Ollie - An Inspiration at 107

Imagine starting a blog at 107. Olive Riley in Australia did. Olive's story interests me because her brain is alive and well. Not only that, she's fun and full of ginger. And here's Ollie, as friends call her, enjoying a couple favorite activities...

Enjoying a shandy [half beer, half lemonade] -

And, swimming with friends and family -


Many folks desire to know how their brain can keep functioning well at this age, like Olive's. In the four blogs, Ollie posted, I see several reasons why. She. . .

fills her life with activities that bring pleasure to her. These trigger release of serotonin in her brain. Serotonin is a brain chemical that enhances well-being. It helps ward off the effects of cortisol, another chemical emitted when a person is stressed, angry, highly emotional or depressed. And too much cortisol takes years off one's life.

challenges her mind with new adventures. Here's just a few - she flew to Brisbane to visit her great-grandson and his family...she flew to Broken Hill to help make a film... she's an activist since she spoke out against government regulations to help Nina keep selling local grown produce... The brain thrives on challenges and rising to them builds mental muscles.

eats lightly. Olive mentiond that she doesn't eat much and at a pie shop in Ettalong, Olive insisted that she wanted, "Just a plain one, the plainest one they have, not too rich." Food and diet make a great deal of difference in keeping the brain functioning well.

keeps moving. Mike planned to take her to Ettalong Beach where they planned to swim. Since our brain requires 21% of of the body's oxygen, exercise is extremely important to keep it functioning well.

talks to friends often. Olive is often in touch Mike, her friend who helps her write the blog along others in the community. Olive takes interest in people and events in the wider world. Positive interpersonal relationships bring more serotonin to our lives.

sustains a strong spirit. Olive has wonderful memories, but she does not live in the past. She enjoys the present and looks forward to the future. She chuckled at the idea of living to 110 because she's got lots to do before she sleeps... Just read her blog and you will note she is happy and well-adjusted and these are signs of strong emotional well-being.

Guess I was so interested in Olive because today's my birthday and though I've said I want to live to be 90, I guess Olive inspires me to up the ante.

Celebrate with me today by leaving a comment... tell me who you are and I'll share the love by giving you a link here tomorrow and if you are a little late, I'll post a second round on the weekend. That will be a way for me to give you a little serotonin.

Thanks to Gavin Heaton who mentioned Olive on Servant of Chaos or I never would have found her!

And now, I'm off to celebrate...