Keys to Living a Good Life at 90+. ...

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Talked to my Mother for over an hour last night on the phone. She was in Good spirits as she always is.

She will be 90 next year and is still zooming around town in her RAV4.

She got on the subject of age. And she still finds it hard to believe her years are numbered. She said it doesn't feel like it.

I then asked her what the secret was to living a joyful life at such a ripe old age?

She replied that it was two things that really helped her :
1. Staying busy and taking the focus off yourself and put it on others by serving and helping them.
2. Staying curious about life. She reads tons of books and is always learning something new about Life nearly everyday

Anyway, I thought it was a great conversation we had and very revealing.

Anyone out there care to add on to this as far as ways to live a long, enriched Life ??
  • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
    My mom will turn 92 this year. Her secret? She's too mean to die.

    Her other secrets? She's never drank or smoked. She's always had a penchant for walking as exercise. She doesn't get stressed, ie. "And this, too, shall pass." She doesn't eat at restaurants unless I force her to. She still cooks for herself and my brother nearly every day.

    If you asked her for her secret to a long life, she'd probably say something like, "Don't get hit by a bus. Now shut up, Kelly Ripa is about to say something stupid."
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    • Originally Posted by Dan Riffle View Post

      My mom will turn 92 this year. Her secret? She's too mean to die.

      Her other secrets? She's never drank or smoked. She's always had a penchant for walking as exercise. She doesn't get stressed, ie. "And this, too, shall pass." She doesn't eat at restaurants unless I force her to. She still cooks for herself and my brother nearly every day.

      If you asked her for her secret to a long life, she'd probably say something like, "Don't get hit by a bus. Now shut up, Kelly Ripa is about to say something stupid."
      When did she start thinking you were Kelly Ripa?
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      • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
        Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

        When did she start thinking you were Kelly Ripa?
        I didn't say she doesn't have dementia.
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    • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
      Originally Posted by Dan Riffle View Post

      My mom will turn 92 this year. Her secret? She's too mean to die.

      Her other secrets? She's never drank or smoked. She's always had a penchant for walking as exercise. She doesn't get stressed, ie. "And this, too, shall pass." She doesn't eat at restaurants unless I force her to. She still cooks for herself and my brother nearly every day.

      If you asked her for her secret to a long life, she'd probably say something like, "Don't get hit by a bus. Now shut up, Kelly Ripa is about to say something stupid."
      You have a brother, you mean their are more of you out there, shudder. And he lives with his mom still, is he married. Do they live in a mobile nome? So many nosey questions.

      Me having a long life is not on the cards (big sigh of relief here, lol) due to heart and diabetes. Perhaps 10 years if I'm lucky.

      As to the key to a long life. Unless you do anything like excessive drugs, smoking and booze and overindulging on sugary or salty foods to kill you. I think it's just down to genetics and luck. Some people are just more robust than others and some do do a bit of what I mentioned above and still make it to 100.

      Their really is no definitive answer.
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      • Profile picture of the author discrat
        Originally Posted by lanfear63 View Post

        You have a brother, you mean their are more of you out there, shudder. And he lives with his mom still, is he married. Do they live in a mobile nome? So many nosey questions.

        Me having a long life is not on the cards (big sigh of relief here, lol) due to heart and diabetes. Perhaps 10 years if I'm lucky.

        As to the key to a long life. Unless you do anything like excessive drugs, smoking and booze and overindulging on sugary or salty foods to kill you. I think it's just down to genetics and luck. Some people are just more robust than others and some do do a bit of what I mentioned above and still make it to 100.

        Their really is no definitive answer.
        I think genetics do play a role in it for sure and luck.,But I will also say you increase the odds in your favor by exercise and a good diet. But of course there is no guarantee
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      • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
        Originally Posted by lanfear63 View Post

        You have a brother, you mean their are more of you out there, shudder. And he lives with his mom still, is he married. Do they live in a mobile nome? So many nosey questions.
        He's never been married. And no, he's not a "confirmed bachelor" (not that there's anything wrong with that...). My mom lives with him. They do not live in a mobile home.

        I have three siblings, two brothers (one passed) and a sister. They are all considerably older than me. My older brother died ten years ago and I still haven't caught up to him yet.
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        • Profile picture of the author discrat
          Originally Posted by Dan Riffle View Post

          .

