A Man Named Gerry
A Man Named Gerry
15 Life Lessons To Live By
Context: Gerry is a Canadian man that lived in the apartment next to me in Portugal for three months this winter. We immediately hit it off and became good friends. I learnt a lot form Gerry and will share some of his wisdom in this story.
I had forgotten how magical synchronicity is once I am in my flow. Yes, I had forgotten, until I met Gerry.
The beach is only a 20-minute walk from where I stay and I had been walking pretty much every day since I had arrived back in Portugal. One of these mornings as I was coming out of the apartment, there he was, my new Canadian neighbour and in good South African fashion or perhaps Helen fashion I greeted him cheerfully and introduced myself.
He stared me up and down and at first I thought “creep”, but then the following day as I heard him leaving for the beach, I shouted down from my balcony “Gerry, wait, I am coming!” and grabbed my bag to meet him downstairs. We live on the 4th floor. I pretty much invited myself, yet Gerry did not seem to care and there we set off on our first journey together.
That was the end of it. We were inseparable since.
Of course I was the one yapping on about this and that. I am a story teller, I have a lot to say. My mom always said that smart people do not talk a lot but I do not know about that. I also listen well, yet I realised during the time spent with Gerry, that yes, I do listen extremely well when I find that people have something interesting or important to say. I suppose that is what you call good company.
It was quite an ordeal, this walk. Gerry is half deaf, so I always had to make sure that I walk on the left side of him. He did not want me to walk on the side that the cars drive, so this always required some logistical organisation as we were crossing from side to side, avoiding parked vehicles. Alas it became like a dance, perfectly in tune with one another.
Gerry was happy to do whatever I wanted to do, yet I quickly understood what he liked to do and we structured our time together around that. He liked having a beer by the pool during the day after he had gone to the supermarket. This suited me well as I had work to do and he would never disturb me during the day, not even for a quick chat. Walks, he was happy to do whenever and at night we met up for dinner by his place or mine. We would both cook or get a take-away sometimes, Gerry was happy that I have Uber Eats and gave the delivery person a fat tip each time. We loved eating out too. As I mentioned, Gerry was great company.
On Sunday mornings we went to the local market to buy fruit and vegetables for the week and afterwards we had a coffee by the beach side and from there we took it as it came. We liked to adventure. Gerry said he was not very social, yet I am. He remarked once “I really needed this”.
About two months into our adventures, one night after dinner, he walked me to my door as he did each and every night, I mean what a gentleman, and only then we realised that I stay in apartment H and he in apartment G. Helen and Gerry - took us a hot minute there I know. Did I mention we are both Virgos?
I was very sad when he left. He was not a man for technology, even though he had an Ipad. He did not like phones. He does not even use a credit card or any card. He is old school and I liked it. I left my phone at home when we would spend time together. This was really great.
Below I will share some lessons from Gerry. I hope to see him again this coming winter.
Lessons From Gerry
There is no need to stress in life. Focus. Write down what needs to be done. Do pros and cons if you need to make decisions. Act.
No need to stress over money. Budget. Know how much you have and how much you can spend. Go forth and prosper.
Be that person people need.
Listen to people. Give good advice. Stand strong in your convictions.
Put yourself out there. If you enjoy what you do it is good enough.
Don’t have heavy meals at night. Eat early.
As Gerry was half deaf I had to raise my voice in public and for the first time I did not care about that. Lesson, stop caring about what other people think.
Own who you are and what you do, otherwise change it.
Do for others. Giving feels good.
If you get lost in the woods, look how the trees grow. There will be more leaves where the sun hits.
Listen to music before you go to sleep rather than watching TV or being on your phone.
The past is gone. Use it only to learn from.
If you doubt something there is a reason for it.
Things happen faster when you are out and about, living life.
Be a person people want to write books about.
There you have it. Which of these lessons hit home for you?
