EDITOR’S COLUMN: Wise words from the oldest woman alive

The world’s oldest woman is 115 and made the Guinness Book of World Records this year. Reportedly, upon learning of the honor, she tweeted — yes, she’s on Twitter — from her nursing home in Catalonia, Spain, where she has spent the last 22 years.

Maria Branyas Morera has survived two world wars, the 1918 influenza pandemic, and Covid-19. She’s seen the advent of cars, radio, rockets, television, the internet, and so much more. Today she uses a cell phone to stay connected with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. And she’s a regular on Twitter. To say that she has a different perspective on life is an understatement.

In the 20-plus years I’ve been interviewing people for stories, the stories told by “senior adults” have always provided me with insightful life lessons. There was the 90-something-year-old who had just finished picking, preparing and canning multiple bushels of peaches by himself when we sat down for an interview. His advice on aging was to “stay busy.” And there was the octogenarian woman whose memoir I edited and helped publish in book form so her family would have her story. She taught me about the risks of “lazy loads” (trying to carry too much stuff at once to save time will likely cause injury and slow you down more… I’ve proven this several times) and “dammit dolls” (stuffed rag dolls with long legs that are good for taking out your frustrations without actually punching someone in the throat and getting arrested.) She also taught me not to get all uptight over current events and politics because, “this, too, shall pass.” And after it passes, it comes back around.

In that vein, I appreciate Morera’s advice for aging well, too. She says we need “order, tranquility, good connections with family and friends, contact with nature, emotional stability, no worries, no regrets, lots of positivity – and stay away from toxic people.”

By NIKI TURNER – editor@editorht1885.com