A Queen of Service & Strength: Queen Elizabeth II

Such a shock to the system, to wake up and hear of the passing of The Monarch Queen Elizabeth II on the 09/09/22. The Queen has sworn in 15 UK Prime Ministers, and has seen Brexit, as well as countless wars, in addition to a once in a 100 year virus. Stating that this woman is extraordinary, and has lived a jam packed existence is an understatement.

Our shares on this great loss are unanimous. I appreciate that I am not the first Vocal Media writer to write about Her Majesty. This is like a tribute, yet it is important to reflect on Queen Elizabeth II as a human being, rather than on her life in the spotlight. Whether you live in the Commonwealth, or a country that is a Republic in its own right; Britains Head of State is sorely missed. The UK is my mother country, yet in Australia she will be in my world (and in the world of countless others) for a very long time; even though the Australian Mints will begin to print King Charles III on the back of all Australian Coins from 2023 - yet there will still be an abundance of coins of her on the back in circulation, as well as on the iconic $5 Australian note. Tears are (still) streaming down yours truly's face. I even now remember the time back in infants school, when 1 cent and 2 cent coins started to come out of circulation, and myself and my fellow classmates were lining them up on the school playground, and counting how many were collected. Friends and family eagerly handed them in, as the banks would not take them. An abundance of coins with Queen Elizabeth II printed on the back were touched that day, back in the 90's.

If the Royal Family was (and still is not) your cup of tea (no pun intended); high admiration for Queen Elizabeth II is second to none. She has class, and it is through her class, and her many years of tireless service to all of the commonwealth; if not the entire globe that the majority of humanity from all walks of life will be grieving her sudden loss. Sure, it was to be expected, yet the announcement of the news still comes as a shock; especially if you are grieving in other areas of your life. The world as we know it has certainly changed, and this is definitely the end of an era. I would like to personally thank The Queen for her tireless 70 years of public service. That is a marathon if I have ever seen one.

What qualities are we missing as a collective, now that The Queen is no longer with us?

The Queen is like a mentor to me personally, and that is something that I have not cared to share lightly with anyone; not until now, until more vulnerability has landed with my way with words. She is one strong, powerful, and resilient lady. Not only did she have the Royal Family, together with the UK Prime Minister to report to her; but also the various state Governors, and the Governor-General who represented her across the commonwealth countries, to only name a few.

In the tough times, The Queen never complained about her lot. She took those heavy duties, busy schedules, and obligations with her in her stride. She was (and still is) one of a kind. Many Britons (among others in commonwealth, and some non-commonwealth countries alike) see her as their mother. A true mother figure that ran a prosperous and dynamic nation, with a heavy weight on her shoulders. She also had to hold it together in the tough times, as well as endure a myriad of suffering, caused by her not so great health, combined with having to process her grief alone with the loss of her late husband, Prince Philip, of who also passed away on the 9th of a given calendar month, almost 18 months prior. His funeral was an isolating and depressing time for The Queen. Again, she did not whine to the press.

The Queen never shied away from responsibility, and was up for any challenge and negotiation. You and I know that it takes a lot of work and responsibility to be a charming person; especially to live a charm filled existence when in the public spotlight day in and day out. Regardless, Her Majesty was always well presented. She dressed elegantly, and therefore understood the importance of physical charm. That is no easy feat to keep up appearances for 70 years straight. Stopping the world, and wanting to get off was clearly not an option for her. The world is lucky to have witnessed her Jubilee celebrations earlier this year.

The Queen also knew the importance of cultivating meaningful relationships. Upon marrying Prince Philip, she committed herself to that relationship, both in the good times, as well as the rough times. It feels like no matter how many times you say thank you to The Queen (now in spirit); it never seems to be enough. I appreciate that not everyone likes her, and/or resonates with her character; yet she understood the importance of treating everyone with kindness, dignity, and respect. The Queen never judged anyone that may be different to her, or perhaps a little out of character. Just for fun, the tea party with Paddington Bear is a true reflection of her charmed existence at work; even when faced with adversities, and with things not going her way:

There is that saying that it only takes 72 muscles to frown, and only 14 to smile. The Queen is a perfect example of a relatively happy person; a person that smiles on a frequent basis to uplift those around her.

There is sheer beauty in her, both in the inside, and on the outside; and words cannot always fully explain how the world feels about her, and with the shock that hit us; even when waking up to look at our social media feeds on the day of her passing.

It does not take a genius to do a Google search, a YouTube search or the like; and naturally there are tributes flowing in all directions. YouTube astrologer Bracha Goldsmith has also paid an astrological tribute to The Queen, while reading her chart, and that explains her strong and resilient personality and character:

It feels like my heart is empty, as at the time of writing this. Slow and steady wins the race, and that would have been The Queen's mantra, despite getting a lot of important s**t done. It is normal to grieve, and to go through the five stages of grieving here. I mean, employers need to be prepared for an abundance of people to take time off to watch her funeral, whether in person, or on live stream. Just saying.

Losing an influential and respectful person who is generally well liked and respected is a natural shock to the system. It can feel like a pressure cooker to lose her, as this loss is (if not feels like) a reflection of other losses in your life. Therefore, grieving from other losses - whether you have lost a loved one this year; a pet; a home; a job - whatever the magnitude of the loss; the loss of The Queen is a reflection of what losses all of us have, and are going through either individually and/or collectively. Therefore it is ok to grab the Kleenex, and/or to engage in activities that bring you joy. It is difficult when you live in the commonwealth whereby you pay cash for almost everything. You are reminded of Her Majesty, time and time again.

May we allow her to allow us to draw strength from her beauty and grace. The Queen will be remembered forever more. God save The Queen, and we all shall wish King Charles III the very best as King. Rest In Peace Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.