“My mind is like a wild leopard, exciting but scary. I have to learn how to tame it.” My granddaughter, Mischa, and I are discussing her insatiable curiosity and vivid imagination. She loves the creative adventures her mind conjures up, but is increasingly anxious about the dark corners it explores, lately exacerbated by the Covid crisis. With the wisdom of her nine years, and support from loving parents, she feels her intention is achievable. She even sleeps with a tame (stuffed) leopard. Leopard taming is her focus – her current purpose perhaps.
For contrast, I interviewed people in their ninth decade, as part of ‘Life Review’ research, listening to them talk about their lives, loves and lessons. Despite disparate backgrounds and varying health and financial status, some shared a certain spark – an openness to people and continuing curiosity about life. I came to call this attitude, ‘staying alive to life’. It was
