Shirley Hodes, aged 106, has been unable to meet her younger sister, Ruth "Ruthy" Sweedler, aged 103, in person since 2015. This is due to the distance between their assisted living facilities, which are over 800 miles apart by car.

Despite their physical distance, they maintain their bond by speaking on the phone three times per week. Hodes uses a landline phone with large buttons due to her poor eyesight.

Living Past 100 Isn't Valuable if You Can't Enjoy Life

Pexels/Andrea Piacquadio | As Hodes puts it, "everybody needs other people!"

As the only remaining siblings of their working-class immigrant parents' eight children, they understand the importance of family and close relationships in life. Sweedler believes that happiness, health, and love are the keys to longevity.

Although Shirley and Ruth share some similarities, like their petite frames and snow-colored hair, they emphasize their differences. Sweedler tends to brag, while Hodes is more inquisitive about people's lives. Sweedler prefers to talk about current events, while Hodes admits to being nosy, but believes that human connection is essential to a fulfilling life. As Hodes puts it, "everybody needs other people!"

According to the sisters, living past 100 isn't valuable if you can't enjoy life, which means taking care of yourself holistically. Sweedler advises keeping both the body and mind in good shape. Here are some tips from the sisters on how to do so:

1. Stay active

Hodes and Sweedler have always made it a point to stay active. Before fitness trackers, they walked daily to stay fit. Hodes still walks every day, while Sweedler walks inside when necessary and outside when the weather permits.

2. Cultivate connections

Growing up in a poor family, the sisters learned the importance of getting along and making themselves heard. They believe that having close relationships with family and friends is crucial for a fulfilling life.

“We had plenty of fights because you have to be heard! You raised your voice. But that’s OK,” says Hodes. “There were a lot of things we had to put up with, but we were better people for that.”

Residents come and go frequently where Hodes resides, and she finds the variety exciting. "It keeps me interested! I sit with new people, converse, inquire, and get them to open up."

One can learn a lot that way, she says, "you never know what's hidden in a person."

Both sisters have pleasant recollections of their husbands. "Nothing is better than a good marriage," says Sweedler.

"I had a fantastic husband and children," echoes Hodes. "It's a great sense of fulfillment."

3. Read widely

Hodes advises anyone who wants to remain mentally alert, "Read, so you can continue to expand your mind."

The sisters share a love of literature and the arts that originated when they were young. "We came from a reading family, and we didn't have to spend money on books because the library was nearby," says Hodes.