On an ordinary day in Bushey, Debbie sat on what she affectionately calls her ‘think bench’.
She had visited it countless times before and it was where she often paused to reflect, but this day was different.
She pulled out a spare notebook, scrawled ‘Write what you like’ on the front, and left it there for passers-by to find.
When she returned a couple of days later, 12 pages had been filled and the notebook had blossomed into a collection of shared lives and thoughts.
Speaking with BUSHEYnews, Debbie shared: “When I saw the first entry, I cried. It was so sweet. I thought maybe someone might steal it. But instead, it became something beautiful.”
Entries included light-hearted stories such as a proud dad celebrating his daughter’s GCSE exam results with a free dinner at Nando’s.
Others were deeply moving, including a young girl who reflected on her mum’s time in hospital.
Others wrote about the scenery, offered advice to students moving away, or even shared artwork.
For Debbie, who has lived in Bushey for most of her life, the project is about more than just words.
She said: “I’ve always believed in sharing with one another. With everything going on in the world, it’s vital to embrace other people.”
Debbie hopes to place more notebooks across Bushey, creating pockets of connection where strangers can pause, reflect and share.
Follow @debbies.little.bookshelf on Instagram.
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