If you’re lucky enough to reach age 100, you’ve picked up more wisdom than most folks and a pair of centenarian sisters are sharing some of theirs. At 106, Shirley Hodes knows a lot about longevity and so does her little sister, Ruth “Ruthy” Sweedler, who’s 103. The sisters still talk on the phone three times a week and say family is very important to them, so they make every effort to stay connected to each other, the only remaining siblings of the eight kids their parents had.
Shirley and Ruthy agree that there’s not much point to living past 100 if you can’t enjoy life, that’s why they say you’ve got to take care of your health - both mental and physical. According to Ruthy, the key to longevity is to “be happy, be healthy, and have love in your life.” And these are their tips for doing just that.
- Get your steps in - Long before fitness trackers were reminding us to hit our 10-thousand steps a day, Ruthy and Shirley made an effort to stay active. They’ve both loved getting outside for walks and still take strolls when they can.
- Cultivate connection - “Life would be empty if you didn’t meet and want to know about other people,” Shirley explains. Both sisters like talking to and getting to know people in their own assisted living centers.
- Read wisely - It not only keeps your mind sharp, reading also keeps you from being lonely, Ruthy says.
- Eat moderately - Along with not smoking and not drinking, the sisters have both tried to follow a simple, balanced diet without too many sweets.
- Focus on the positive - While both Ruthy and Shirley have had illness and troubles in life, including the deaths of both of their husbands, they have remained lifelong optimists. “Not all people appreciate what’s in their life — they take it for granted,” Shirley says. “I’m not like that. I like to analyze situations, and I feel like I’ve been blessed.” And Ruthy agrees, adding, “I don’t look back; I look forward.”
Source: CNBC
Photo: Getty Images