Meet Sally Washington. She was born in 1914, as the world was on the threshold of change. One formative transformation after another, and she witnessed it all – and now at 109, Sally is still around to witness more world history, while also being sure to enjoy the fun things life has to offer.
According to Everything Zoomer, more and more people are seeing triple digits, especially in developed countries, than ever before. In fact, according to the outlet, the number of centenarians has more than doubled every decade since the ’60s. Learn more about Sally Washington on her birthday to see what might be in store for more citizens.
Sally Washington has spent 109 years doing what she loves
Sally Washington was born on July 31, 1914, in Danville, Virginia. Over a decade later, she calls Laurel, Maryland home, and there she is a devoted member of the Walker Memorial Baptist Church. Though she settled near where her long journey started, the path there has been far from boring.
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It’s actually been quite enjoyable; Sally is not one to flinch away from whatever enjoyable treats life has to offer. “I like to make cookies and cake and things like that,” she mused. “I like to eat and talk and cook and play around. I like shows.”
How to live like Sally Washington
Longevity is still a highly variable trait, with some people swearing by a can of soda a day, while others have a strict set of mental and physical exercises they maintain. So far, Sally has faired very well keeping herself active. Her hobbies, which include cooking, needlepoint, and sewing, keep her sharp and moving – and actually became her profession. She probably counts her nephew Taft Hylton as a fan of her culinary and creative creations – Sally has seen her own nephew turn an equally remarkable 87 years old!
Boston University reports that around one in every 5,000 people in the U.S. is a centenarian. Genetics plays an inextricable role in how long a person may live, but it is just one piece of the puzzle and many outside elements under our own control also hold sway.
Thomas Perls, director of Boston University’s New England Centenarian Study, suggests broadly that the biggest factors we have control over are: stress management, a balanced diet, exercise, and no smoking. Sally certainly seems to have much of this mastered! Happy birthday, Sally Washington!
