I am turning 50 this year and suddenly, the reality that life is not actually infinite, is feeling starker than ever.
Lisa Thompson
Never have I felt so retrospective in my life. I look back and see gaps of things I haven’t (yet) accomplished; that trip to Australia, ‘finding myself’ as I trek around India, learning a language or wowing an unsuspecting crowd as I step up to the mic and belt out my own take on Duffy’s 'Warwick Avenue' (probably a good thing that one has never seen the light).
I have been thinking how I can mark this 50th year and, as a writer and keen reader, thought I’d start with reading 50 books. Then I came across other women who had created a ’50 things to do when you’re 50’ lists and thought maybe I could have a go at that too? I mentioned it to friends and was suddenly bombarded with things like; ‘do a sky dive!’ or train for a half marathon! "No. Not for me," I said, quickly hiding number 14: ’stay up past 10pm for three nights running’.
As I wrote my list, which definitely doesn’t include any parachute jumps or paragliding, I realised how much I used to do that I now don’t seem to find time for; bird watching, wandering around antique shops, going to art galleries. I’ve made sure they’ve made the list alongside a mix of ‘midlife crisis’ (get a tattoo), 'self-care' (have a massage) and 'replenishing the soul' (go to a concert).
Writing this list has been a real exercise in discovering who I am ... again. Maybe I didn’t have to go to India to ‘find myself’ after all.
The Treasure Hunters
Lisa's new book THE TREASURE HUNTERS is published by Scholastic on 13th April 2023 and is available to order currently on offer for £5.99 HERE.
About the author
Lisa Thompson is the bestselling and critically acclaimed author of enduring modern classic THE GOLDFISH BOY, THE LIGHT JAR, THE DAY I WAS ERASED, THE BOY WHO FOOLED THE WORLD, THE GRAVEYARD RIDDLE and THE ROLLERCOASTER BOY. Her books have been shortlisted for many awards, including the Waterstones Children's Book Prize.
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