My last article on ‘Poet or Writer? Has made me think even more about this subject.  I had not given thought about the people who have not been alive long enough to have really ‘lived’ (as I had mentioned that maturity made for better writing, well, more or less) for these very young people, could easily be, ‘old’ spirits. That’s why some children write so philosophically. (I was one of these from four years old.) I also have heard of these children, who are geniuses, from the newspapers.

Some young people have such an in-built understanding of emotions and empathize without knowing why, or how they can feel just what that other person who is suffering, is really going through. So much can be learned from young ones, as they have not yet learned to be so ‘diplomatic’ that they only express, what the other person wants to hear.  This of course makes a conversation meaningless, as nothing is gained, or learned. (Meaning no progress)

New confrontation and ideas are necessary for the human spirit to evolve. I feel so frustrated when I hear people over the age of forty years, saying ‘I wish I had done that, or this.’ As long as we are alive and have our health, why should the learning process stop?  It may be harder to learn, but with the trying to, the brain is being exercised and will start to work better.  Look at all these people, in the old homes, that still do crossword puzzles. Well, they have pretty sharp brains still.

I, on the other hand never had time, or patience for crossword puzzles, but I loved doing the ‘logical puzzles.’ In these you had clues and had to work out who did what. Very much like real life! Now, that really got me interested and I could not give up until I had worked it all out. Sometimes, I hated wasting the hours it took me to get around all the false clues, but, when I succeeded, I had such a feeling of triumph!

True, there is sometimes the problem of the brain not being able to work as fast, but the more it is used, the better it gets again. Just like memory.  I particulary suffer from short term memory loss, and this is attributed to having an underactive thryroid, needing constant medication for the rest of my life.  At times I allow myself the luxury of blaming that, for not remembering where I put something.  But, when I make a real effort and, on putting the object down I bother to take a mental picture of the things that are around it, I find I always remember.

It means going through training, to make the memory work (at least a bit better) and that is far preferable, to wasting so much time searching for something, that I may have seen only ten minutes earlier!

As long as we are living, we should use every moment to live life to the full, as much as we are able.  There are so many ways to make others feel that they are worth something. Just shopping, for instance, when you see a tired looking man or woman, trudging down the street (I don’t mean the homeless people who stand on the corners, unless you intend taking them home and giving them a room and food!)  A sudden smile when someone who looks dejected, has just caught your eye and they yours.

Can you remember what a wonderful feeling it gives you, when their smile is returned? Maybe it starts to happen slowly, as they are not used to being acknowledged, but their smile broadens and such warmth is felt in that returned smile.  So many unspoken words that have been de-coded by each of the spirits involved.  Both of us go off, just feeling that little bit happier.  Just a little bit more special.

Just having the smallest good positive feelings can bring so much more positivity towards you.  The day will not be as ordinary as it might have been.  Happiness and contentment will stop the hurt of what one has lost.  Thinking about those far worse off than you, definitely makes you more content. Also, it’s important to remember that as long as you can be healthy enough (even if you are not that well) there is always a way to enjoy life.