“It’s easy to succeed when you have someone in your life who constantly tells you they’re proud of you.”

As another year passes into history, I want to review just a few of the lessons I have learned from our Neighbourhood Heroes.

Since I was a preteen, I have always believed that I will live to 104 or longer. This column has introduced me to three great role models who will help me reach that goal.

Bill Pineo is the youngster in this crowd. At eighty-four he volunteers three days a week at Seaview School as a REAMS tutor (Be Enthusiastic About Math Success) – After he retired, he initiated the program in School District #68 with support from Tom Krall.

Laura Johnston just turned ninety and still tutors both adults and children. She’s also extremely active in her church and community and exudes nothing but positive energy … as does ninety four year old, Lorna Prentz. Although she needs a walker and her eye sight isn’t too good, Lorna still walks four to five kilometers a day and she thinks today’s teenagers are wonderful. They are always quick to offer help if she needs it.

So if you want to live long and prosper all you have to do is remain active, be positive and keep a smile on your face. Good genes help too.

Life doesn’t always flow smoothly but several of our Neighbourhood Heroes have taught me that no matter what obstacles we face, if we think we can, we will overcome them.

Joe Wilson, a man’s man and the life of any party, suffered his second stroke four years ago that left him with an extremely weak left side and a serious speech obstacle. Since then he has reconnected with and married the love of his life from fifty years ago, written two books, taken up carving and become an avid golfer. These are all gifts that came as a result of his positive attitude towards overcoming his strokes.

Heather Williams is a singer, dancer, actor who, in 2001, was working for Universal Studios in Tokyo when she was hit by a cab while riding her bike. The brain injury she suffered left her lacking the balance and clarity of speech needed in her profession. But if you notice I said, “Heather Williams is a singer, dancer, actor”. She is currently taking singing and dancing lessons and her career, whatever it may be, will unfold from there.

Mike McCoy comes to mind when I think of the headline, “You Can’t Judge A Book By It’s Cover”. Given his long, full beard, Mike looks like a tough guy. As a boy his negative behavior led him from one foster home to another until he finally ran away for good at the age of fifteen. Hard work, good luck and a good woman led him to Nanaimo where he and Elizabeth have been extraordinary foster parents.

Sara Bonnell had three false starts at going back to school and six different jobs in the past year and a half. Last summer when she came from Ontario to visit her aunt Alison and cousin, Antony, she decided to accept her aunt’s invitation to stay on the condition that she go back to school and get a job. Both school and the job have been going extremely well. As she says, “It’s easy to succeed when you have someone in your life who constantly tells you they’re proud of you.”

When Doug Ante saw the school conditions at Silazwe Primary School in Zimbabwe, he made a personal commitment to return with a suitcase full of pens. That small commitment led to Rotary Clubs raising 2.5 million dollars worth of school and medical supplies. It really is true; the longest journey starts with that first small step.

Happy New Year.