          I have three siblings, two brothers (one passed) and a sister. They are all considerably older than me. My older brother died ten years ago and I still haven't caught up to him yet.
          Okay that makes sense. I figured you were awful young to have a 92 yr old Mother. She must have had you late in life
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          • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
            Originally Posted by discrat View Post

            Okay that makes sense. I figured you were awful young to have a 92 yr old Mother. She must have had you late in life
            Yeah, mom was in her early 40s, dad his late 40s.
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      • Profile picture of the author discrat
        Originally Posted by lanfear63 View Post


        Me having a long life is not on the cards (big sigh of relief here, lol) due to heart and diabetes. Perhaps 10 years if I'm lucky.
        Mark, you stubborn old fool, you will probably outlive us all !!
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        • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
          Originally Posted by discrat View Post

          Mark, you stubborn old fool, you will probably outlive us all !!
          I went to the heart doc recently. He said due to the left side of my heart being deflated and after several months of taking pills to remedy that, that I should have an MRI scan on the 17th of this month. If it is below a certain level (contraction retraction or something) then he recommends I have an internal defibrillator fitted.

          He showed me what they looked like. Four different sizes. Metallic off square device. Reminded me of part of the back of the silver metal backed IPods that used to be around years ago. (though you probably cant play music on it, lol) The battery lasts 10 to 12 years.

          The procedure is often same day or just one night hospital stay. But it's a case of then what?. Suppose it gets set off and jerks me back to life. It does not cure the condition. I feel fine physically at the moment but he said you could go on like that for a while and then just suddenly drop dead. So, I will go with it. To what end, I don't know.

          Anyway, I can't die yet, until my mission to completely destroy Dan and Claude is fulfilled.
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  • You would wanna considah also how a yearsy-spansy-possiblezone might depend mebbe on stuffs beyond junnetix, lifestyle choices, cultural inheritance boosts, cash assets from pirate ancestahs, alien abduction sh*t for which you received sum kinda bonus, resemblin' Jeezis or Madonnah, cyberimplants, or the intrisinsic valyoo of a singularly soopreme pooch/hoss/octopus sidekick ...

    like kinda ...

    hey, mebbe you commanded to 'zist sumplace real hostile.

    Yanno, the kinda place where nowan gives a damn less'n they speshly an' inconceivably opinionated.

    Plenty places like this globally.

    Too much hooman ruin gowin' on rn, so we must all considah usselves fortunate to witness any kinda 90yo vibes an' celebrate with doo reverance.

    Note to self: You make it to 90, Princess, you may dispense from on high like the ultimate benevolent bitch.
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  • Profile picture of the author DWolfe
    My Grandmother lived to 105. She smoked for most of her life, and I will not get into the booze. In her 80's she would call my Mom claiming her back was bothering her. When asked what she was doing, she said she moved the refrigerator to clean behind it. Or had moved the furniture in her apartment. She came from Ireland as a teenager before the depression. She had breast cancer in the mid-1960s.

    However, she ate almost zero processed food, everything was fresh from the supermarket. She was on the heavier side. She raised six children by herself because my Grandfather left her at a very early age. I will say her diet may be the key to her longevity or she was too tough according to my one aunt.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jamell
    The older folks in my community that are up in that age bracket are very active and that keeps them alive and youthful .
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  • Profile picture of the author jacksmitho
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    • Profile picture of the author discrat
      Originally Posted by jacksmitho View Post

      What an inspiring conversation! Your mother's wisdom shines through her positive outlook and zest for life. I couldn't agree more with her insights on staying busy, serving others, and staying curious. Another key aspect I'd add is maintaining strong social connections and nurturing meaningful relationships. Cheers to your mother's vibrant spirit and here's to embracing life with joy and curiosity
      Thank you jacksmitho for the very kind words
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  • I'll be lucky to make it to 60. I think that thinking I may make it to 90 is lock you up type thinking.

    But no matter how long we live, those two secrets of your mother are valuable. If I were going to add one, not that I have any credentials to do so, I would add to keep the most important things in mind and prioritize your schedule, goals, and tasks to make sure you honor those priorities. For me that's family.

    Thanks for sharing!

    Mark
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    About 5 years ago I went to a birthday party for a great aunt on her 100th birthday. I was sitting talking to her and she told me her only problem was that should hardly walk because her knee joints were so bad. She said 'I wanted to get knee replacements when I was 91 and the doctor said I was too old'.


    She went on to say: "Damned idiot - I told him he didn't have to do a perfect job on the knees. I didn't want to go dancing - just wanted to work in my garden."


    She died a couple weeks before her 103rd birthday. She could have done a lot of gardening in 12 years...
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  • Profile picture of the author sohug04
    Nurture healthy relationships: Strong connections with loved ones are essential for well-being. Invest time and effort in cultivating positive relationships with family, friends, and those who support you.
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