Betty White Says There are Benefits to Aging
Betty White is known for her appearance in the comedy Golden Girls, but she’s also known for being one of the oldest working actresses. Here’s what White said about the benefits of getting older.
Betty White says getting older isn’t something to complain about
Betty White is thankful for each birthday. In her book, If You Ask Me, she says getting older is something to be happy about if you’re in good health.
“If one is lucky enough to be blessed with good health, growing older shouldn’t be something to complain about,” wrote White. “It’s not a surprise, we knew it was coming—make the most of it. So you may not be as fast on your feet, and the image in your mirror may be a little disappointing, but if you are still functioning and not in pain, gratitude should be the name of the game.”
White says she’s grateful for her good health. So, it’s safe to say she’s happy about getting older. “As the years add up, I am so grateful for the good health I have been blessed with, and I don’t ever take it for granted for a second,” wrote White. “I make it a point to never let my weight vary more than five pounds in either direction; I wear glasses to read or to drive; I have a two-story house and a bad memory, so all those trips up and down the stairs take care of my exercise.”
Betty White says there are upsides to aging
Many people get down about getting older, but White embraces each birthday. In her book, she says there can be benefits to aging. Some of these perks include always getting a seat and being treated with care.
“There may even be some upsides to aging,” wrote White. “People treat you more gently. They may even think your years of experience make you wiser than you are. And somebody always finds you a place to sit down, whether you want it or not.”
Betty White isn’t ashamed of her age
White isn’t ashamed to tell people how old she really is. She says there sometimes comes a point where people start bragging about their age. The Golden Girls star says she finds herself bringing her age up during conversations.
“Somewhere along the line there is a breaking point, where you go from not discussing how old you are to bragging about it,” wrote White. “I have never lied about my age, but these days I seem to work it into the conversation at the drop of a hat. Please stop me before I get to the point of, ‘Hi, I’m Betty White—I’m eighty-nine years old!’ There’s nothing to brag about—I didn’t accomplish that age, it sneaked up on me.”
Betty White stays sharp with crossword puzzles
White does what she can to stay sharp. Crossword puzzles are her main tool for making sure her memory remains in top condition. Here’s what she wrote about one of her favorite activities:
My obsessive addiction to crossword puzzles I chalk off as mental gymnastics. I love games and puzzles. On the set of The Lost Valentine, a Hallmark movie, Jennifer Love Hewitt and her boyfriend, Alex Beh, and I played Scrabble during every lunch break. And I always have a book of crosswords or acrostics in my purse wherever I go.
Whenever I’ve had a puppy, I’ve put newspaper down for him, but if I put down a piece of the paper and there’s a crossword in there, I’ll snatch it right up and say, ‘No, you can’t go on that!’
Betty White in ‘If You Ask Me’
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