Life Advice from a 103 Year Old You Didn't Know You Needed

Summary

In this insightful video, 103-year-old Dr. Glattus shares her wisdom on living a fulfilling life, emphasizing the importance of love, laughter, labor, and listening with love. She reflects on overcoming adversity, such as her husband's request for divorce after 46 years, by finding new purpose and identity. Her advice for a better life includes seeking light and hope, letting go of negativity, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle with regular movement and rest. Dr. Glattus' experiences during World War II and her approach to aging offer valuable lessons on resilience and finding joy in every day.

Takeaways

• 🎉 Embracing life at 104: The interviewee finds it amazing to be alive and views each day as an opportunity.
• 🌟 Finding light in darkness: The importance of seeking positivity and hope even in challenging times is emphasized.
• 👣 Taking one step at a time: A metaphor for dealing with life's difficulties by focusing on small, manageable steps.
• 💡 Sharing brings light: The idea that sharing one's experiences and wisdom can illuminate the path for others.
• 🔄 The interconnectedness of life and love: How life and love are inseparable and influence each other.
• 😂 The power of laughter: Laughter with love brings joy and happiness, contrasting with the harm caused by laughter without love.
• 🛠 The value of labor: Finding joy and purpose in work, transforming it from a chore to a fulfilling endeavor.
• 👂 The art of listening with love: Listening not just to hear, but to understand and connect with others on a deeper level.
• 👵 Aging with a purpose: The interviewee believes that having a purpose and a message keeps one's life force going.
• 💔 Overcoming heartbreak: The ability to move forward and find new identity and freedom after a significant loss.
• 🕊️ Letting go of negativity: The advice to release negative emotions and experiences to make room for positivity.
• 👣 Keeping active in old age: The importance of maintaining physical activity and a healthy sleep routine for longevity.
• 🍔 A balanced diet approach: The interviewee does not strictly adhere to a specific diet but rather enjoys a variety of foods.
• 🕊️ The enduring nature of memories: The comfort found in cherished memories of loved ones, even after they have passed.
• 🌈 Living a fulfilling life: The overarching theme of the script is to live a life filled with love, light, and purpose.

Q & A

What was the age of the interviewee at the time of the interview?

The interviewee was almost 104 years old.

What significant historical events did the interviewee experience in her lifetime?

The interviewee experienced the end of World War I at her birth, attended medical school during World War II, and lived through various other significant events.

How did the interviewee describe her feelings on turning 104?

She described the experience as absolutely amazing and expressed awe at being alive at that age.

What was the interviewee's perspective on the world during World War II?

She described the world as broken, with every day bringing something scary, and V-Day (Victory Day) as a huge celebration.

What advice does the interviewee give for coping with fear and uncertainty about the future?

She advises to look for the light, for hope, and to share what you have, as it can make life more exciting for both oneself and others.

What are the five 'L's that the interviewee believes contribute to a fulfilling life?

The five 'L's are life, love, laughter, labor, and listening, all of which she believes should be experienced with love.

How did the interviewee handle her husband's request for a divorce after 46 years of marriage?

She initially felt broken but eventually found a new identity and purpose, thanking her ex-husband for her freedom.

What does the interviewee suggest as a way to deal with grief when losing close friends?

She suggests visiting 'memory lane' to recall happy memories, emphasizing that these memories can never be taken away.

What is the interviewee's approach to diet and eating?

She has a flexible diet, eating what is available and fresh, including home-cooked meals and occasionally fast food.

What habits contribute to the interviewee's longevity and well-being?

She emphasizes keeping active with the help of a walker, maintaining a good sleep schedule, and taking rest when needed.

What advice would the interviewee give to her younger self based on her life experiences?

She would advise her younger self to not lose the light, to follow love as the great teacher, and to understand that hard times pass.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Life Lessons from a 103-Year-Old

This paragraph introduces a 103-year-old woman named Glattus, who shares her wisdom on living a fulfilling life. Born at the end of World War I, she reflects on the hardships of WWII and emphasizes the importance of finding light in darkness. She discusses how the world has seen many challenges but always finds a way to correct itself. Glattus advises looking for hope and sharing it, as it can light up life for both the giver and receiver. She also introduces the concept of her 'five L's'—life, love, laughter, labor, and listening—which serve as guiding principles for a joyful and meaningful existence.

