One Hundred Years of Wisdom

He is 101 years old, new to my practice, and I was asked to pay him a medical visit at his home. I didn’t know what to anticipate, but this new patient turned out to be the highlight of my day.  He vividly told me how he had fallen last May in his bathroom – a “silly mistake that was my own fault” – and as a result he had broken his hip. A hospitalization and rehab followed, but he had not regained the strength he needed in order to live independently, or to do much other than be in a chair during most of his day. He also had a urinary catheter placed during his hospitalization, and nearly died from a urinary infection last August. But other than a few injuries he had sustained in the distant past, this gentleman is amazingly healthy and his mind is as sharp as a tack.  His blood pressure is as good as a teenager’s. He takes no medication. He drove a car until he was 100, never having a traffic violation or accident. Until he broke his hip last May, he went to work in his wood shop every day, operating power tools such as lathes, saws and drills. He has a good appetite, goes to bed at 9 every evening and arises at daylight. He reads books during the day in order to keep his mind strong. In fact, he had just finished reading a book about Chinese consumerism, manufacturing, and exports, and the effect this may have on world economy. He proudly told me “I love my life.”

I’d like us to learn from the wisdom and habits of my new patient. In talking to him and his son, a couple of items stood out regarding the way he lives his life – clues, I believe, to his amazing longevity and the quality of life he continues to enjoy. The first is his mental attitude. He loves life, even with the recent adversity and challenges it poses. He realizes the value of making mistakes, and doesn’t beat himself up over having made them. To put it in his words, “The only thing wrong with making mistakes is if you don’t learn from them, or if you keep on making them.” The second significant item relates to his diet. It isn’t so much about what he eats, but rather how much he eats. He stops eating when he isn’t hungry and before he is full. He has done this his entire life, and I am sure it is related to how well he has done over the years. He is at his ideal weight. Third, he has been active physically and mentally all of his life – this continues even today, to the extent possible for him.

One hundred years of wisdom can be summarized as follows:

1. For today, and each day forward, keep a positive attitude. Learn from mistakes you have made and use that information to help you in the future.


2. Don’t eat if you aren’t hungry and stop eating before you are full.


3. Move more and look for ways to increase your physical activity. You don’t need to join a gym – start by parking further away when you shop, and build from there.

Do these 3 things and your health will improve, you will probably live longer, and your quality of life will be better. Impress your doctor when you are 101!



The author submits this blog posting as a health educator and not in any other capacity. You should seek the advice of your physician regarding a personal health condition or before undertaking any diet, exercise, or other health program.