Advice From Our Centenarian Friends
Living to be 100 years old makes one a centenarian (pronounced cen-ten-air-e-an). I have been volunteering for Centenarians of Oklahoma since 2018. Oklahoma honors these folks with a certificate and our "Golden Okie" button.
Shortly after I retired from teaching, I learned that I had blood cancer. This explained my exhaustion. I still wanted to remain active, so when I heard that the Centenarians of Oklahoma needed some help, I volunteered. I mail out the birthday cards each month. Cards go out all over the state. These people are 101 years or older. Did you know if you are 110 years old, that makes you a supercentenarian?
Advice from centenarians
Recently, I have been working on a report to determine how many of our centenarians are veterans. As I looked through our files, almost all of the men had served in World War II. Some of the women had also served - many as nurses. Some people turning 100 prefer not to be honored. We have observed a few veterans who seemed to have survivors' guilt. Yes, after all these years. They made it back from WWII, but some of their friends did not. They don't want the attention.
We always ask our centenarians what advice they would give for living to be 100. I laughed out loud when I read some of their comments. Most, however, were excellent advice for anyone of any age.
Health
- Eat healthy, with plenty of fruits and vegetables.
- Drink plenty of water, so you don't get those darn urinary tract infections.
- Make sure you have a comfortable bed so that you can get a good night's sleep.
- Take walks. The fresh air will make you feel better, and it is good exercise.
- Take care of yourself, you will feel better after you bathe and groom yourself.
- Keep up with your medical records, ask your doctor questions.
- Don't smoke, drink, or tell dirty jokes.
Family and friends
- Stay in touch with your family.
- Pick a good spouse, one is enough.
- Have fun with friends and keep making new ones!
- Teach your kids how to work hard and how to pray, too.
- Play games with your grandchildren. Set a good example for them. You want them to remember you fondly.
Other good tips
- Keep your home neat and clean. It doesn't have to be fancy for you to be proud.
- Save some money for a rainy day.
- Don't give up. Try new activities and hobbies.
- Remember the golden rule, treat others with respect.
- Do a good deed for someone occasionally.
- Have a grateful heart.
- Life does come with instructions. Pick up a Bible.
Some similarities we have noticed among centenarians: Many started life living on a farm eating fresh foods. Most are a healthy weight, not obese or rail thin. They have strong connections to family and friends, and they stay active.
Sometimes when I am addressing a birthday card to one of our centenarians, I wonder will someone be addressing a card to me in the year 2057. Maybe the life-expectancy chart my oncologist has will be wrong. After all, I plan to follow the advice of my centenarian friends.
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