10 Things I Know at 79 That I Didn't Know at 39
When I was 39 years old, life was busy.
I was focused on work, paying the bills, raising a family, and planning for the future. Like many people, I believed success meant working hard, earning more money, and providing for the people I loved.
Now, at 79, I look at life through a different lens.
The years have taught me lessons that no book, seminar, or financial advisor could have. Some lessons came through success, others through mistakes, and many simply came from living long enough to appreciate what really matters.
Here are ten things I know at 79 that I wish I had understood at 39.
1. Time Is More Valuable Than Money
When you’re younger, it’s easy to believe that making more money will solve most problems.
Money certainly matters, but once your basic needs are met, time becomes far more valuable.
Today, I treasure mornings with my wife, family dinners, conversations with friends, and quiet evenings at home.
You can always earn more money.
You can never buy back lost time.
I wrote more about this in The Unexpected Joys of Slowing Down After 60, where I explain why slowing down has actually made life richer.
2. Your Health Is One of Your Greatest Investments
As a younger man, I often assumed good health would always be there.
Now I understand that taking care of your health isn’t something you do only when problems appear.
Regular checkups, staying active, eating reasonably well, and paying attention when your body tells you something isn’t right are investments in your future.
Good health doesn’t guarantee a perfect life, but it gives you the opportunity to enjoy more of it.
3. The Best Conversations Usually Happen Around a Dinner Table
Some of my favorite memories aren’t from expensive vacations or major events.
They’re from sharing a meal with people we care about.
Recently, my wife and I invited good friends over for dinner. We enjoyed filet mignon, had a couple of drinks, laughed, and spent hours talking.
The evening cost far less than going to an expensive restaurant, but the memories are worth far more.
Friendships grow when we make time for them.
Those evenings reminded me of another lesson I shared in What 55 Years of Marriage Has Taught Me About a Happy Retirement.
4. Home Can Be Your Favorite Place
When I was younger, I often thought happiness was somewhere else.
Today, one of my favorite places is home.
A comfortable chair, a good book, a conversation with my wife, or simply sitting outside on a pleasant evening brings a kind of peace I never fully appreciated years ago.
Home isn’t just where you live.
It’s where life happens.
Why My Wife and I Enjoy Staying Home More Than We Used To.
5. You Don’t Need Nearly as Much as You Think
Over the years I’ve realized that many of the things I thought would make life better didn’t matter very much.
A bigger television.
A newer gadget.
Another purchase.
The things that bring the greatest joy usually aren’t things at all.
They’re people, experiences, and memories.
6. It’s Okay to Change Your Mind
One lesson I’ve learned recently is that changing your mind isn’t a sign of weakness.
It’s a sign that you’re paying attention.
I started building my website around a product I believed in. As time passed, I encountered technical issues, customer service concerns, and other problems that made me question whether I should continue recommending it.
Instead of ignoring those concerns, I decided to change direction.
I’d rather build trust than earn a commission.
That decision reminded me that protecting your reputation is always worth more than protecting your pride.
7. Learning Doesn’t Stop When You Retire
One of the biggest surprises of retirement has been discovering how much I still enjoy learning.
At 79, I’m building a website, writing articles, learning about Pinterest, studying Google Analytics, and continuing to learn about dividend investing.
Retirement isn’t the end of learning.
For me, it’s been the beginning of learning things I never had time to explore before.
8. Peace of Mind Is Worth Paying For
Like many retirees, I enjoy saving money.
I’ve spent time comparing insurance policies, looking for better values, and making smart financial decisions.
But I’ve also learned that the cheapest option isn’t always the best value.
Sometimes paying a little more for reliability, better service, or fewer headaches is money well spent.
Peace of mind has value too.
Why I Didn’t Switch Auto Insurance After Comparing Quotes
9. Gratitude Changes the Way You See Life
The older I get, the more grateful I become.
I’m grateful for my wife of 55 years.
I’m grateful for our four children and eleven grandchildren.
I’m grateful for lifelong friends.
I’m grateful for every ordinary day that allows me to enjoy the people I love.
Gratitude has a way of making even simple days feel extraordinary.
10. It’s Never Too Late to Reinvent Yourself
If someone had told me at 39 that I’d be building a website at 79, I probably would have laughed.
Yet here I am.
I’m learning new technology, writing articles, and sharing my experiences in the hope that they might help someone else enjoy retirement a little more.
That’s why I created Reinvent After 60.
Not because I have all the answers.
But because I believe every stage of life offers new opportunities to learn, grow, and encourage others.
Final Thoughts
If there’s one message I hope readers take away, it’s this:
Getting older doesn’t mean your best years are behind you.
It means you’ve gathered a lifetime of experiences that can help you appreciate what truly matters.
Looking back, I wouldn’t tell my 39-year-old self to work less or worry less—although that might have helped.
I’d simply tell him to notice the moments that seem ordinary.
One day, they’ll become the memories you’ll treasure the most.
And if you’re reading this today—whether you’re 39, 59, or 79—I hope you’ll remember this:
It’s never too late to learn something new.
It’s never too late to strengthen a friendship.
It’s never too late to improve your health.
It’s never too late to make a wiser financial decision.
And it’s never too late to reinvent your life.