I grew up blissfully unaware of politics in any way, shape or form. I didn’t think it affected me and didn’t dream that I could affect it. I didn’t even know what it meant apart from a bunch of boring old people who ran the country.

In my twenties, I became aware that others were aware of this thing called politics. Some of the people in my family and circle of friends even seemed to know what was happening in the news. It was still too boring to me and didn’t affect my life.

In my thirties, I had my children. Suddenly I had to care for others as well as myself. I started to think about their future and the world they would grow up in.

By the time I entered my forties, I was fully engaged in politics. Not only had I realised that it affected every aspect of my life but that I could get involved and make changes that could improve lives.

I’m told time and time again that “I don’t do politics” and I get it. I felt the exact same way. But what do you do? Because I defy you to find something you do do that can’t be affected by politics. So, by saying you don’t do politics, you may as well be saying you’re happy for someone else to choose someone else to run your life. Is that OK with you?

Find out more about how politics affects you.