'When I am an old woman I shall wear purple/ With a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me/And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves/And satin sandals'
The opening lines to Jenny Joseph's internationally loved poem 'When I Am Old' about the joys of ageing has long served as our life motto when in times of doubt and fear of the future.
However, a 90-year-old woman who featured on Humans of New York's Facebook page earlier today is giving us a different kind of lesson on how to enjoy your best days and the importance of dancing.
The woman, who is described as living in Moscow, Russia, provided a straightforward description of her lifestyle and some top tips on how to enjoy life as it comes.
'I'm ninety but I feel like I'm fifty. I don't take any medicine. I never complain. I'm just happy to be alive. I tell people: "Start with what you have, not with what you want"'
'Every day I dance for two hours. And I'm still really interesting too. I love politics and literature. I love the sciences. And I've got a boyfriend named Alexander. We exchange books. I don't even know how old he is'
While we don't know the name of this nonagenarian goddess, we think it's about time we learn from her words of wisdom and swap complaining every day for dancing.
And following the recent news – published in the journal the Annals of Internal Medicine – that an extra cup of coffee a day could lengthen a person's lifespan, we might just order another Americano to make sure we're living life to the fullest.
Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.
