Milestone Birthdays

Age is odd. When I was little, I was shy and wanted to be with my mum. As a kid, I wanted to hurry up and be in the next grade at school. When I was a teenager, I wanted to be a grown-up. When I was a grown-up, I wanted to be free and wise. Now, I'm tipping the scales of an older grown-up, and I want to dream like a child, travel the world as I did in my twenties, explore my creativity and curiosity through freedom, and listen to those wiser than me.

I've expressed to my family and friends that I don't need material gifts; it's time with you that I cherish. Whether it's a walk in nature, a coffee at Joe's, or preparing and sharing a meal, these special moments mean more as we age. 

This is me, I'm guessing, at around age three, taken in our backyard when we lived in Pyramid Hill, Australia. Mum made this Robin Hood costume for me, and I cherished it. She told me that—like most kids with a costume—I insisted on wearing it for months and stuck out my trembling lower lip and teared up when she said I needed to take it off so she could wash it. I remember my childhood intrigue with the Robin Hood and Maid Marion stories, which, along with the Heidi books Mum read to me, laid the foundation for my love of books, reading, and social justice.

This is me now, at 65. I still love books and reading and wide open spaces. I'm still curious about people and nature, and thanks to growing up with fictional stories, mythology, and folklore, I learned about empathy. I learned to always look at another person's point of view, to see the world through their eyes. While their view isn't always what I want to see or how I perceive the world, I've learned through stories that to truly understand humanity, we need to listen to every side of the story.

If you're interested in the events I'm hosting, authors I'll be in conversations with, and workshops brought to you by The Bookshop Podcast, click on the events section of this website.

I look forward to seeing you soon!

Mandy x