Defy Aging by Michael Brickey, Ph.D. Board Certified Psychologist

Centenarian Role Models

ACTION TO TAKE

Look for examples of centenarians who are doing admirable things. Consider reading books by centenarians such as the Delany sisters and George Dawson and books about centenarians such as Living to 100 and Centenarians: The Bonus Years.

Michael Brickey, Ph.D.

WHY?

Role models teach us and inspire us. As a kid you probably had lots of heroes and role models. You need them as an adult as well. Role models are a short cut from learning by trial and error. If you want to know how to age well, look at today's centenarians.

The New England Centenarian study (Living to 100) found that most of the centenarians they studied were mentally and physically sharp. Most did not have a disability until the last four years of their lives and they averaged one medication. Typically, they died at home from an acute illness or a fall.

Here are a few of my favorite centenarian role models:

»	Sadie and Bessie Delany, whose father was a former slave, wrote their first book, Having Our Say, when both were centenarians. The book became a best seller and a Tony winning Broadway play. Then they wrote another best selling book.
»	George Dawson, grandson of a slave, started working at age eight to help support his family. He "got tired of writing my name with an X" and learned to read and write when in his nineties. As a centenarian he wrote his autobiography, Life is So Good.
»	Dr. Henry Stenhouse ran for Congress when he was 100 and received 47% of the votes.

Defy Aging Quote:

You can't help getting older but you don't have to get old.
                                -George Burns

Once a young man asked me, "What was it like in your day?" "My day?" I said. "This is my day."
                                -Rosina Tucker (age 104)

Defy Aging Humor:

With a little luck, there's no reason why you can't make it to be 100. Once you've done that, you've got it made, because very few people die over 100.
                                -George Burns

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Michael Brickey, Ph.D. is a life coach and a Board Certified psychologist and serves on the medical staff of several hospitals. He is the author of Defy Aging: Develop the Mental and Emotional Vitality to Live Longer, Healthier, and Happier Than You Ever Imagined. Critically acclaimed by Dr. Bernie Siegel, Betty Friedan, Dr. Ronald Klatz, and four past presidents of the American Psychological Association, it is available at many bookstores and through his web site www.DrBrickey.com. He coaches people and organizations all over the country by phone as part of his mission to help people do things they didn't think they could do. He also speaks on Defying Aging. Please E-mail Dr. Brickey at BeautyWalk@DrBrickey.com.