From London, UK...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber

Hi, Everyone, from London UK,

I suspect I am not the only one with mixed feelings today, on the brink of a new year that holds more than life's usual share of joys and fears, given that Omicron continues its rapid spread around the world. We can but focus on nurturing a positive-thinking mindset and, yes... be sure to keep our fingers crossed. 😉

Some people argue that, when in doubt, do nothing; my mother, though, preferred the adage, "When in doubt, it's better to err on the side of caution..." I am reminded of that as New Year's Eve approaches and everyone will be celebrating, each in their own way. Me, I will spend a quiet evening watching a favourite series on BBC i-player as if it were just another evening. I will treat myself to glass of red wine  and wish for a kinder 2022 that this year has been for many if not most of us.

In London, especially, but also in other parts of the UK there has been a noticeable rise in violent crime among and against young people; while much of it can be blamed on the stress we have all been under since Covid-19 came into our lives, there can be no excuse for violence. Young lives matter, whatever, their ethnicity, religion or sexuality. Young people not only deserve a future, they are also the future of this planet, all of our futures.  

The stress of the past two years has placed incalculable stress on everyone, lockdowns especially, not least for young people unable to see and mix with loved ones and friends, an essential part of growing up, not to mention a vital learning curve in understanding ourselves and human nature in general. Let's face it, there is a LOT to learn...from the here-and-now to eternity. It is never too late to learn of course, but much of what we learn (or don't) in our youth, we will carry with us for the rest of our lives. All the more reason to get it right, yeah? Or, as near to getting it right as personal space and circumstances will allow.

I well recall a moment in class at my old secondary school when the English  teacher told us that "Life is a perpetual learning curve..." to which someone piled up, "Oh, sir, that is so trite, and you're always telling us to try and be original..." 

"Yes, well," said the teacher, "That's true, but where our thoughts are concerned, the chances are someone, somewhere has already beat us to it and we've heard it voiced so many time in so many variations that it becomes a case of familiarity breeds contempt. For contempt, read trite. Never but never, though, make the mistake of ignoring someone else's original thought. Where it helped them, it may well help us, if only by adapting it to our own approach to life or whatever. Few ideas or thoughts in life are original. It is in how we approach and what we make of them that we can all be original in our own way... Sayings, proverbs, there is plenty of food for thought there, believe you, me..."  

The lesson continued, all about the use of adjectives and adverbs as I recall... but I forget quite what. His words about Thought, though, remain with me to this day, possibly because years of hormone therapy for my prostate cancer have thrown my ow thought processes into such chaos that old sayings and proverbs provide as good an opportunity as any for licking them into shape.

That's all for today, folks, except to wish you all an enjoyable evening, whatever socialising you have in mind. Let 'caution' be the keyword, but don't let it stop you having fun, if only just for being in good company.

Take care, stay safe , keep well and I'll be back tomorrow with a poem to greet 2022.

Hugs,

Roger