Who is the oldest living person in the world?

One of eight children, Caterham grew up battling family struggles from a young age. Her sister Gladys lived till 104 and died in 2002. Having lost her spouse early in 1976 and two of her children soon after, Caterham lived a somewhat lonely life, relying on a healthy lifestyle and emotional resilience to keep herself fit and active. In fact, she contracted Covid-19 at the age of 110 and survived the long and arduous pandemic period, making her one of the oldest people in the world to do so.

She had lived in India at the age of 18 and had gotten a job as a nanny with a British family after deciding she wanted to seek some adventure.

What’s her secret?

Talking about her secret to longevity, Caterham had told Associated Press this year in May: “Never arguing with anyone, I listen and I do what I like.”

“Say ‘yes’ to every opportunity, because you never know where it will lead you. Keep a positive mood and know moderation in everything,” she had told Salisbury Journal later.

Ethel Caterham, the world’s oldest living person, is now 116 years old. (Source: X/@historycalendar)

Disagreements in life are common and can often lead to unpleasantness and stress. Stress can be triggered by a variety of factors, such as work or school-related pressures, financial difficulties, relationship problems, health concerns, major life changes, and traumatic events.

Decoding Caterham’s approach to life

Caterham’s mindset leans towards an avoidance of conflict and negative experiences. While it encourages one not to hold grudges, experts say leaving conflicts unresolved for long can have detrimental effects on health and well-being.

Consulting psychologist Priya Parulekar told indianexpress.com that disagreements can cause immediate damage, such as sleepless nights, which can lead to mental health issues like anxiety, which could further trigger autoimmune conditions.

“Disagreements, depending on their nature, may affect emotional well-being, and deep-rooted unprocessed emotions caused by long-term disagreements may affect overall physical health.” Thus, as a form of self-protection, Parulekar encouraged processing and navigating emotions, so that they do not end up damaging physical health or any organ of the body.

“Practicing stress management techniques such as mindfulness, breathing exercises, or even talking through issues, can improve not only mental health but also give the skin a more radiant, healthier appearance,” she added, stating Caterham’s optimism and positivity towards life is not just refreshing, but also inspiring to many.

How can you stay positive in life?

Parulekar shared some easy ways to help you stay optimistic and embrace the magic of life:

Journal: It is time for self-discovery, and in this process, many people start juggling their thoughts, which consume an immense amount of energy. Jotting down self-doubt and inner thoughts on paper can save a lot of energy and give clarity.

Practise gratitude: Be grateful for what you have. Showing gratitude towards certain things helps you stay grounded. Practising this on a regular basis will lower your stress levels and improve your interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships.

Keep your surroundings clean: Start by making your own bed in the morning. It gives you the feeling of self-accomplishment. Cleaning your room and hanging the clothes correctly gives a certain amount of confidence and satisfaction.

Start meditating: Meditation is one of the best things you can do if moving forward peacefully is a goal in your life. Just simple breathing exercises bring a lot of positive change. It is said that if a person wants to control their mind and emotions, then first they should learn to control their breath.

Socialise: We can learn a lot about life, careers, and people through a simple conversation with someone we don’t know. So keep interacting with people who are not of your age, who are way more experienced. This will make you aware of the things you don’t know.

Whether a student, a homemaker, or a working professional, stress seems to impact most of our lives. Here’s a quick guide to help you beat stress and live a healthy life.