At 70, a Canning author has turned his life lessons into second book
After spending his first book telling the story of his life, Canning resident Sarath Jayawardana started to ask himself a different question: “What had he actually learnt from it?”
That question became the basis of his second book, ‘Precious Gems Collected Over 70 Years – Life Lessons, Reflections, and Timeless Wisdom for a Meaningful Life’.
The book brings together 40 lessons drawn from his experiences with work, family, migration, success, failure and starting again.
Its paperback will launch in Perth on October 31, the same day Dr Jayawardana turns 70.
He said reaching the milestone had changed the way he viewed success and life in general.
“When I was younger, I tended to think that I was in control and that, if I worked hard enough and planned carefully enough, things should happen more or less the way I wanted them to,” he said.
“At 70, I see life very differently.”
Dr Jayawardana said he now accepted that some circumstances would always sit outside a person’s control.
“That does not mean we should stop planning, working hard or pursuing our dreams,” he said.
“It means learning to accept that there will always be circumstances beyond our control and becoming more adaptable when life takes us somewhere unexpected.”
His first book, ‘Uncharted Horizons: A Journey of Resilience’, told the story of his life, including his move from Sri Lanka to Australia.
He describes the two books as “two books, but one journey”.
“Uncharted Horizons’ tells the story of what happened in my life. ‘Precious Gems’ asks a different question: ‘What have I truly learned from all of it?’” he said.
Among the 40 lessons, three stand out to him now – that happiness is a choice, that people should not hold too tightly to their identities and that “nothing is truly ours”.
He said his attitude towards other people’s opinions had also changed over the years.
In his 30s and 40s, he wanted to succeed, gain recognition and live up to other people’s expectations.
“At 70, I no longer feel that same need,” he said.
“I try to live according to my own values and principles rather than constantly asking what other people might think of me.”
Dr Jayawardana said some of his biggest lessons followed financial decisions that resulted in significant losses.
He said he had taken substantial risks without doing enough research and due diligence.
“Being enthusiastic about an opportunity is not the same as understanding it, and confidence should never replace careful investigation,” he said.
“Success can sometimes reinforce what we already believe. Failure often forces us to reconsider it.”
Another lesson dates back to his time working as a doctor in Sri Lanka during civil unrest.
Dr Jayawardana said he treated a wounded JVP member who was brought to him at gunpoint because he believed his responsibility as a doctor was to treat the injured person in front of him.
He said the incident later caused serious problems with police and some political figures and contributed to his decision to leave Sri Lanka in 1990.
During that period, people from different religious and ethnic backgrounds came to his aid, with some taking personal risks to help him.
“I have never forgotten those people,” he said.
“That experience taught me a profound lesson: when another human being genuinely needs our help, the first question should not be about their race, religion, nationality, background or beliefs.
“The first question should be, ‘What can I do to help?’”
His father also influenced one of the lessons he still carries.
Dr Jayawardana said his father gave him freedom to choose his friends, pursue his interests and make decisions about his education.
That freedom also meant accepting responsibility for his choices.
“It taught me to choose my friends carefully, seek knowledge independently and take responsibility for the direction of my life,” he said.
Dr Jayawardana has lived in the City of Canning for more than 20 years and said his time in the community had taught him that connections could begin with simple interactions.
“Say hello. Smile. Greet people. Treat everyone with respect regardless of their occupation, background or position,” he said.
“These things may sound very small but repeated over many years they create connection and belonging.”
Despite approaching 70, Dr Jayawardana said he still had plenty he wanted to do.
He wants to travel to more countries, meet people from different backgrounds and continue learning about technology.
He is also working on something less tangible. “Perhaps my most important unfinished task is much less tangible: I want to become better at letting go,” he said.
“I understand the principle intellectually. Mastering it in everyday life is another matter entirely, and I am still learning.”
