This is my 600th “Just a Little Old” column for The Times Record. Thanks to every reader who has commented on a specific column. Most comments have been positive but even the negative ones suggest that people are paying attention.

Thanks to those who have shared stories that a particular column has sparked. And thanks to the individuals and organizations that have been willing to be featured.

We oldsters like to pass along our “wisdom,” whether sought or not, so I’ll use this column’s 600th entry as an excuse to do just that.

Ya gotta laugh. As one wag noted, “Don’t sweat the small stuff and everything’s the ‘small stuff.’” That’s a tad extreme, but a good sense of humor can ease tense situations.

Take risks. When I give this advice to young people, Tina always steps in to say “sensible risks.” Fair enough, but taking a “What’s the worst that can happen?” approach to life often pays off. It sure has done so for me.

Be kind. In a world rocked by chaos, even the smallest acts of kindness can work wonders. A psychology professor I knew had his students do something kind for (or say something kind to) a stranger once every day for a week. Then they had to write about what they did (or said) and how the person reacted and how they felt about the experience. What a brilliant exercise!

Remember the children. What kind of world do we want to leave our children and grandchildren? It may be comforting to say “Well, I won’t be around anyway.” Comforting but wrong. Act like future generations matter. They do. Set a good example. Your actions matter more than your words when it comes to parenting or teaching or coaching or holding any leadership role.

Don’t be a helicopter parent. Your kids have to gain a sense of independence, whether you want them to or not. They’re writing their own chapters; don’t insist upon holding the pen.

Thank your mentors. They may not even know how much they’ve meant to you.

Try to thank those who’ve been a positive influence on your life. By letter, email or phone call.

Learn resilience. An old boss of mine used to say, “Success is never final; failure is never fatal.”

The most successful golfers, for example, must learn to forget the inevitable bad shot and move on to the next shot. Bad things happen in life. They just do. Better to move on than to wallow in the “woe is me” muck of self pity.

Celebrate the arts. The older I get the more I appreciate the importance of the arts. Music. Art. Dance. Theater. Writing.

Support freedom of the press. Our democracy depends on it. Shun leaders who want to stifle the media.

Embrace diversity. Over the years, America’s welcoming hand to people from all over the world has made this nation great. There have been major bumps along the way. The brutal takeover of native American lands. The horrendous slave trade. Our shabby treatment of the Irish, the Chinese and the Japanese over the years. The relegation of women to second-class status. The shunning of gays and lesbians. Would American life really be better if we put up a sign saying, “Only straight white Christian men need apply?” The good old days they are no more; what’s more, they never were.

Study history. Large segments of society want to expunge the parts of our American history, which might make some people feel uncomfortable. Bad mistake. It makes sense, say, to study how ruthless dictators came to power so we don’t suffer the same consequences. Speaking of history, let’s remember what Vice President JD Vance said way back when Trump was running
for president in 2016, “Trump is America’s Hitler”….”Trump is opiate for the
masses.” Oops….

Treasure friendships. Good friendship are important at every stage of life. Nourish them.

Keep moving and stretching.. Move your body. Stretch your brain.

Focus on what really matters. Every day.

Enough. Thanks, again, for reading the words of this old guy. Well, a guy who remans just a little old.

David Treadwell, a Brunswick writer, welcomes commentary and suggestions on future “Just a Little Old” columns at [email protected].