05:00

🌈 Overcoming Adversity and Embracing Life

In this paragraph, Glattus discusses the importance of purpose and a positive mindset in extending one's life. She shares her personal experience of her husband asking for a divorce after 46 years of marriage, which left her feeling broken but determined to continue her work. Glattus emphasizes the need to stay open to new opportunities and to find gratitude in freedom. She also talks about dealing with the loss of friends and loved ones by cherishing memories and maintaining a positive outlook on life. Her diet and lifestyle habits, such as eating fresh home-cooked meals and staying active, are briefly mentioned as contributing factors to her longevity.

10:02

💖 Lifelong Learning and the Power of Love

The final paragraph focuses on the enduring value of love and the pursuit of knowledge throughout life. Glattus advises her younger self to follow the light and love, which are the great teachers. She reflects on the importance of maintaining a positive attitude and not losing sight of the good in life, even during difficult times. Glattus also touches on the idea that contentment comes from appreciating what one has, rather than desiring more. The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to grab a copy of the goal-setting journal, which contains advice from Glattus and over a thousand others to help live a more fulfilling life.

Keywords

💡Life Advice

Life advice refers to guidance or recommendations given to help navigate the complexities of life. In the video, the 103-year-old woman shares her wisdom on how to live a more fulfilling life, emphasizing the importance of looking for the light and finding hope even in dark times. This advice is central to the video's theme of resilience and finding positivity in life's challenges.

💡World War II

World War II is a historical event that took place between 1939 and 1945, involving many of the world's nations, including the major powers, organized into two opposing military alliances. The woman in the video reflects on her experiences during this period, describing the world as 'broken' and highlighting the impact of such global events on individual lives.

💡Resilience

Resilience is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties or to endure hardships without breaking. The video's subject demonstrates resilience in the face of personal tragedy, such as her husband's request for a divorce after 46 years of marriage. Her ability to find a new purpose and identity post-divorce exemplifies the concept of resilience.

💡Laughter

Laughter is a natural expression of joy and amusement, often considered a universal language. The video emphasizes the importance of laughter with love as a source of joy and happiness. It contrasts laughter without love, which can be cruel and harmful, with laughter that is shared in a loving context, which can light up one's life.

💡Labor

Labor refers to the physical or mental effort expended in doing work. The video discusses the transformative power of approaching labor with love, which can turn drudgery into a fulfilling endeavor. The woman's perspective on labor suggests that finding joy in one's work can significantly enhance the quality of life.

💡Listening

Listening is the act of paying attention to and understanding sounds, particularly spoken language. The video highlights the importance of listening with love, which can make the act of hearing more meaningful and enriching. It contrasts empty sound with the profound connection that can be achieved through loving listening.

💡Memory Lane

Memory Lane is a metaphorical place or state of mind where one can revisit past experiences and memories. The video's subject uses this concept to express how she copes with the loss of loved ones, by cherishing the memories of them in her 'memory lane,' which no one can take away.

💡Diet

Diet refers to the food and drink that an individual habitually consumes. The video touches on the subject's diet, which is characterized by homecooked meals and a willingness to enjoy occasional indulgences like fast food. The discussion around diet in the video suggests that a balanced approach to eating can contribute to longevity and overall health.

💡Longevity

Longevity is the state of living a long life; it is often associated with health and lifestyle choices. The video explores the factors that may contribute to longevity, such as maintaining a purpose, staying active, and having a positive mindset. The woman's age and experiences provide a unique perspective on what might contribute to living a long and fulfilling life.

💡Grief

Grief is a natural response to loss, particularly the loss of someone close. The video discusses how the subject deals with grief by holding onto her memories and visiting 'memory lane.' This approach to grief allows her to keep the spirit of her loved ones alive within her, demonstrating a personal strategy for coping with loss.

💡Purpose

Purpose is the reason for which something exists or is done, often providing a sense of direction and meaning. The video's subject attributes her longevity and vitality to having a purpose and a message to share. Her story illustrates how a strong sense of purpose can drive one to continue living actively and meaningfully.

Highlights

The importance of finding and maintaining a sense of purpose and message in life for longevity and personal growth.

The transformative experience of turning 104 and the awe of being alive.

Historical context of being born at the end of World War I and attending medical school during World War II.

