🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Stay away from alcohol and tobacco, work diligently, maintain an open mind
On February 5, in Oklahoma, USA, people celebrated the 114th birthday of a man named Ben, born in 1889—the world’s longest-living man (the oldest woman is a British woman, aged 117). Russian newspaper Forum reporter Olga Tarasova interviewed this centenarian.
The man grinned broadly with his toothless mouth, warmly inviting me in. He said many reporters had visited him, and TV crews had filmed him, but this was the first time he’d received a Russian journalist. Holding his broad, warm hand, I felt immense strength—hard to believe he was over 100.
Ben’s 87-year-old daughter, Olena (who looks about 60), bought a globe specially for the Russian journalist’s visit. She located Russia on the globe and asked her father: "Dad, look—how far away is Russia?" The old man eagerly examined the globe, measuring the straight-line distance between the U.S. and Russia.
Before my visit, he had lost his hearing aid, making it hard to hear others. Olena helped by repeating my questions loudly. Though his hearing was poor, his mind remained sharp—speaking simply and logically.
His favorite dish is braised beef; his preferred drinks are milk and grape juice; his favorite activity is driving a tractor on his farm; his greatest hobby is hunting—he’s shot the most deer. At age 109, he still hunted, earning the title of the world’s oldest hunter.
Politically, he’s a democrat. His most respected president is Clinton—perhaps because Clinton personally wished him a birthday greeting at age 110. Letters from the president and governor are posted on his walls, visible to all visitors. The most unforgettable moment in his life was seeing a car for the first time; the saddest was outliving his children. He married three times, had five children, nine grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren. His three surviving children are all over 80.
As we talked, I noticed he was tired, so I quickly asked the final question: What’s your secret to longevity? After a pause, he said: "I never drink alcohol, almost never smoke, and have always done heavy labor." His daughter added: "My father drank only a few sips of homemade low-alcohol wine, and only when friends insisted. He was extremely diligent—managing a large farm until age 90. The farm grew wheat, corn, cotton, and raised cattle and horses. He had plenty of responsibilities. He breathed fresh air all year round, ate only natural foods—this likely kept him healthy. There may be other reasons too. For example, he has an open heart, is kind to others, has a sense of humor, and doesn’t envy those wealthier than himself. Of course, he’s not poor—he owns two properties and a farm, and receives a monthly $1,200 government pension for longevity."