There are beaches to comb, children to hug

THIS is for you, sweet Dawnsy Mieny and family. And for you, Roxanne, Olga, Belinda and mom. And for all of us who have loved and lost.

When I taught high school English, my favourite bit by far was the film section of the syllabus. No lengthy setworks, just a movie, with popcorn – and a message.

is one of my all-time personal bests. I was that pupil in the back, scared to speak out, but nurtured to fruition by English teachers who gave a damn.

So, when I "taught” the same film to a bunch of bold, beautiful teenage girls a decade later, I double-scored. Because I revived the message – for them and me – that Mrs Peltason had so passionately, tried to imprint on us. And which I’d lost amidst the noise of growing up.

Carpe diem. Seize the day. We’re being told that constantly by feel-gooders and do-gooders and self-helpers – live for the now. But it’s a rotten trick most of it, because the world is built on forward-planning and fear. If we don’t study that, we won’t get this. And if we don’t organise this, the consequence will be that.

And what happens, then, is that we write off spiritually and psychologically powerful messages, like the benefit of cherishing "the now”.