The banana looked perfectly alright, but when I picked it up, it squished unpleasantly in my hand; it had spent too long in the fruit bowl.

The beautifully scented soap my sister gave me had been a year in my underwear drawer, keeping my undies smelling nice, yet when I got it out to use in the shower, the scent had all gone, and I might as well have been using plain soap.

I had been keeping the home-made jam for a special occasion, to eat with scones and cream. When we opened it this weekend, it had all crystalised and was inedible.

In all these cases, I had kept things too long.

I don’t know about you, but I am very good at postponing enjoyment. I like to look forward to things. I have never felt the desire to open my Christmas presents until the day itself and have always preferred to save up for something rather than have it now and pay later. Often, the anticipation is more enjoyable than the thing itself.

Yet, the older I get, the more I see the advantages in having it now, using something sooner rather than later.

There are many things that deteriorate with keeping. Bananas, scented soap and jam are just three of them. I recently found a tin of tomatoes at the back of my cupboard that had totally rusted through. It’s a wonder the tomatoes inside had not leaked out. Even canned foodstuff has an expiry date, although I have heard that honey found in a Pharoh’s tomb was still perfectly edible. I do wonder, though, how they found out!

Most of my husband’s friends have now retired, although some are younger than him. They all have company pensions, have paid off their mortgages and their children are grown up and have flown the nest. Some of them are already downsizing their houses to free up capital. They say they intend to spend it and enjoy themselves – their children don’t need it. They are the lucky ones; few people can afford to retire early.

We are not in that position: our youngest is still at university and her student loan does not cover accommodation. The household expenses take up more than our income would be if my husband were to give up his job. And I don’t want to retire - I am enjoying my job too much.

Yet tomorrow may not happen. We recently attended a 90th birthday party. The lady herself is still healthy although she has obviously slowed down. But we might not make 90. We might not even have next year – my recent life-threatening illness showed that.

I bought myself some new soap the other day and it is already in the shower; it has a lovely, scented lather. I’m enjoying it now and not saving it for later.

What can you enjoy now instead of saving for later, or do you already seize the day, knowing tomorrow is not guaranteed?

Mary

A Moodscope member