Recently, the oldest man in the world died, and I thought some of his advice was worth reviewing. This is from an article in the Chicago Tribune:
Walter Breuning's earliest memories stretched back 111 years, before home entertainment came with a twist of the radio dial. They were of his grandfather's tales of killing Southerners in the Civil War.
Breuning was 3 and horrified: "I thought that was a hell of a thing to say."
But the stories stuck, becoming the first building blocks into what would develop into a deceptively simple philosophy that Breuning, the world's oldest man at 114 before he died Thursday, credited to his longevity.
Here's the world's oldest man's secret to a long life:
— Embrace change, even when the change slaps you in the face. ("Every change is good.")
— Eat two meals a day ("That's all you need.")
— Work as long as you can ("That money's going to come in handy.")
— Help others ("The more you do for others, the better shape you're in.")
Then there's the hardest part. It's a lesson Breuning said he learned from his grandfather: Accept death.
"We're going to die. Some people are scared of dying. Never be afraid to die. Because you're born to die," he said.
That last thought is worth pondering. So many of us live with a fear of dying. And why not? It is the end of this earthly life. But a life lived in fear will not be your best life. Time passes either way, so fear will only lead to regret later in life. Here is where religious people have an advantage over non-religious. Religious people do not have to fear death, because we know that it isn't the end of all things. There is life beyond the grave, and that is a freeing idea.