A Man Named Gerry
A Man Named Gerry
15 Life Lessons To Live By
Context: Gerry is a Canadian man that lived in the apartment next to me in Portugal for three months this winter. We immediately hit it off and became good friends. I learnt a lot form Gerry and will share some of his wisdom in this story.
I had forgotten how magical synchronicity is once I am in my flow. Yes, I had forgotten, until I met Gerry.
The beach is only a 20-minute walk from where I stay and I had been walking pretty much every day since I had arrived back in Portugal. One of these mornings as I was coming out of the apartment, there he was, my new Canadian neighbour and in good South African fashion or perhaps Helen fashion I greeted him cheerfully and introduced myself.
He stared me up and down and at first I thought “creep”, but then the following day as I heard him leaving for the beach, I shouted down from my balcony “Gerry, wait, I am coming!” and grabbed my bag to meet him downstairs. We live on the 4th floor. I pretty much invited myself, yet Gerry did not seem to care and there we set off on our first journey together.
That was the end of it. We were inseparable since.
Of course I was the one yapping on about this and that. I am a story teller, I have a lot to say. My mom always said that smart people do not talk a lot but I do not know about that. I also listen well, yet I realised during the time spent with Gerry, that yes, I do listen extremely well when I find that people have something interesting or important to say. I suppose that is what you call good company.
It was quite an ordeal, this walk. Gerry is half deaf, so I always had to make sure that I walk on the left side of him. He did not want me to walk on the side that the cars drive, so this always required some logistical organisation as we were crossing from side to side, avoiding parked vehicles. Alas it became like a dance, perfectly in tune with one another.
Gerry was happy to do whatever I wanted to do, yet I quickly understood what he liked to do and we structured our time together around that. He liked having a beer by the pool during the day after he had gone to the supermarket. This suited me well as I had work to do and he would never disturb me during the day, not even for a quick chat. Walks, he was happy to do whenever and at night we met up for dinner by his place or mine. We would both cook or get a take-away sometimes, Gerry was happy that I have Uber Eats and gave the delivery person a fat tip each time. We loved eating out too. As I mentioned, Gerry was great company.
On Sunday mornings we went to the local market to buy fruit and vegetables for the week and afterwards we had a coffee by the beach side and from there we took it as it came. We liked to adventure. Gerry said he was not very social, yet I am. He remarked once “I really needed this”.
About two months into our adventures, one night after dinner, he walked me to my door as he did each and every night, I mean what a gentleman, and only then we realised that I stay in apartment H and he in apartment G. Helen and Gerry - took us a hot minute there I know. Did I mention we are both Virgos?
I was very sad when he left. He was not a man for technology, even though he had an Ipad. He did not like phones. He does not even use a credit card or any card. He is old school and I liked it. I left my phone at home when we would spend time together. This was really great.
Below I will share some lessons from Gerry. I hope to see him again this coming winter.
Lessons From Gerry
There is no need to stress in life. Focus. Write down what needs to be done. Do pros and cons if you need to make decisions. Act.
No need to stress over money. Budget. Know how much you have and how much you can spend. Go forth and prosper.
Be that person people need.
Listen to people. Give good advice. Stand strong in your convictions.
Put yourself out there. If you enjoy what you do it is good enough.
Don’t have heavy meals at night. Eat early.
As Gerry was half deaf I had to raise my voice in public and for the first time I did not care about that. Lesson, stop caring about what other people think.
Own who you are and what you do, otherwise change it.
Do for others. Giving feels good.
If you get lost in the woods, look how the trees grow. There will be more leaves where the sun hits.
Listen to music before you go to sleep rather than watching TV or being on your phone.
The past is gone. Use it only to learn from.
If you doubt something there is a reason for it.
Things happen faster when you are out and about, living life.
Be a person people want to write books about.
There you have it. Which of these lessons hit home for you?
The World Needs More Happy People
© 2025 You, Me and Happiness. All Rights Reserved.