The collective relief and celebration on V-Day and its significance in personal and global history.

The psychological impact of fearing the future and the advice to look for the light instead of darkness.

The metaphor of walking on a dark path and finding light through sharing and connection.

The interconnectedness of life and love, and their role in personal unity and well-being.

The role of laughter with love in fostering joy and preventing cruelty and conflict.

The transformation of labor from drudgery to a fulfilling pursuit when approached with love and purpose.

The power of listening with love to truly hear and understand others.

The advice to let go of negativity and not carry the 'bag' of past hurts.

The personal journey of rebuilding identity and finding freedom after a divorce.

Coping with grief and loss by cherishing memories and the concept of 'memory lane'.

The significance of diet in longevity and the approach to eating what is available with gratitude.

The benefits of maintaining physical activity and the importance of rest for overall health.

The universal advice to follow the light and love as a guide for a better life, regardless of age.

The contentment and gratitude for life's simplicity and the world's richness at an advanced age.

Transcripts

what advice would you give to your

25-year-old self I thought I was done

there's nothing more to live for my

husband asked for a divorce after 46

years of marriage the world was broken

if you can't see it maybe it'll go away

but it doesn't what was life like the

world like during World War II Oh today

I'm in Phoenix Arizona asking the

world's most accomplished 103-year-old

some of life's deepest questions in this

video glattus is going to share all of

her insights and wisdom for how to live

a more fulfilling life so without

further Ado let's get into

it how old are you for people who don't

know 100 almost three almost 104 I was

cheating you're cheating yeah so many

you start to count right what does it

feel like to be turning 104 absolutely

amazing see I can't even remember what

it is because it's just another day it's

an amazing experience to be alive at

this point I'm in awe you're almost 104

so you were born in 1920 is that it yes

it was at the end of World War I and

then I went to medical school during

World War II I been through all the rest

of this stuff what was life like the

world like during World War II every day

there was something that was scary

something that had happened the world

was broken it was totally broken and

then it reached down to every one of us

and vday was

huge just huge what were you doing on

vday do you remember well we had a

picnic and you bring your basket and you

share it just celebrated however we

could a lot of people are super fearful

about what the world will be and what it

will look like and I think that

definitely puts a lot of strain on

people's mental health and mindset so

you've been through so many periods in

life that have seemed like what's the

world going to be like you know is this

it is it the end is it going to get any

better and it always seems to correct

itself look for the light if you're

looking for the darkness you'll find it

but look for the light because the sun

always comes up and the moon comes up

and the Stars there's always light to be

looked for if we look for it why do you

think people gravitate towards Darkness

scared they're really afraid to really

look at what's there and so if you can't

see it maybe it'll go away but it

doesn't look for the light look for Hope

if you're looking for it you'll find it

sometimes it's hard to find sometimes

it's very hidden see I kind of like

thinking if I'm walking on a path that's

dark and I'll I can see is one step at a

time I can take those steps one step at

a time but as I look over to one side or

the other maybe on the left side there's

a tiny little glimmer of light but if I

take my flashlight and put it on with

that little glimmer it lights the whole

thing up in other words if we have

something that we have to share and we

share it life gets more exciting not

only for us but for the person that

finds the light and all of a sudden well

there's more there see I have these five

lves that given me a little bit of a

platform from which to work at the first

two are life and love they go together

they don't function without each other

it's like a a when I'm pregnant the baby

that I'm carrying is one with me

everything I eat he eats everything I

think he thinks it's all one unit so the

life and love function together the

third L is laughter laughter without

love is cruel it hurts it breaks up

families it causes Wars but laughter

with love is joy and happiness it lights

your life up and the fourth one is labor

labor becomes drudgery if you're just

dragging it along but when you actually

look at it and with love you find what

you're finding the work that you are

doing is 10 times as hard and longer

hours than anything that you would been

doing when you were dragging yourself

through it so finding the aspect of your

own being that says ha I got it and you

go after that that's what lights you up

I I'm working at this age to do

something that I can do and I know that

the world is hungry for it and then the

last L is listening listening without

love is empty sound you just don't hear

but if you're listening with love you'll

hear and it'll speak to you why do we

laugh so little when we get older we

forget and we start carrying the bag

it's better to let it go my mother had

to saying in

hindustani many many things come along

but they're just not worth it so just

