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Tricia Underwood's avatar

Buying an armful of books and lying in bed with them when going through a life-quake sounds like just the right thing to do. I might give that a try. Also, this: "Our world can be small, but books keep it wide open," made me think about how the reverse can be true as well with books for me. At times when my life feels way too open, to overwhelming, too uncertain, books can help me shrink it to a smallness I can hold in my hands and look at with more tenderness.

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Penny Wincer's avatar

Yes!!! ❤️❤️❤️

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Zoe McIntosh's avatar

Lovely piece. As a fellow parent carer, I so resonate with this, ‘our world can be small, but books keep it wide open’.

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Penny Wincer's avatar

I think the main reason I can keep going is books ❤️

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Jo's avatar

This is fantastic and of course has prompted me to take some time and do something similar! Thanks so much, truely wonderful

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Penny Wincer's avatar

I love this!!!! 🥹🥹🥹

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Claire Tomkins's avatar

What a beautiful piece to read. Books are my companions and save me on countless occasions. Thank you for writing this.

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Penny Wincer's avatar

Constant! Thank goodness for books

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Jen Eden's avatar

I love this, Penny. Thank you for sharing. ❤️ When I can’t read, I know there is something wrong, something I need to pay attention to to avoid a spiral into mental ill health. Books are also the thing that often brings me comfort and pulls me out of those dark places.

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Penny Wincer's avatar

Always a huge indicator if I can’t read! I didn’t see that when I was young but I recognise it immediately now.

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Nicola Washington's avatar

PENNY!! What are you doing to me? I have to go on the school run and instead I'm crying at my desk. Such beautiful, moving, sparse and yet filled chock-full with emotion writing ❤️❤️❤️

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Penny Wincer's avatar

I’m sorry 😭😭😭😭

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Santina Kerslake's avatar

I loved this one. Books saved me throughout my childhood, then early adulthood, through motherhood, divorce, too much work and a breakdown. Books have been a constant. They helped me with my resilience to keep going and they fill me with so much joy.

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Penny Wincer's avatar

They are 100% reliable ❤️

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Philippa Groom's avatar

This was so beautiful to read Penny, my heart has grown a bit bigger, thank you so much for filling it with your words. I too tried to live life for a while without books in it, I’m so relieved and grateful I found my way back to them. Or maybe they found their way back to me. Either way, they are my home x

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Penny Wincer's avatar

That’s the great thing about books - they’re always there when we come back ❤️

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Claire Videau's avatar

Love love this. I also found a companion who I can read in bed with or anywhere really and it really fills my heart with happiness x

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Penny Wincer's avatar

Nothing better 🥹❤️

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Nicola Donnelly's avatar

I loved this piece. I also love to escape into books, always have. Your book, Tender, was hugely important to me.

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Penny Wincer's avatar

🥹❤️🥹❤️🥹❤️

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Em McDermott's avatar

I loved reading this Pen. Thank goodness for books and stories finding us when we need them through life’s ups and downs. Em x

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Penny Wincer's avatar

Thank goodness! I honestly think I can endure most things as long as I’m able to read/listen to books ❤️

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Lucy Beckley's avatar

Such a beautiful piece 💖🫶🏻 thank you so much, as always, for your wonderful words x

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Penny Wincer's avatar

Thank you Lucy ❤️

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Emma Gannon's avatar

Gorgeous Penny xxx

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Penny Wincer's avatar

🥹❤️🥹

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Sas Petherick's avatar

This is everything. I want to see this viral trend! Thank you love xx

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Penny Wincer's avatar

I want to read yours now!

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Emma Simpson's avatar

This really is gorgeous. I floated through your waves 💙

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Penny Wincer's avatar

❤️❤️❤️

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Sarah Sheldrake's avatar

This is a very powerful journey you’ve storied for us here. I felt each Penny along the way so strongly and wanted to squeeze several of them tightly in comfort. Without them losing their page of course! Thank you.

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Penny Wincer's avatar

🥰❤️

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