What Do I Know That Could Help Other People

Sharing Stories

Some good things to know by a seasoned author.
| April 25, 2016

What Do I Know That Could Help Other People

[This piece was in response to a writing exercise at Greenwood Senior Center’s Write about Your Life Thursday class.]

I think I might know a lot. After so many years of experience, but I know that most people don’t want to hear it. People may ask for advice, but don’t really want to follow my suggestions. I will make a list of advice I think could help almost everybody.

  1. Cut up all but one credit card and keep that for emergencies only.
  2. Find a good doctor and follow his/her suggestions.
  3. Be your own person. Think for yourself. Make decisions. The more you do that, the better you get at it.
  4. Live a good life. Try to be a good example with your own behavior.
  5. Be conservative with money and resources, not a spendthrift.
  6. Save and invest in something: real estate, stocks, education.
  7. Set some goals in your life and have checkpoints to see how you are doing.

I can see what people might be able to do. All I can do is listen, maybe give a suggestion now and then—be friendly. I don’t argue that I know more than the other person does. I drop some good hints in conversations.

Everyone has their own opinions. I think I’ve heard almost everything—more than I could ever handle.

With a serious problem, try to solve each part of it, a step at a time.

Don Sivertsen’s book, One Page at a Time has just been released on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CTMI29C Don is a Ballard Norwegian, retired airplane mechanic.

SHARING STORIES is a weekly column for and about the 50 plus crowd living in the Puget Sound region. Send your stories and photos to ariele@comcast.net. Tell local or personal stories; discuss concerns around aging and other issues; share solutions, good luck, and reasons to celebrate; poems are fine too. Pieces may be edited or excerpted. We reserve the right to select among pieces. Photos are always a plus and a one-sentence bio is requested (where you live, maybe age or career, retired status, etc.).

SHARING STORIES is featured on http://www.northwestprimetime.com, the website for Northwest Prime Time, a monthly publication for baby boomers, seniors, retirees, and those contemplating retirement. The newspaper can be found in the greater Seattle area and other Puget Sound locations. For more information, call 206-824-8600 or visit http://www.northwestprimetime.com. To find other SHARING STORIES articles on this website type “sharing stories” in the search function above.

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