The rare distinction of being a centenarian – that is, a person who has lived to be 100 years old or more – is an amazing feat. To date, there are less than 200,000 people on the planet who have achieved this incredible milestone. For those who have made it to 100 years and beyond, life has likely been full of events that changed history and embedded itself in their memory.
So what does it mean to be a centenarian? It means you’ve seen and experienced many different times in history; from the early 20th century all the way up until our current day. You may even remember hearing about the first car being invented or how Captain Cook discovered Australia. It also means you’ve managed to survive over a century worth of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and famines. And most importantly, being a centenarian means you had an opportunity to share your wisdom with subsequent generations throughout all these decades and were able to influence them through your experience and understanding of life.
But it isn’t easy for everyone to become a centenarian; living so long requires good genes combined with luck but also healthy habits like regular exercise, moderate eating and drinking habits, adequate sleep patterns and participating in mentally stimulating activities daily can help increase your lifespan significantly. Some other approaches that can contribute positively towards longevity include having strong social connections with family or friends which has been linked with lower mortality rates in various studies on aging populations around the world.
It goes without saying that becoming a true centenarian is an exceptional accomplishment! We should look at those among us living longer than we could ever imagine and appreciate their courage for making it this far; we should take some inspiration from them too when trying to maintain healthy lifestyles ourselves so we can make each day count while they still remain amongst us.
With that, I want to say Happy 100th birthday to my grandmother Mary Lee! One hundred years is an incredible achievement and it is a privilege to be able to share in the joy of celebrating her special day. It's amazing to think of all the events she has lived through in her lifetime and so glad to have her in my life for the last 33 years. She is an inspiration for others, especially those who are looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle as they age. Here’s wishing Mary Lee many more years of love and happiness!