"Why Always Angry and Jealous?"... Longevity Secrets from a 101-Year-Old Former CEO

Business Insider USA Introduces 101-Year-Old Former CEO Cohen
Poverty Fueled Motivation... Early Retirement Is Terrible
Still Confident in Mental and Physical Health... Does Leg Exercises in Bed Daily
Enjoys Mediterranean Diet and Creates Household Chores to Do

This photo is for illustrative purposes only and is unrelated to the article content. [Photo source=Pixabay]

"People drag themselves down over things that are not really important. I don’t understand always getting angry or feeling jealous."

This is one of the secrets to longevity shared by a former American CEO who turned 101 this year. On the 15th, Business Insider introduced an interview with Roy Cohen, a former CEO who celebrated his 101st birthday last October. Born in 1922 into an immigrant family, Cohen lived in poverty from a young age. His family consisted of his parents and seven children, including Cohen. There was only one room in the farmhouse, with no running water or electricity. Heating and cooking were done with a wood stove in the kitchen. The bathroom was, of course, outside the house. He recalled, "I remember carrying a water bucket in each hand to the chicken coop. It was cold," and said, "I muttered to myself, ‘I’m not going to live like this forever.’"

Cohen entered an agricultural college because it offered scholarships and covered room and board. He earned a bachelor's degree in microbiology and a master's degree in biochemistry and nutrition, then got a job at a pharmaceutical company. His first-year salary was $3,900 at the time. After graduating from college and joining the pharmaceutical company, he worked for nearly 60 years. He eventually became the CEO of the now-defunct pharmaceutical company and retired at the age of 81.

Cohen says his keys to success include starting from nothing, as in his family background, survival instincts or communication skills learned from family, and the spirit of continuing to work. He says, "You have to step out of your comfort zone." If you desperately want something, feel something is wrong, and need change, you must find a way. Growing up with seven siblings, he said, "I learned how to get along with others out of necessity. There was no choice but to figure out how to maintain stability."

This photo is for illustrative purposes only and is unrelated to the article content. [Photo source=Pixabay]

His experience with remarriage also helped him. His first marriage ended in less than a year when he was young. Although sad, that experience helped him rethink what a life partner means. He was cautious about meeting someone new and making a lifelong commitment. Six years ago, he met his wife Joanne, a former teacher who passed away at age 83, and he has three children and six grandchildren. Cohen advised, "It took time to adjust to each other, but like everything else, you have to make an effort," adding, "You shouldn’t go down a negative path without proper communication. You need to keep an open mind and listen to the other person’s perspective."

Cohen believes genetics play a role in his longevity. His father and mother passed away at ages 86 and 90, respectively. Nevertheless, he has followed a few simple lifelong rules: eat well, walk well, and think well.

Cohen is a devotee of the Mediterranean diet. He avoids processed foods and meat, preferring fresh fish, vegetables, and olive oil. When he wants a snack, he eats cauliflower (a type of broccoli native to the Mediterranean), carrots, and peppers. He eats a lot of cabbage and salad. Starting with farm work, he has incorporated fitness into his life for a long time. His exercise routine is to sit on his bed every morning and do leg exercises for 20 minutes, lifting and lowering his legs at least 60 times daily. He also walks around the kitchen and living room. He manages all the household finances himself and looks for work. Recently, he repaired the driveway and roof of his house and installed lights on the trees. Cohen says, "I’m happy because I’m busy."

The Mediterranean diet, which Cohen cited as the secret to longevity. This photo is for illustrative purposes only and is unrelated to the article content. [Photo by Pixabay]

Cohen emphasizes that cultivating a positive attitude becomes more important with age. He dislikes getting angry or feeling jealous. Religion also helps him, as spirituality has guided his life. However, he said, "It doesn’t have to be organized religion, but at least it’s important to try to figure out what moves the world."