Summer in the Scottish Highlands

by Donna Ashcroft

You could learn so much about a person from the things they read.

There was something about her that he was drawn to – a fragility he wanted to fix.

‘Sometimes. Perhaps we need to figure out what it is we want before we decide,’ he said quietly.

‘I make a point of doing something I love at least once a day. Just in case.’

Remember, sometimes there’s a lot more to a person than meets the eye.’

you lock out your needs because it’s safer.

Books are more than paper; they’re an experience, a respite, or a source of knowledge if you’re feeling lost. An act of kindness in the form of words. Don’t judge a book by its cover and don’t judge a person by the way they look.

‘I love doing something that makes a difference to someone’s life. It might just be one small kind act, but Aileen used to say they can have a ripple effect.’

‘Read about it now, and if you get the chance, experience as much as you can. You’ll soon learn where your heart belongs – and it won’t all be between these pages. But don’t forget the power of the right book, or the lessons they can teach you.’

‘You don’t have to be good at something to enjoy it,’ he said,

‘Most people don’t take time for things they have no talent for?’ he asked, and she nodded slowly. ‘Life doesn’t have to be perfect. I told you last night, for me it’s about small moments, enjoying the day. Talent, perfection, brings pressure – a need to improve, to push yourself.

‘I think it’s one of the things kids are so good at – living in the moment, understanding what’s important. Finding pleasure isn’t about being good or bad at something, it’s about taking time to experience it.’

‘It was here long before we got here, and it’ll be here long after we leave. Which means what we do in this lifetime, well, it’s not that important after all.’

‘Perhaps it means we have a lot less control over life than we think. We’re only here for a short time, so what really matters is being happy?’

‘I think we have to find our own way to measure success, to understand what makes us tick,’

Two damaged strangers needing something, trying to avoid it, but finding it in each other.

‘Funny how sometimes the things we most need are right under our nose.’

Something deep inside her was returning to life – she just wasn’t sure she was ready to acknowledge or trust it.

She needed someone to want her; needed not to be someone’s second, third or fourth choice.

Lots of people aren’t courageous enough to follow the life they were born to.’