Gratitude and Living a Long Life 

This Florida woman, Mildred Kirschenbaum, is going viral on social media with this piece of life advice. 

“I want to share a thought about attitude. I recently turned 100 years old. And yet, I have friends who are 15-20 years younger, and their attitudes are going to cause them not to survive to my age. 

They’re not grateful for anything. Their attitude is, ‘I don’t see my kids more than once a week’ or ‘the food I was served was cold and bad.’ Their attitude is not acceptable. 

If the food isn’t quite right, so have an extra dessert! If you hear from your children once a week, that’s fine. They call you once a week, you call them once a week. And be grateful that they are enjoying life. 

Change your attitude. Look at the positive side of life. I think THAT is what got me this far. I try my best not to sweat the small stuff and to have a positive attitude.” 

Mildred, 100 years old, lives alone, drives, pays her bills online, texts loved ones on her iPhone and never misses happy hour. She has become an internet sensation for her advice on living a long and active life. 

Forgiveness is another concept Mildred discusses. 

“At this point in my life, I’m 100. When I go to bed, I may not wake up again. Why carry an unnecessary burden? Why wake up in the morning and, even though you don’t think about it, you’re angry at somebody? They don’t deserve your anger. If they’re not important to you, just shelve it. If they’re important to you, reach out.” 

Some of Mildred’s videos appear on the lighter side, including one she shared about getting tech-savvy, no matter your age. 

“We live in a computer world. Either you go with the flow or you fall off the train. This is a tech world. If you have a computer and don’t know how to use it, there’s a book called “Computers for Dummies.” Don’t say, ‘I don’t know how to retrieve emails.’ There’s no such thing as, ‘I don’t know.’” 

Mildred has an iPad, an iPhone, and a Microsoft computer to help her stay in touch with people, get information she needs, play an occasional game of Words With Friends, film her videos, and do her banking.

“The only checks I mail are birthday gifts,” Mildred said. “Everything else is online.” 

Other topics Mildred discusses are navigating the road at 100 years old, why she chooses to live alone, the safest way to get up if you fall at home, and directions for her chicken soup recipe which was requested over and over.

“Taste it. If you don’t have enough salt, add it. Don’t be afraid to improvise.”

One key to longevity, Mildred said, is getting out and about — being social. 

She enjoys playing bridge or canasta to keep her mind sharp and stay connected with others. But one of her favorite ways to be social is attending happy hour at her community clubhouse or a favorite local restaurant. 

“I do enjoy happy hour. There’s usually no one there even close to my age but that’s no problem whatsoever.” 

We could all take Mildred’s advice .

Are you feeling depressed?

DEPRESSION TIPS:

Shower. Not a bath, a shower. Use water as hot or cold as you like. You don’t even need to wash. Just get in under the water and let it run over you for a while. Sit on the floor if you need to.

Moisturize everything. Use whatever lotion you like that makes you smell yummy? Use whatever you want, and use it all over your entire dermis.

Put on clean, comfortable clothes. Put on your favorite underwear. Those ridiculous boxers you bought last Christmas with candy cane hearts on the butt? Put them on.

Drink cold water. Use ice. If you want, add some mint or lemon for an extra boost.

Clean something. Doesn’t have to be anything big. Organize one drawer of a desk. Wash five dirty dishes. Do a load of laundry. Scrub the bathroom sink. Pick up 30 things and put them away.

Blast music. Listen to something upbeat. Blast something that’s got lots of energy. Sing to it, dance to it, even if you suck at both but no one is watching so just have fun.

Make food. Don’t just grab a granola bar to munch. Take the time and make food. Even if it’s ramen. Add something special to it, like a soft boiled egg or some veggies. Prepare food, it tastes way better, and you’ll feel like you accomplished something.

Make something. Write a short story or a poem, draw a picture, color a picture, fold origami, crochet or knit, sculpt something out of clay, anything artistic. Even if you don’t think you’re good at it. Create.

Go outside. Take a walk. Sit in the grass. Look at the clouds. Smell flowers. Play in the snow. Put your hands in the dirt and feel the soil against your skin. Make a snow angel or go sledding.Throw snowballs.

Call someone. Call a loved one, a friend, a family member, call a chat service if you have no one else to call.

Talk to a stranger on the street. Have a conversation and listen to someone’s voice. If you can’t bring yourself to call, text or email or whatever, just have some social interaction with another person. Even if you don’t say much, listen to them. It helps.

Cuddle your pets if you have them/can cuddle them. Borrow a doggie to play with. Take pictures of them. Talk to them. Tell them how you feel, about your favorite movie, a new game coming out, anything.

These tips may seem small or silly to some, but this list helps keeps people alive.

Things to consider:

At your absolute best you won’t be good enough for the wrong people. But at your worst, you’ll still be worth it to the right ones. Remember that. Keep holding on.

In case nobody has told you today I love you and you are worth your weight and then some in gold, so be kind to yourself and most of all keep pushing on!

And, finally, find something to be grateful for!