What keeps us going

I recently visited a client who was 99 years old and incredibly energetic. The kind of person who walks into the room with a spark that makes you forget their age entirely.

Whenever I meet someone that age who still seems so full of life, I can’t help but ask about their secret to a long and happy life.

The answers vary quite a bit. One person mentioned a lifelong love of cycling, another talked about the joy of being a ham radio operator. Someone else spoke warmly about their book club — not just the reading, but the friendships and laughter that came with it.

At first glance, these responses seem to have little in common. But the more I hear them, the more I think the real secret might not lie in the specific activity.

Maybe it’s simply that these people have made space in their lives for things that bring them joy. They’ve kept themselves busy with what they love, even when life got difficult. Painting, writing, mushroom hunting, traveling, or just quietly tending to a garden.

Perhaps the real key is nurturing your inner passions. Living in a way that feels in tune with who you are.

Who knows, maybe in 70 years, someone will ask me the same question… and I’ll say:

“The secret? I never stopped blogging.”