In the 1910s and 20s, growing with very little money and six elder brothers, Sherly Hods and his sister Ruth “Ruti” Swedler did not have their own rooms. He did not even have his place to sleep.
10 members of his immediate family were placed in a 2-bedroom, 1-bath apartment with an attic. Five girls slept there. Ruti, Shirley and a third sister shared a bed.
A bonus of tight arrangements: The sisters formed a tight and permanent bond and closed their entire life. When they died in this winter, it was within each other’s days. Shirley was 108, Ruti was 105,
Was described as Shirley and Ruti “The oldest living couple of sisters in USA” on Super-Sier “ Discussion Forum 110 ClubAlthough this claim proved impossible to confirm, his joint age 213 made him “quite remarkable”, a site administrator told me by email.
Since Sherly was my children’s great -grandfather and her great aunt was a louder, we got to spend a lot of time with her over the years. Here are some of the most permanent lessons that I have learned about living a long, happy and healthy life from them.
1. Don’t forget to dance
It is easy to assume that to punish, Puritan Regimen needs to live up to 100. After all, very traditional advice sounds like scolding. Do not drinkTu Do not smokeTu Do not eat too much caloriesTu
Fresh, however, in many ways, Sherly and Rooty looked more comfortable about the rules. Sure, none of them had cigarette habit, and They were honest about many things including nutrition: They ensured eating their fruits and vegetables.
But he did not reject a little ice cream after dinner. They did not pay attention to the number on the scale. Both of them looked for opportunities to taste life, not only for maximum time.
In 2023, for example, when Shirley was 107, she told me that, although she preferred to be friends, she had to be cautious with men, because many of them were married and she did not want to lead anyone.
“Surely at some point, however, all the bets are closed?” I asked, teasing a little.
“When it comes to dancing, yes!” He replied. “Oh, when I am dancing, I don’t care if he has Three Wives. I will dance with someone! ,
2. do not stop Believing
Faith was an important part of life for both sisters, who enjoyed the active and attached members of their additions. As part of the lunch-and-lurn study group, Ruti read through the Hebrew Bible in six months. She joined several Jewish women’s organizations and even worked as the chairman of various local chapters.
“It’s not that I am very religious,” Ruti told me. Nevertheless, his traditions, history and faith did a lot for him, and so on his community: “I like to join.”
Sisters Shirley Hods and Ruth Swedler, around 1923
Courtesy subject
Maintaining those connections over time. The former President of his congregation and his rabbi continued to meet him even after limited dynamics, stopping him from being able to enter a lot.
Sherly also gave importance to her Judaism. She remained in contact with her rabbi with connecticut even after going to North Carolina. The Rabbi eventually visited Sherly in his new house outside Ashville and in this winter, gave a moving colon at Sherly’s funeral.
His religion helped him feel history, as well as attached to the community. She felt lucky to see her children, grandchildren and even a pardot, even traditions that were meaningful for her.
3. Don’t stop learning new things
Both sisters have been big readers as they were quite old to borrow from the library. “I am interested in everything,” Ruti told me. “Books are my passion.”
When he put a novel in favor of watching TV, he loved to learn something. His favorite channel was PBS, and his favorite show Investigative CBS program “60 minutes”.
Sherly also fascinated herself with other people, stories and situations. In general, she used to contact the world with fear and an open mind: “I’m just very keen!” He said. “Life will be empty if you do not meet and want to know about other people.”
But Julia Louis-Draffus Podcast “sensibly to me,”, “ Food critic and writer Ruth Richal created a similar point. “The only thing that really keeps you young is constantly doing those things that you don’t know,” Real said. “If you spend your whole life in doing things that you already know how you want to do, then you fast.”
4. Don’t forget that age is just a number
When I was at the age of 40, I began to wonder when middle age began, and should I be depressed about infection. I questioned Shirley, who had then turned 105 years old. Her answer pleased me: “I think ‘middle age group’ when you start Collect social security,” He said.
“So, even 50?” I asked “Fifty is not ‘middle age’ yet?”
“Oh goodness, no!” He replied. “Not at all. At the age of 50, you are just starting to live.”
At the age of 50, you are just starting to live.
When I checked on her birthday that year, Shirley was completely cheerful. “Tell everyone that I am fixing” in 105, she said. “I don’t feel it at all.”
Ruti once gave me good advice for aging without feeling old. “Keep your body in good shape and your mind in good shape,” he said. “Then you made it.”
5. Do not pay attention to the past
Ruti applied at Mount Sinai School of Nursing after graduating from high school, which was eager to come into medicine. The institution turned down him as it did not meet its minimum height requirement. Meanwhile, Shirley was not able to go to college for financial reasons, although she was longing to become a journalist or a teacher.
Life continued disappointments and made difficulty in its own way. He lost dear brother -in -law, spouse and even children. As the sisters continued, they created a point of focusing on as much as possible as possible, and on what is still ahead. This kept them inspired.
As Ruti said to me, “I don’t look back. I look forward.”
I do not look back. I look forward.
By the time she was 105, she was a widow, legally blind and almost deaf. She could not dance much anymore. Nevertheless, she was full of gratitude. “I have no complaints about anything,” he told me. “I think nothing normal. Everything is a miracle.”
“When you have important things in life, you have to feel it,” he said. “My secret? I am a lucky person. Although I have diseases and problems, but I have overcome them.”
Finally, “I think I will die knowing this and feel how lucky I am,” he said. “That is the best, the best.”
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