Who is your favorite historical figure?
If you’re here for a thoughtful tribute to a powerful historical figure… I’m afraid I’ve let the team down. Again. Just like I did every Thursday morning in Year 9 when I ‘accidentally’ forgot my history book and spent the lesson trying to fashion a pillow out of my blazer.
Truth is, I never had a favourite historical figure. Not because I don’t think there were some absolute legends knocking about centuries ago, but because history, for me, always felt like a list of battles, beheadings, and blokes called Henry who couldn’t keep it in their trousers.
I know people find inspiration in women like Boudicca, Rosa Parks, Marie Curie. And hats off, they deserve every bit of admiration. But me? I find more inspiration in the people I know who’ve survived heartbreak, trauma, healing, healing again, and still made it to Aldi before it closed. Real-life warriors. The ones without a textbook chapter or Wikipedia page.
Maybe that’s the thing, I’ve never seen myself in those dusty history books. And maybe that’s why I write my own version now, chaos and all.
So no, I don’t have a favourite historical figure. But I’ve got a growing list of personal ones, like the parts of myself I keep uncovering as I unlearn, relearn, and choose not to carry forward what was passed down to me.
Maybe I wasn’t raised to believe I’d be anyone worth reading about.
But every time I show up, speak out, or break a cycle, I’m writing a bit of history anyway.
Quietly. Honestly. In my own bloody handwriting.
Thirty Something Plus VAT 