'Tis the season so count me in

It would be a far easier task to go down a rabbit hole of despair this morning than to write something uplifting and positive. 

The world as we know it is apparently falling apart. 

The heavy vibe is not helped by yet another day of grey rain and the awful news from New Ross of the killing of a young child.

But today I’m going to turn away and look forward to the season of Peace and Joy! (If I can.) 

There are still good people in the world and plenty of good work to be done. The problem with despair is that it brings with it a loss of innocence. 

I am lucky enough to spend time with some of the still very young and innocent and they teach me every day to be more present and to remember my inner child. 

When pushed by the young, adults in a gloomy mood can become happier human beings who like nothing more than to play.

So I am taking a break from politics, war and misery, and “getting down” even more with the kids. 

Wandering around the European City of Christmas or the Enchanted Garden at Lafcadio Gardens in Tramore, is to immerse yourself in a spirit of wonder, especially with a captive faery in tow. 

Luckily I have been tuning into the wide eyed worlds of the very young and as my own Granny used to say, if only we could bottle up their energy we would all make our fortune.

One of the little pixies that I was visiting recently was a bit disappointed to find an old auntie was coming and not a cute little cousin to play with. 

I brought some jazzy socks as a gift for all the kids and they went down well enough, 7 out of 10, except for this little guy. 

Not only was he deliriously happy, 10 out of 10, with his Irish stripey socks in the colours of the tricolour but you would think I had given him a gold medal. Never did I see anyone so happy with a pair of socks!

His little toes were pointed at all and sundry.

He ran up and down, watching with glee his own feet as they danced across the floor. He put his feet up on his mother’s lap, “Look, look, new socks!” He is still wearing them two weeks later! 

We who want no presents for Christmas could learn a lesson about being gracious in receipt of gifts. I am not the best at it myself if I’m honest.

My second encounter with the very young and innocent was with my granddaughter who has a love of books. 

She has a lot of favourites so I selfishly thought that I would get her one of my own favourites because I would enjoy reading it to her so much. The book is 'The Tiger who came to Tea', which was first published in 1968. 

I read it to my own children and was thrilled to find a newly minted copy in the Book Centre.

We have all been reading to her since she was a small baby and although she is only 16 months now, she will go to her shelf and select whatever she fancies, throwing books she has little time for to one side until she finds the perfect one.

When reading it to her, she was like most kids charmed by the large cat-like tiger who sits and has tea and cake with a little girl and her mam. 

At the page where the tiger comes to the front door I made a knock knock sound on the book and she immediately copied it. 

Then as we turned the page to where the little girl gives the huge tiger a hug she cuddled in close so that I was in a kind of granny heaven for that moment. Big endorphin rush!

The final reminder of the sweetness of the young was travelling in front of two teenage girls in school uniform who were texting someone on their phones. 

Now texting at the best of times can be a chore but the hilarity and squeals of delight coming from these two would definitely put a smile on your face even if it was torture to the ears. “G’wan send it," one would urge. “Noooo!” the other would laugh, “you send it!” 

Boys figured in this scenario.

Honestly you forget how demented teenagers can be when their hormones kick in, but I’m not sure that I have heard such craic for the simplest of reasons, for a long time.

It’s amazing to see future generations growing up in an Ireland that is largely at peace and mostly striving to do even better.

“As long as there is one upright man, as long as there is one compassionate woman, the contagion may spread but the scene is not desolate. Hope is the thing that is left to us, in a bad time.” The writer EB White wrote this to someone in despair.

As winter draws in and the nights darken, remember that Christmas is coming and allowing it to distract us and our young ones for a few weeks is just the ticket for winter blues; the lights, the candles, the dreams of toy shops and sugary things that are bad for us. Count me in!