**** Sponsored post in partnership with TSB Pride of Britain ****

They say we can do anything we set our minds to. However, how many times do we create lists and goals and actually complete them? I’m a huge believer in the fact that when it matters most, the true strength of one’s character will shine.

Did you watch Pride of Britain Awards 2017? Oh gosh! How I cried!! The stop-you-in-your-tracks stories shared on last night’s Pride of Britain Awards, were enough to make you catch your breath, count your blessings and send a shiver down your spine.

There are times when we have days where nothing feels like it’s going right. When we have months feeling listless and dissatisfied with our lot in life.

But what I took from witnessing the heroic acts shared by the everyday individuals, standing shyly, yet bright-eyed, in front a star-studded room, was that it is these moments — the ones where someone’s life or destiny teeters in the balance that matter most — it’s not the celebrities that control the hand that fate deals us. No. It’s the Grenfell Firefighters, the 4-year old girl, Suzie, and the young Villa fan, Moin, with more gumption and personality than you can shake a stick at. These are the people that truly take our breath away — and so they should.

Hope counts for a lot. Storytelling matters, too. Hearing what someone else has gone through and what they’ve been able to achieve is what drives us all and gives us a purpose in life, to be better listeners, better people.

Another thing that struck me recently, as I spoke to a colleague of mine at his leaving do, was the power of recognition. Of stopping, holding up your hands as giving thanks and praise for something exemplary. The moment when ITV Fundraiser of the Year, Jake Coates, who lost the love of his life to cancer, received his award had me — and I’m guessing millions of viewers around the UK — in tears. The fact that he suffered such loss, but has never let him stop in his pursuit of goals, is inspirational.

Here’s to many more years of skydiving Dilys and people like Dr Paul Stephenson, OBE, who aren’t scared to stand up for what they believe in and encourage us to strive to make our world a better place for future generations.

Find out more about the TSB Local Pride campaign

Learn about the Pride of Britain 2017 winners

Photography - TSB / Pride of Britain

Words - Lucie Kerley

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