Age-old advice

If it is true that wisdom comes with age, then there is nobody better placed to teach us how to live than centenariansPeople who are aged 100 or older. , who have shared their top ten commandmentsInstructions that you must follow. for a long, happy life.

Thou shalt... eat well. As Virginia WoolfAn English novelist (1882 - 1941) whose best-known books include Mrs Dalloway and To The Lighthouse. once said: "One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well."

Thou shalt... travel. More older adults than ever travelled the world in 2023. But they all agree that it comes with its challenges. See the world while you still can, they advise.

Thou shalt... cherish your friends. Build friendships which will last a lifetime. Sandy Hazelip and her best friend Ellie Hamby, both 81 years old, travelled the world in 80 days together last year.¹

Thou shalt... dance. Myra Reavley, 101, says: "I danced until I was 98 - when I stopped dancing, the world stopped dancing."²

Thou shalt... keep talking. Scientists think that loneliness is a greater risk for your health than obesityThe medical condition of being very overweight. There are many ways of measuring this, including a BMI of 30 or more. (You can work out your BMI by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared.), high blood pressure, or a poor diet - so keep talking!

Thou shalt... love what you do. Bennie Stewart, 86, got his first job at age seven. Since then, he has chopped cotton, bused dishes, cleaned buildings, sold insurance, and later become a social worker and pastorA minister in charge of a Christian church or congregation.. The secret to enjoying your work? "I love talking to people," he says.

Thou shalt... stay active. Malcolm Idelson, who is 94, says that the key to longevityThe fact of lasting a long time. When referring to populations and demography, it means living a long life. is walking every day: "I was a walker. Everyone knew it. It was just in my blood!"³

Thou shalt... get a good education! 100-year-old Robbie Hall left school at 14 years old. It is her biggest regret. "Always, at the back of things, I feel my lack of education," she says. "Study well, study hard."⁴

Thou shalt... be kind. Colin Bell, 102, regrets that he was not kind or tolerantBeing open-minded and listening to beliefs that are different to your own. in his 20s. By the time I became a grandfather, I had learned tolerance, I had learned kindness," he says.⁵

Thou shalt... love yourself. Oscar WildeAn Irish writer famous for his witty remarks and plays, such as The Importance of Being Earnest. once said that "to love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance". When we love ourselves, we will never be lonely.

Should we listen to old people more?

Yes: Old people have all the wisdom we need to live a happy life. We would be fools not to heed their advice. 

No: If anything, we should be listening to young people more. Old people are overrepresented in politics and policy-making, whilst young people, who understand the modern world better, do not have their voices heard.

Or... Age does not necessarily bestow wisdom. We should listen to people with the most experiences, not the most years under their belt.