complicated’ delivery. She was so calm and made me feel I was totally in control, despite being very much unprepared for an early (and very fast) delivery. She was a true rock star who helped me to feel empowered at what could have been a very scary time.

Elizabeth Zimmerman - a celebrated writer and knitter who I never met but her books and writings have been a constant source of inspiration and delight. Her books were some of the first I came across when I returned to knitting in my 30s and I loved her no-nonsense approach to knitting and figuring it out as you go. Her books taught me that there was no great mystery to knitting and that there was no right or wrong way to do anything. As she put it:

Really, all you need to become a good knitter are wool, needles, hands, and slightly below-average intelligence. Of course superior intelligence, such as yours and mine, is an advantage.

My husband. Corny I know but true. He is my best friend, my rock in tough times, my true north. I definitely wouldn’t be the person I am today if I hadn’t met him.

I’m sure there are more, many more.

But for now these will do.

Who would make your list?