9 Lifelong Secrets From a 90-year-old VeteranAmanda Warren Singing For real? Grandpa is a lover not a fighter who always enjoyed music, especially theater. But that doesnt have to be you to apply. How many of us sing in our car or hum while we work? He sang his whole life and was the leading man in numerous plays, always ready to lend a hand to community entertainment. It turns out singing is good for the heart, mind and soul. Singing is seen as a symptom of happiness. Sense of Humor it must be Freds sense of humor that brought him through hardships. Lets just say he joined WW2 to escape his home life. He made it through the Great Depression as well. But he never takes himself too seriously. He doesnt fear the eccentricity label he doesnt seem to fear anything. Embrace humor if you want to cope with what lies ahead. When his heart recently stopped, he had been in the middle of singing with his seniors follies choir that appears at nursing homes, many of the residents of which are much younger than him. One hospital visit and pacemaker later, hes sitting up in bed laughing, saying: So much for that singing health study you sent me look where its landed me! He was joking and serenading the nurses and back at home in no time. A sense of humor must mean something if it can change our entire physiology in seconds. Vigorous Social Life There is increasing evidence that more virtual reality correlates with more loneliness and stagnation. While his acquaintanceships arent deep, he enjoys a lot of face-to-face interaction and with it comes laughter. Facebook depression or envy might seem like a conjured up way to give more meds, but there are observable changes when people hole-up on their computers all day. Or when we compare ourselves to superficial projections. As Michael Hoffman eloquently predicted in Secret Societies and Psychological Warfare we are Wired to the Data Hive. That chapter is a compelling look at how global elitists designed it that way . . . and the program is a success; its infuriating, but a great motivator to stay aware. One boy disconnected for 90 days and those results speak for themselves. Positive Power Had he been steeped in his early troubles all those years, who knows how long he would have lived. Stress-response is heavily researched as an early killer and weight gainer. Negativity changes the biochemistry, turning it acidic within seconds. He learned to take things one day at a time, and turn problems over to a higher power. According to behavioral neurolinguistics, negativity creates grooves in the brain like tire tracks, easy to get stuck in, just spinning our tires. If that werent true, then techniques like Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP), and Eye Movement Reprocessing (EMDR) would not enjoy an increasing audience. You can also meditate your way above, like Fred did. What about this Law of Attraction business? I dont know, but it seems in the last 50 years, no major troubles have befallen him. He goes into the city without fear he picks up hitchhikers. He lives in a way that makes us bite our nails . . . and we who worry seemed to be cursed at times. He only believes good things will come and they do. How does worrying benefit when theres just as much chance (50%) that something great will take place? Notably, he hasnt had the ideal healthy lifestyle (he even smoked until he was 40) do you think positive attitude can override physical wellness? Outreach and Purpose Why are we calling him Fred? Fred faced his demons and found great purpose through a 12-step program. He has started groups and sponsored young men who didnt know what else to do. He has spoken all over in a few countries. Do you have to be a holic to apply those spiritual principles? No, anyone can use the steps and literature to find more peace if they want. Some people who have the worst things to say about it maybe never went to meetings or found themselves at the end of a bottle unable to stop even in the face of imprisonment or losing family and jobs. Your journey might be different you may never need to reach a bottom only you can find purpose in your life. All I can say, there is a noticeable difference in people who practice some kind of spirituality even if they dont believe in God-type being. Have you ever found that volunteering gives off a type of euphoria? A great aunt of mine died within one hour of turning 90; she derived profound joy through helping autistic children. She, too , endured a hard-knock life and coped by pouring love onto others. Good genes? If genes are everything then why is there such a spike in disease, depression, suicide and criminal behavior? Why is there more emphasis on Epigenetics the study of nutrition, toxicity, behavior and environment on changing DNA? A Little Ego is Okay Fred is shameless at times, but I thinkoctogenariansshould do whatever they want. Think of that concept no shame. How many of us could make amazing strides if we didnt have the baggage of guilt, shame, and low self-worth often induced on us by society, media, and ignorance? This does make him appear eccentric I prefer to think hes onto something unique. He made his amends for his wrongdoings and assesses his daily actions. How many of us understand the ego? How many of us try to destroy it? Hes not a saint, but he feels forgiven, loved and accepted. Okay, EGO (Easing God Out) is not AA friendly, but isnt it better to have just a bit more than a lot less? Thats not to say humility doesnt play a big role in his life. David Icke likes to talk about how elitists have induced a lower vibrational mentality on the populace to make us feel unworthy when there is much more than meets the eye. In the land of confusion, its okay to know who you are, warts and all, and feel good about it. Walked Every Day He never played sports, but he walked one to two times everyday. It was peaceful and kept him trim and active. He loves dogs and would walk the neighbors dogs for free. They all thought that was weird, but it was a win-win. Since not being able to walk as much, his health has suffered a bit. Anyone can walk anywhere, anytime, but its so easy to take for granted. In other countries that dont use cars to get everywhere, there is a direct correlation with long life. Walking is now recommended to treat depression. Fruitaholic You would think a diet largely made up of fruit might cause someone to go into diabetic shock. At least thats what Ive feared. But the massive amount of fresh fruits (full of fiber and vitamins) this man eats has been cleansing, and the antioxidants (they eat up inflammatory gases given off by toxic invaders) have made him seem ageless. He doesnt even have many wrinkles his face is clear and vibrant. He would bound out in the morning to face the day with no aches or pains. Definitely consider skipping juice and desserts in favor of apples, oranges, grapes, watermelon and compote. Nearly 90 and always cancer free. Maybe it helped that he had grown up on some mid-western farmland. Simple meat potatoes, but good fresh foods, too, and a loving wife who has prepared three squares a day for over 50 years. Still, if blood sugar and candida are a concern, vegetables and leafy greens with a balanced diet are preferable, most nutritionists would say. These are the same people, along with my grandfather who got through war and economic plunges and made it out the other end with returning smiles. They as well as many who practice Eastern wisdom seem to know how to cope with tragedies and hardship. Take what you like and leave the rest. What are your lifelong secrets? Read other articles by Amanda Warren Here 