In a care home in Surrey, a quiet, unassuming woman holds a title that spans the entire globe. Ethel Caterham, at 116 years old, is the world’s oldest living person. Her life began in 1909, and she has watched the world transform in ways few can comprehend. With such a milestone comes immense curiosity about how she achieved it. Her secret, however, is not found in a bottle or a gym, but in a steadfast approach to living a calm and self-directed life.
Ethel’s formula is disarmingly simple. She credits her long life to the fact that she never argues with anyone, makes a point to listen, and, most importantly, does what she likes. This philosophy highlights a profound understanding of what truly preserves a person over decades. By avoiding arguments, she has likely minimized a significant source of stress. By being a good listener, she has fostered positive relationships and kept her mind engaged. And by ultimately doing what she likes, she has maintained a sense of agency and joy that has fueled her will to live.
Her longevity is not just about avoiding conflict; it’s also about overcoming adversity. Ethel’s resilience was spectacularly demonstrated when she survived a bout of Covid-19 at the remarkable age of 110. Her recovery from a virus that proved fatal to so many elderly individuals is a testament to her incredible physical fortitude. She is a living bridge to a bygone era, having been born under a different monarch and having experienced the world before the invention of television, let alone the internet.
Ethel’s personal history is filled with adventure and love. She traveled to India for work as a young woman and later married the love of her life in a cathedral ceremony. She is now the matriarch of a growing family, and her genetic lineage seems to favor long life, given her sister’s own journey to 104. The staff at her care home describe her as an inspiration, a person whose strength and wisdom are as evident as her age.
For Ethel Caterham, the secret to a long life wasn’t a frantic search for the next health trend. It was a consistent, daily practice of inner peace and self-respect. In a world that often values loud opinions and constant busyness, her choice to listen more, argue less, and follow her own heart has given her more years than almost anyone else on the planet. Her life is a powerful lesson that sometimes, the quietest path is the one that leads the farthest.
