The Rules of Love, 3rd Edition

RULE 103

People are more important than things

My grandmother always used to say this. I don’t know anyone who would disagree on the face of it, but she acted on it in a way that few people do. When my siblings and I were small, we would occasionally break things in her house, as small children do. My mother would get cross with us, probably out of guilt as much as anything, but my grandmother would ignore it completely saying, ‘It doesn’t matter darling. People are more important than things’.

I wish I was as calm and accepting as her about it, because I know she was right and, what’s more, I know she was happier for it. She really didn’t mind what got broken so long as it wasn’t us. She sailed through chipped cups and lost jewellery and torn ...