I have an aunt who will be 89 years old in October 2023. She is called “Super Gramma” because she engages in farm work, cooks every meal, and was cycling until early this year.
I was lucky enough to interview her about her secrets to living a long, healthy, and happy life. Her story of longevity secret was so inspiring that I would like to share it with you.
Auntie Fumiko is my father’s elder sister, living in Fukui Prefecture. Fukui is famous for its beautiful nature and delicious food. It was ranked as No. 1 for happiness in Japan in 2022.
"I live my life doing whatever I like," she said.
I asked her about her daily routine and found something special in her life.
Start the Day with Sunlight
Auntie Fumiko begins her day with sunlight. She wakes up at 6 am every morning and goes out to her vegetable farm to water her cucumbers, eggplants, and okra (lady’s fingers). Having fresh vegetables is key to staying nutrient-rich.
She has a vegetable farm next to her home.
"I water those plants every single day. I fill two watering pots with water and take them to the garden," she said.
This greatly contributes to her healthy life because watering plants is a good exercise that helps maintain her muscle strength. Exercise not only makes us physically strong but also improves blood flow.
Having morning sunlight helps to secrete serotonin, one of the happy hormones. Serotonin stabilizes our feelings and reduces worries and concerns. Morning sunlight resets our body clock, leading to the secretion of dopamine 15-16 hours later. By receiving sunlight at 6 am, dopamine is secreted around 9-10 pm, promoting sleepiness.
Balanced Breakfast with Freshly Plucked Vegetables
"I make sure to maintain a balanced diet," she said.
"I slice a cucumber that I've picked in the morning and have it for breakfast. Cucumbers, pumpkins... I eat what I grow in the garden."
Her daily meals include: Milk Miso soup with an egg and tofu.
"I prepare miso soup every morning and add an egg and tofu to provide protein, along with vegetables," she said.
Miso soup is a traditional Japanese dish. It consists of miso paste, vegetables, tofu, and other ingredients. Miso, a Japanese superfood, is a fermented soybean containing dietary fiber, iron, soy saponins, and isoflavones.
Another habit she shares is avoiding snacks between meals.
Secret for a Restful Sleep
She goes to bed just past 9 pm and sleeps soundly until 6 am the following morning. After a day of work, she falls asleep quickly and remains undisturbed until morning.
In addition to her practice of morning sunlight exposure, there is another secret that contributes to her sound sleep.
"To sleep soundly at night, I avoid taking naps," she said.
She maintains a consistent routine throughout the year. Even when she has no particular tasks, she gets up at 6 am and follows a similar routine every day.
Hobbies Add Joy to Her Life
Calligraphy and sewing are her hobbies.
Engaging in hobbies adds joy and meaning to our lives.
She used to sew her dresses herself.
Her mother had her daughters learn sewing. Sewing was one of the skills that girls learned before marriage when Auntie Fumiko was young. "I learned sewing at a teacher’s place during summer and winter vacations," she said.
Auntie Fumiko started practicing calligraphy when she was a student. She proudly showed us her masterpiece.
Summary: Here is a summary of her daily life.
She
1. Wakes up at 6 am every morning and waters her plants
2. Cooks miso soup with an egg and tofu every morning
3. Avoids eating between meals
4. Doesn't take naps
5. Maintains a similar routine 365 days a year
Do you find anything you can incorporate into your life starting today?
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