My grandma, a picture of health and beauty, just turned 91. She still lives on her own and does well with it. Sometimes I have to check if she's human. Since it seems we all are looking for ways to live longer and healthier, I thought I would ask her for some life advice. Here's what she said:
1. Be happy.
My grandma always seems happy. She dances with her grandchildren. She fiddles around on the piano, though she doesn't quite know what she is doing. It doesn't matter; she finds joy in it. Along with her daily activities, she looks to the small things to make her happy. During our Q&A, her face beamed with joy when she spoke about her children, grandchildren, friends and deceased husband. When I walk into her house and she is overjoyed to see me, I catch the happiness bug that she has. They say that being unhappy shortens your life, so search for happiness in the little things you do.
2. Be active.
Things are different nowadays, but while my grandma was growing up, she was outside a lot. She speaks about playing softball and running games. She bicycled and roller-skated a lot, but the main thing she did was go out dancing with her husband, my grandpa. Be sure to be active and move around!
3. Travel.
My grandparents traveled quite a bit after their kids graduated from college. Their favorite place to visit was Colorado, since they became good friends with a family there. They did most of their traveling after they retired when they had more time and fewer worries. My grandma says it was the best time for them, and she says being able to travel is what she misses most. While you still can, go see different parts of the world, become friends with others when you travel, and mark off those cool places on your bucket list. Lose yourself in another culture.
4. Find something you believe in.
For my grandma, she speaks about her religion and the church she goes to. She says that being faithful in your religion is important if you want to live longer. She believes the Lord has helped her through everything, her husband's death included, and has given her many blessings in her life. If you aren't religious, find something else that makes you want to get out of bed. Be a part of something bigger than yourself, and enjoy it. Throw yourself into that thing that you are passionate about.
5. Don't grow up so fast.
Flabbergasted that anyone would want to grow up quickly, my grandma says to enjoy the younger adult years you have ahead of you, because the future is unsure. She says you need to enjoy life, because there's so much to learn. Be happy and patient with your life. Adulthood will soon approach, and you'll be begging to be a kid again. Slow down and enjoy life's crazy ride.
6. Take advantage.
America has made some vast strides when it comes to modern technology. You would think my grandma would be old fashioned, but she actually likes technology. She says there is a lot you can learn from it and that it's OK to take advantage of all we have.
7. Love others.
I cannot begin to tell you how prevalent the presence of love was while I interviewed my grandma. It was obvious every time my grandpa came up in the conversation. She was madly in love with him. Her face showed it when she spoke about her grandchildren. She proved how much she loved her three children when she talked about their accomplishments. The family that they got close to in Colorado had three kids whom she claimed as her own. She gave love and gained love in return. I think the reason she has a few really close friends is because she loves so deeply, and I can't help but wonder if this has prolonged her life in some way. Be kind and step out of your comfort zone every once and a while to show others a little love. Who knows, you might gain a little something in return.
It might not be the Fountain of Youth, but it's my grandma's reality. It seems to be working pretty well for her. You never know what kind of life hacks a 91-year-old might be harboring. Happy birthday, my grandma and girlfriend!