let it go if somebody says something

mean to you and you take it in it hurts

your feelings but if you take it and you

say oh well it's doesn't matter and you

let it go it's it's just it's gone you

don't even remember it I have a really

good friend and she's in her '90s and

she called me a week or two ago and she

said oh I wake up in the morning and I

think oh not another no day and I

thought oh how sad terrible you know

that's so sad I wake up and think wow

what am I supposed to do today and the

sun comes up my friends back to the

video in 1 second it's one thing to

listen to the advice that you hear on

our Channel but as gladus says it's even

more important to take action on it

after over a th interviews with

strangers and Experts of all ages we've

put together all of their strategies and

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into our goal setting Journal this

journal has helped over 3,000 people

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description to grab a copy of our final

B

okay back to the video what do you think

is a difference between someone who

lives to let's say in their 80s versus

someone who can extend their life and

get to where you are well I found that I

have a purpose and I have a message when

you find what it is that makes you

excited and keeps your life force going

it keeps going I don't know why I live

this long except I know I still have

something to

say if the purpose that you're working

for suddenly moves out of the way you

either find another or you just let it

drop it's like when my husband asked for

a divorce after 46 years of marriage I

thought I was done I was completely

broken I was in my car riding back from

my office to empty home except my dog

and I thought there's nothing more to

live for because we had done so much

together we' created the American

holistic Medical Association had six

kids and all this stuff and then he

asked for a divorce and I felt like I

was just in limbo how old were you at

the time of the divorce how old was I

John 70 something what happened oh he

found somebody at se in the 70s how do

you move forward oh I I was totally

broken I really didn't have any idea

what I was going to do but I knew that

there was still work to for me to do so

I think the important thing is not to

shut the everything down you know I

could have gone back in the car and shut

the door and sat in the rest of my life

being horribly broken or I could keep

that door open and see what else came up

and I didn't want to be broken about a

year later I was able to write my

ex-husband a letter and say thank you

for giving me my freedom because all of

a sudden I was not Bill and gladus like

I had always been during our marriage I

was Dr glce so all of a sudden I had a

new identity and I could use it what is

it like to go through life I say

especially in the last 20 years and you

start seeing people that you were close

with that you spent a lot of time with

passing away like how do you how do you

deal with that sort of grief one of my

really close friends died last Monday

I'm sorry I'm I'm missing him I'm

missing him but nothing can take away my

memories of what we did I have this

place called memory lane and anytime I

choose I can go down memory Lane and

nobody can take that away from me the

people that I have loved even the little

people when we were children they are

still part of my memory lane they're as

real as anything because they're in my

thoughts and I can call them back all of

my siblings are gone finding people my

age would be kind of an interesting

thing if there are any out there let me

know I think a lot of people attribute

diet to longevity what do you eat what

is your diet diet my diet is what I can

do my son John goes out and gets some

food and I eat it you ever had In-N-Out

Burger would we ever catch you having a

a fast food hamburger or sure yeah yeah

I haven't had one for years but you

would if John brought it home yeah yeah

yeah I try to keep it as fresh as

possible homecooked food if you can do

it if not as close as you can get what's

like your favorite meal that you like

eating more favorite food have favorite

meal a long time ago I decided I'm happy

that I've got food because there have

been lot of times in my life when I

didn't have it available what other

things what other habits or just in

general what things contribute to living

keep moving I walk with my Walker and I

keep my steps on my cell phone so that I

make sure that I keep moving I go around

my own little house here keep her body

moving get at least eight hours of sleep

at night if you can do it sometimes you

can't but take a nap it took a while for

me to understand that when you take a

rest you're not being lazy you're doing

something you're actually taking a rest

if you were to go back in time knowing

everything you know today and you could

speak to your 25-year-old self what

advice would you give to her to live

better don't lose the light follow the

light and love is always the great

teacher so look for it the hard times

come but they go too if I asked you also

to your 50-year-old self would that

advice be different no I'm really

content with where I am I don't have

much you know here but I've got the

whole world you know thank you so much

for watching this video If you haven't

had a chance to grab a limited copy of

our goal setting Journal that has glates

in over a thousand different strangers'

best advice and strategies to live a

more fulfilling life click the link in

the description to get yours today as

always it's a mindset see you next week