Amanda Ashby's What Were You Thinking Paige Taylor?
New Beginnings
What Were You Thinking, Paige Taylor? is all about moving away and starting a new life somewhere else. And this is something I know a thing or two about. In fact, when I wrote the book, I’d just moved halfway across New Zealand and was surrounded by packing boxes as I worked…
New Beginnings
What Were You Thinking, Paige Taylor? is all about moving away and starting a new life somewhere else. And this is something I know a thing or two about. In fact, when I wrote the book, I’d just moved halfway across New Zealand and was surrounded by packing boxes as I worked…
It wasn’t my first move either. My family and I have spent the last twenty years moving between New Zealand, Australia and England, trying to find the perfect place. In fact, I’m pretty sure our furniture has travelled more than some people I know. And every time we move, I think of this quote:
“Wherever you go, you take yourself with you.” Neil Gaiman
Though, I’m not sure I entirely agree with it, because while a move itself won’t necessarily make you a different person, it does open you up to new possibilities and choices. It also gives you the opportunity to leave things behind. Sometimes it’s physical possessions that no longer serve you, while other times it’s mental luggage—which most definitely never serves you.
Over the years I’ve learnt to really challenge myself on what I need in order to have a happy life. For my physical possessions I tend to only keep things that cannot be replaced, like vintage furniture. It even extends to my book collection. These days I mainly only keep signed editions and my beloved Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer books. Everything else is either a digital version or something I know I can get from the library.
By giving myself more space, it also stops me from falling back into old beliefs I might have about myself.
In Paige’s case, while she did leave a lot behind, her new life didn’t really become the picture postcard she was dreaming of, until she sat down and faced some home truths. And while she did have a trusty self-help book to guide her, the real transformation came when she fell in love with Luke Carmichael.
And while I suspect Paige and Luke will definitely be staying in St. Clair, I can’t promise that this will be my last move!
