What Advice Do 100-Year-Olds Have to Share With the World?
Two years ago, Mental Floss curated 100 pieces of advice from centenarians – or, people who have reached age 100. There are words of forewarning, words of encouragement, words of wisdom for youth and suggestions for those who might be looking to live a long and healthy life.
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We picked out 15 of our favorite pieces of advice and shared them here.
1. “I make myself go out every day, even if it’s only to walk around the block. The key to staying young is to keep moving.”
2. “Even if you feel hatred, keep it to yourself. Don’t hurt other people for any reason.”
3. “Travel while you’re young and able. Don’t worry about the money, just make it work. Experience is far more valuable than money will ever be.”
4. “Don’t be a cheapskate.”
5. “Life is fun. It’s all up to the person. Be satisfied. You don’t have to be ‘happy’ all the time, you need to be satisfied.”
6. “Be active. I do things my way, like skiing when I’m 100. Nobody else does that even if they have energy. And I try to eat pretty correctly and get exercise and fresh air and sunshine.”
7. “Just go ahead and do your thing no matter what.”
8. “If you’re positive you can get through it OK. When you think negatively, you’re putting poison in your body. Just smile. They say laughter is the best medicine there is.”
9. “Have lots of people in the house and lots of different kinds of people – young, old, black, white, people from all over the world. People have always energized me.”
10. “We all remember how as children, we were having fun, we often forgot to eat or sleep. I believe that we can keep that attitude as adults, too. It’s best not to tire the body with too many rules such as lunchtime and bedtime.”
11. “Pain is mysterious, and having fun is the best way to forget it.”
12. “Don’t be crazy about amassing material things. Remember: You don’t know when your number is up, and you can’t take it with you to the next place.”
13. “For less than seven years I had a mortgage. I paid everything outright, and I’ve lived that way until today. That is the secret to longevity right there.”
14. “Try not to eat anything that’s healthy. It’s true. I eat whatever I want. The secret to longevity is ice cream.”
15. “Learning new things makes you happy and keeps your mind active.”