Francis Gay MY WEEK

HUGH lives quite a bit further south, so he can get away with planting bulbs at this time of year. When he mentioned how stiff and sore he was afterwards, I asked him why he bothered.

He explained that: “When my heart and soul have had enough of winter, these little flowers will stick their heads above the earth and lighten my life.”

Hugh has struggled with “winter blues” for a long time. Then he decided to do something about it. All too often we depend on others for our happiness, forgetting we can play a role in lightening our own lives.

The preparation might be difficult but it also adds joyful anticipation into the mix – and that, in itself, can be as bright as any garden full of daffodils. HENRY is in his 80s and his favourite teapot is older than him. It recently developed a crack.

Looking for a new one he was asked why he didn’t fix the old one. He explained: “It’s done a grand job. Now it’s time for some re-purposing. It’ll make a fine planter.”

Henry, who has been a railway worker, a salesman, a soldier, an electronics engineer, a carer, a writer, and an artist, added: “I’ve been repurposed more than a few times myself, so I can recommend it.”

We are often too quick to throw things – and people – away. Everything that has any value can have a purpose or even many purposes. And everything – and everyone – has value.