It always amazes me that, as you grow older, time passes by so much quicker than when you were young. The intolerable wait for birthdays to happen, Christmas to celebrate, and a one hundred andone delights to look forward to, always seemed to be so far away. Now, I blink, and another month has slipped by.

I do understand that my life has got busier and busier – now that I’ve ‘retired’. I am constantly wondering how I had time to go to work! I hear that from nearly every retiree that I meet. I suppose I don’t meet those people who sit at home and do nothing. The depressed and isolated, the tired and sick, and the unloved and desperate, are tucked away in their homes.

It’s sad. I wish I could help those people.

How do you explain, except by example, that days on this planet are not only like diamonds, but emeralds, sapphires and opals too. Full of colour and beauty. Don’t give up. Look around and see that beauty. Embrace your life and give to others.

It’s hard.

We are constantly bombarded with doom and gloom, bad news, climate change and the unscrupulous behaviour of the criminals, punks and big business tycoons of our warped society.

Life should be lived with a love of nature, the animals around us, the glory of the environment and the close and far loved ones of our human family.

Life should be lived with a love of nature, the animals around us, the glory of the environment and the close and far loved ones of our human family.

I don’t, for one moment suggest we should ignore the decline in the world around us, but, by living a life that shows you CAN do something to help society, should be the ambition of many of us. By living a life of joy, usefulness, love, art, music and dance instead of greed, intolerance and hatred would make this world a better place.

So lift your heart, speak your truths, lift your glasses of whatever refreshments you enjoy, and smile. Let the lonely, depressed and isolated people know you care. Put your hand out and lift them up, rather than oppressing them.

Understand and encourage them.

You’ll find that it becomes a win/win situation for everyone.