Age Old Wisdom
Editor’s Note: Ying-Ying T. Yuan lives in Tucson, Arizona, and is a transplant from the East Coast. She grew up in the New York City area and worked in Washington D.C. for over 40 years.
My step-grandmother lived to the astonishing age of 111. And she was lucky; she enjoyed herself and was present right up to the end, when she slept most of the day.
Because she lived so long, many people would ask her for the secret of her longevity. My grandmother was very sociable but not super chatty. She would never really talk about something so philosophical, and she would not presume to give advice. But gradually we observed her habits and learned what might be lessons about keeping young.
Habit #1: Keep moving.
Once when her doctor recommended that she exercise more, my grandmother told him that she never exercised because she did not feel well afterwards. This was when she was already 94!
Although my grandmother did not go to a gym, have a personal trainer, or follow exercises on TV, she was always on the move. Rarely sitting down, she would take care of the kitchen and the household and the daily visitors. She only sat down to eat dinner or to play mahjong. She enjoyed going out to restaurants right up to her 110th birthday, and even went out to a large gathering for her 111th birthday.
Habit # 2: Everything in moderation.
Just like Julia Child, my grandmother enjoyed good food. And she had her favorite dishes. But if you watched carefully, you would see that she always ate sparingly. Whether it was fried chicken or a rich creamy dessert, she ate just a small amount.
She did not believe in restricting her diet. Bring on the melted butter for lobster! She ate everything and enjoyed everything. I don’t think she ever thought once about being on a diet of any kind. She did not drink alcohol, but would always have a small glass of wine to join in toasts or to keep guests company.
Habit #3: Never look back.
My grandmother did not indulge in past regrets or even past losses. She would never compare one party with another, one meal with another, or one person to another. From her perspective each day was fine.
She had grown up in Shanghai but was in the Philippines during the invasion by the Japanese, when her first husband was killed. She was a single mother with three young daughters in a concentration camp for a number of years. When she came to the United States she started all over again and focused on getting a job and getting the best education for her daughters. After marrying my grandfather, she welcomed his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren to her home, just as she welcomed her own family.
Sitting around the family dinner table, we all learned age is just a number. When your grandmother or mother is 100 plus years old, you are humbled by their wisdom, no matter your age.
