While factors like genetics—including age, gender, and ancestry—play a role in how long we live, our lifestyle choices hold considerable power over our longevity.
Centenarian Dorothy Wiggins, who will celebrate her 100th birthday on August 14, 2025, recently shared insights into her remarkably long life during an interview with the Seeds Of Success channel on YouTube. Her secret, she credits to advice from her aunt.
“My father’s sister used to tell me, ‘Dorothy, live in the present. Do not live in the past; just live in the present,’” Wiggins recalled. “She would always say that to me, and it had some effect. I do live in the present and try to enjoy each moment.”
Wiggins believes many individuals miss out on truly enjoying their lives because they allow themselves to become consumed by negativity.
“I try not to get aggravated and have a positive attitude,” she explained. “Most things that happen, I let slide over me, which a lot of people would get aggravated by. It upsets their stomach, and they get frustrated.” She observed that many people are perpetually stressed, prioritizing financial gain over genuine happiness, neglecting relaxation and enjoyment.
Her days are intentionally structured to maximize pleasure and joy, a practice she shared with her late husband.
“My husband and I were very much in love. He died two months after he was 100,” Wiggins stated. “Every single day, no matter what, we were travelling or moving. At the end of every single day, we had a cocktail. That was our sacred cocktail hour.”
She also advocates for emulating the lifestyle often observed in Mediterranean cultures.
“The Mediterranean countries know how to live longer,” she said. “They enjoy their food and relaxation and take two to three-hour lunches.”
Another key to longevity, according to a different perspective shared by a 90-year-old woman, is consistent physical activity.
A TikTok creator known as Gluten Free Gut Health Girl (@connievalentinecurrie) highlighted her mother’s approach to staying active. “Want to stay strong for life? Listen to tips from my 90-year-old mum,” she encouraged viewers. The nonagenarian maintains a routine of two daily walks, one in the morning and another in the afternoon, emphasizing that “if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it.”
Both women offer compelling reminders to prioritize present moment awareness, cultivate positivity, embrace movement, and find joy in simple pleasures as cornerstones of a long and fulfilling life.
