Dear LPG,

Did you know that the third Monday of each year is said to be when most people get really depressed?  Christmas is over, the nights are still dark and dismal, and looking into the future seems to really feel like looking into the unknown, if not the same dreary day-after-day monotony that post-Christmas mid-winter always has to offer. 

But I found a story in an old newspaper the other day that should suffice as inspiration for anyone who is feeling a bit down today. 

I would like to remind everyone about the story of Merah Smith, known as Louise, who was still kickboxing well into her centenary years. She only stopped when her doctor insisted that she ‘take things easy’.  She was born in 1912, coincidentally that was the same year that the Titanic sank. She was a former nurse and recently celebrated her 109th birthday with friends and family in South London and is believed to be the oldest person in the capital.

Her son Tony Smith, 73 stated that ‘she said that she's aiming to live until 115. She’s used to exercise a lot, going to the gym and kickboxing with her troop in Croydon.

Mrs Smith, Jamaican born, said that her favourite decade was the 1930s when she met her husband, James who died from cancer before she moved to the United Kingdom.  She has three children, six grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

There is no way that we can all be like Merah, but even if you read this story a couple of months ago or, if you are hearing about her for the first time, her story today should inspire any reader who is planning to get bogged down in a celebration consistent with the sentiments of a Blue Monday. 

I first read about Merah a couple of months ago and the story lifted my day that morning, so it occurs to me that if anyone is experiencing the blues today, Merah’s story should offer a serious kick-start to a bit of positivity.  I hope that giving it a second airing might just be the way to go…

Merah Smith mentioned that her secret to a long life is 'eating chicken, vegetables and lots of fruit, while reading the Bible, praying and trusting in God’

Amen to that.

Gloria Brown

Camberwell

Gloria offers us a little information about Blue Monday and Merah Smith…

(►►►)   (►►►)