Happy New Year from me and my 101-year-old grandma. She was born in 1923, and together we have lived 149 years of life. She is often asked how she stays so healthy and vibrant at 101 years old. She’ll joke and say it’s a good vodka martini with olives and a salad that does the trick. And I’m sure it helps. However, after years of observation and watching how she lives her day-to-day life, I’ve come to realize it’s much more than that. Here’s what I see: She rarely gets upset, even in the worst of circumstances. She finds the happy side. She laughs. She smiles. She makes friends everywhere she goes. She gets her nails done once a month. She dresses up. She wears makeup. She eats out at least once a week. She reads—a lot. She doesn’t ignore the terrible world events of the past or present but acknowledges them with empathy for all. She doesn’t long for the life she had but remembers it fondly, reminisces, accepts her present, and dives in to make it the best it can be. At 101, she lives her life. In fact, she has never stopped. I’ve spent more time with her in the last two years than I ever expected, and I’m so grateful because I’ve learned so much. She and I are very much alike—both even-keeled, generally happy, and always trying to find the good in any situation. I leave you with this thought for the first day of 2025: My grandma was born in 1923, and two years ago, we both had to adjust to a completely new life. It’s never too late to live, change, and love your life. Start today. Love you all. Looking forward to 2025. With love, Taye Hansberry January 1, 2025 #happynewyear #lessonslearnedinlife #101yearsold