Seniors Matter(s)! Things to think about

By: Bill Pike  February 11, 2026  421

• Successes and how far you got aren’t as important as the distance you travel from where you started.
• The biggest mistake you can make is to believe that you are working for someone else.
• Monday is a hard way to spend one-seventh of your life.
• Pros are people who do jobs well, even when they don't feel like it.
• Next to surviving an earthquake, nothing is quite as satisfying as getting a refund on your income tax.
• An authority is a person who can tell you more about something that you really don't care about.
• Running a business is about 95 per cent people and five per cent economics.
• Patience is something you admire greatly in the driver behind you but not no one in front of you.
• When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt.
• It's always easy to see both sides of an issue that we aren't particularly concerned about.
• Why can't life's big problems come when we're 20 and know everything?
• When you save for a long time to buy something then you find you can afford it, that's inflation.
• Basic research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing.
• I try to compliment three people every day.
• I try to look people in the eye.
• I'm learning how to say thank you a lot.
• I try to be the first to say hello.
• One should always try to live below one's means.
• Be forgiving of yourself and others.
• If in a fight, hit first and hit hard! It may be the only shot you’ve got.
• Buy everything kids are selling on card tables in their front yard.
• Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.
• Take lots of pictures.
• Never postpone.
• Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen every day. Always accept an outstretched hand.
• Use your wit to amuse, not abuse.
• There is no reality, just one’s perception of it.
• Never take good health for granted.
• Forget the Joneses.
• Take a brisk 30-minute walk every day.
• Never cheat.
• Commit yourself to being a good loser and a good winner.
• Don't major in minor things.
• Praise in public, criticize in private.
• Keep your promises.
• Respect tradition.
• Never cut what might be better just untied.
• Take good care of those you love.
• Remember the KISS principle (keep it simple, stupid).
• Leave everything a little better than when you found it.
• Never overestimate your power to change others.
• Get in shape and stay in shape.
• Never burn bridges; you'll be surprised at how many times you must cross the same river.
• Keep your overhead low, but your expectations high.
• See problems as opportunities for growth and self-mastery.
• Judge your success by the degree to which you're enjoying peace, health, and love.
• Don't expect life to be fair.
• Learn to disagree without being disagreeable.
• Be courteous to everyone.
• Live your life as an exclamation not as an explanation.
• Occasionally, push your luck.
• Re-read your favourite book.
• Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.
• Be decisive even if it means that sometimes, you be wrong.
• Be prepared to lose occasionally.
• Know when to keep silent and know when to speak up.
• Take care of your attitude, don't let others choose it for you.
• Don’t ever watch hot dogs or sausages being made.
• Be a self-starter and loyal.
• Pay your fair share.
• Remain open flexible and curious.
• Read, sing, and listen with your children, no matter what their age.
• Take care of your reputation, that’s your most valuable asset.
• Share the credit.
• Always do more than is expected.
• Never underestimate the power of a kind word or deed.
• Do it right the first time.
• Don't be afraid to say I don't know.
• Don't be afraid to say I made a mistake.
• Don't be afraid to say I need help.
• Don't be afraid to say I'm sorry.
• Don't use time or words carelessly, neither can be retrieved.
• Be open to new ideas.
• Don't interrupt.
• Go the distance; when you accept the task, finish it.
• Watch for big problems, they disguise big opportunities. Don't be called out on strikes, go down swinging.
• Keep several irons in the fire.
• Become someone's hero.
• Marry only for love.
• Count your blessings daily.

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Bill Pike

Bill Pike is a retired elementary school principal. He and his wife, Sharon, have lived in Kincardine for 47 years, enjoying fulfilling careers, rural life, three wonderful children, and four outstanding grandchildren. Golf in the summer (poorly), pickleball, guitar-playing, long leisurely walks, the sunny south and family all fill his time. This project is as an effort by him to share his interest about the topics affecting seniors and how they can advocate for their issues. The statement, “Getting old isn’t for the faint of heart,” is real! The rewards of retirement can sometimes be accompanied by aches, pains, medical concerns, and general wellness issues. In this column, Pike takes a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly of senior living. Don’t laugh at age, pray to make it!

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