People Share their Secrets to a Happy Life

We frequently hear that a small glass of something strong in the evening is the key to long life, while others swear by nothing more than fresh air and hard labor. But what is the key to living a long and happy life? We polled the thoughts of some of the world’s oldest people, who were happy to share their advice.

#healthy for life

Who are the world’s oldest people?

Jeanne Calment (1875-1997) of France is the oldest person ever to have lived (whose age has been verified). Jiroemon Kimura (1897-2013), from Japan, is the oldest man alive. Charlotte Hughes (1877-1993), who lived to the age of 115, is the oldest person to have lived in the United Kingdom.

Kane Tanaka, a 116-year-old Japanese woman, is currently the world’s oldest living person. Her birthday is January 2, 1903. The key to living a long and happy life So, what accounts for these superhuman supercentenarians’ long and joyful lives?

#healthy for life

Kindness

Gertrude Weaver of Arkansas lived to be 117 years old, thanks to the power of compassion.

“Treat people right and treat others the way you want them to treat you.”

Gertrude’s sentiment is simple, but it is all too often overlooked in our hectic lives nowadays.

Perform push-ups every day

Duranord Veillard, who died at the age of 111, said his secret to living a long and happy life was to get up at 5:00 a.m. every day and do 5 to 7 press-ups.

Aside from his fitness program, he also ate a nutritious breakfast of oatmeal, fruit, and a cup of tea every morning, and completed the day with fish and veggies.

He was certainly doing something right as agrandfather to 12 and great-grandfather to 14.

Knitting

Knitting has long been recognized for its healing properties.

Alfred Date, who died at the age of 110, spent much of his last years creating small sweaters for injured penguins. Yes, you read that correctly.

Alfred’s knitting skills were so well recognized that two nurses from the Philip Island Penguin Foundation approached him about making sweaters for penguins afflicted by an oil leak. As if it wasn’t enough, he also made jumpers for his human companions.

#health habits

Men are to be avoided

Jessie Gallan, Scotland’s oldest individual, died in 2015 at the age of 109.

She swore by a warm bowl of porridge for breakfast and waking up smiling everymorning.

In a lighter vein, she bestowed the virtues of avoiding males at all costs.

“My secret to a long life has been staying away from men,” remarked the gregarious, active, and immensely popular resident of an Aberdeen care home. They’re simply more bother than they’re worth!”

#health habits