54. Tips from a centenarian: a mantra against falling, a system, and gratitude. With Doris Carnevali

Learning How To Be Old

54. Tips from a centenarian: a mantra against falling, a system, and gratitude. With Doris Carnevali

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I enjoy reading tips from a centenarian about why they’ve lived so long and stayed so perky. Now well over 100, Doris Carnevali devised an original system for tackling the never-ending problems of daily life in extreme old age, and reasons for gratitude.

Whether you are almost old, already old, or never-gonna-be-old, she is my role model for positive ageing. I’m sharing three key chapters from my book based on her blog, The Sturdy Centenarian.

• A simple mantra to stop herself from falling
• her ABC for meeting the everyday challenges of very old age
• And some surprising things to be grateful for, in spite of extreme old age and even because of it.

Usually when very old people are asked for tips on aging, they give varied and specific advice from their own experience. Tips like “stay young at heart” or “stay curious” or “keep dancing” or “marry a good wife.” Doris Carnevali does give advice, although she thinks of herself as a guide, not a teacher. She also also offers a practical, pretty straightforward system for dealing with the challenges that crop up every day when you become very old.

This short episode was first broadcast in November 2024.

Rich advice from 100 centenarians (The Guardian, 23 February 2023)