“Mom, mom!” I’d just left my son’s room when I heard him call me back.
I opened his door quickly and found him sitting on his bed, staring at his phone.
He looked up at me in shock.
“The Queen just died.”
“What? Nooo. Queen Elizabeth?” I said. “What happened?”
Chances are no matter how you felt about Queen Elizabeth (or the monarchy), you remember exactly where you were when you first heard she’d died.
And perhaps, like me, you experienced feelings that caught you off guard.
I ended up on my sofa, glued to the news (which I rarely ever watch). And crying.
Which took me by surprise. As did my son’s sadness.
Yet I get it.
As a Canadian she was our Queen.
The only one we’ve ever known.
And her name and face are everywhere.
On street signs, theatres, parks and of course our money.
For my son, the words “Her Majesty” and “The Queen” are woven into every part of his job with the Canadian Navy Reserves.
Her death stirred up a lot of stuff for many of us.
Grief and loss…of our own loved ones?
The end of a way of life?
An era?
It made me think of earlier times.
When I was young. And life was simpler and far more carefree.
Like back in the 80’s, when I worked at Vancouver’s new BC Place Stadium.
And Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip came to visit.
I watched, along with thousands of others, as she and Prince Phillip circled the stadium in a red convertible.
As a young impressionable 20-something year old at the time, it was a rare and exciting moment for me.
One I’ll never forget.
Nor will I forget the time I stood in awe, outside the gates of Buckingham Palace, on my first trip to England.
Or that one serendipitous afternoon while living in Edinburgh years later.
When I wandered down the Royal Mile and happened upon Prince (now King) Charles unveiling a commemorative plaque. And I joined the small crowd to watch.
These are some of my cherished ‘royal’ memories.
Ones I hadn’t thought about in years.
Until the Queen’s passing last month.
Since then I’ve thought about her a lot. And what she represented to me…
Service, duty, commitment, dignity, grace, loyalty and compassion.
And what struck me the most, as I watched the countless news clips about the Queen, is this:
She still had a twinkle in her eye, right up to the very end of her life.
Which got me thinking…
How can we keep that twinkle, that zest for life, in our own eyes?
How can we live like the Queen — really embodying the grace, purpose, and joy she showed?
Answer?
(In my humble opinion of course)…
We need to learn how to live like a Queen.
Or at least to embody the three P’s that create a fulfilling life. The same ones she did:
Purpose + Passion + People
Let me explain…
1️⃣ Purpose – Queen Elizabeth always had a strong purpose: to serve the people of her country and the Commonwealth. We all need a purpose in life. A reason to get out of bed every morning. Without one, we can feel lost and hopeless.
2️⃣ Passion – The Queen had many passions, including her beloved corgis and horses. Our passions feed our soul. We write, garden, paint, dance, sing, hike, take photos, start businesses, play the piano, learn a new language, or volunteer. Not because we have to, but because doing so brings us joy.
3️⃣ People – The Queen was surrounded by her people…those she served, plus her husband of more than 70 years and her family. We all need connection with people. To love, confide in and be our true selves with. Those who make us feel seen, heard and valued. And help us to feel like we belong.
When thinking about these three P’s, I realized that learning how to live like a queen isn’t about titles or crowns…
It’s about filling your life with purpose, passion, and people who lift you up.
Truthfully, I haven’t always had all three.
During my toughest times (divorce, aging parents, unsatisfying jobs and relationships) I always had people I loved and who supported me.
But I was often missing passion or purpose.
And life at the time seemed dull and gray.
But over the years, I’ve made a conscious choice to seek out all three.
Which I’m grateful to have now: work I love, people I love, and things I love to do.
I may not be rich, but I know how to live like a Queen!
What about you?
Do you have all 3 P’s in your life?
Or are you missing one or two or (heaven-forbid) all three of them?
No worries if so. We’ve all been there.
But now may be the perfect time to make a few adjustments.
So you can find your way to more joy.
And keep that twinkle in your eye.
If you want to learn one simple yet powerful way to do so, watch my quick video here:
Cuz you deserve to live a long and fulfilling life.
Just like the Queen.
Kerry xo
P.S. Want to take the first step toward learning how to live like a queen in your own life? Take my quick What Brings You Joy Quiz to discover your unique Joy Type — and simple ways to bring more joy, purpose, and passion into your everyday life.