The Undomestic Goddess

by Sophie Kinsella

“A mistake isn’t a mistake.” Guy pauses. “Unless it can’t be put right.”

They knew they belonged together and that was more important than anything else in life.”

“Don’t beat yourself up for not knowing all the answers. You don’t always have to know who you are. You don’t have to have the big picture, or know where you’re heading. Sometimes it’s enough just to know what you’re going to do next.”

“You never know how things are going to turn out, however much you plan.

Except all the things I never knew I wanted. Things I had no idea about until a few weeks ago. Like fresh air. Like evenings off. Unburdened weekends. Making plans with friends. Sitting in the pub after my work is done, drinking cider, with nothing to do, nothing hanging over me.

I’ve found out what it’s like to have a life! I’ve found out what it’s like not working every weekend. Not feeling pressure all the time. And … I like it!”

If I’ve learned one lesson from all that’s happened to me, it’s that there is no such thing as the biggest mistake of your existence. There’s no such thing as ruining your life. Life’s a pretty resilient thing, it turns out.

I don’t want to be someone who doesn’t look out the window.”

“Sometimes you don’t need a goal in life,” I reply, lifting my chin. “You don’t need to know the big picture. You just need to know what you’re going to do next.”