I hear so often from people how getting older is boring. There is nothing to do because they can't manipulate the way they used to.

I hear from kids and grandkids about there parents or grandparents-just seem to vegetate!

I hear from the elderly that there isn't anything to do that they can afford to do.

To some degree, all of these things are probably true for most people, no matter what their age is.

Here are a few ideas on how you can bring 'life' back into living!!

It may be to teach a youngster about days gone by, or tell them about the first time you saw an airplane or teach them how to sew, do woodworking or play chess. Maybe they would like to learn to read better and need someone to listen to them, you have had a lifetime of listening experience, now is the time for you to put it to good use.

You say that you are homebound?
Fine that is not a problem, contact a school and they will send the child to you.

You don't know if you can do that?
If you can talk, you can do it. Kids love to learn, kids have patience for the elderly and kids learn easier from a senior citizen than they do a teacher.

Maybe you can trade 'helping' each other! Kids love to help, especially since they can understand what it feels like, not to be able to do something that comes easy for other people. That is one of the reasons; older people and young kids get along so well. It is a hidden understanding that is the mutual bonding element.

The woman that lives next door to my granddaughter taught her how to do fractions. How she managed to do it and what technique she used, we don't know. She told her the same thing that we did, but somehow, "she made it easy," my granddaughter told us. This woman is 93 years old, in a wheelchair, has two hearing aids and a sense of humor that warms your heart and a gift that makes children love her to pieces. She has helped the neighborhood kids in so many different ways with so many problems and they reciprocate by helping her with her lawn, her flowers she likes to look at from her window, cleaning her house and seeing to it that she has surprises on every holiday.

I asked her one time, what it was that keeps her going and her comment was, "Don't vegetate! You are never too old to enjoy life whatever way you can. I do it through all of the kids; they are my feet and hands and do all of the things that I wish I could. One day they will be mature adults and I can watch them and know that I was a part of their growing up."

So, every time that life gets you down, you feel that you are vegetating and missing out on life, find a neighborhood child and-LIVE!

Jan Hayner is a Professional Organizer and creator of Easy Home Organizing a website full of tips and hints on organizing and house cleaning shortcuts. Visit it at www.organizingyourlifetheeasyway.com. Work Smarter-Not Harder, is what her techniques and articles will teach you to do.