Some may argue that today should be a national holiday.
Everyone’s favourite senior citizen (aside from our own grandparents, that is) is celebrating the big 9-5 today.
Betty White will blow out 95 candles (at least, that’s what we like to imagine happening) to mark her day of birth – and almost 80 years in the spotlight.
Here are 7 things we can learn from her:
1. There’s no age limit on success.
The fact that White keeps earning dollars and accolades well in to her (very) old age – whether she’s still starring on primetime TV when most people in her age bracket are diaper-clad in nursing homes, or taking home a Grammy at the ripe old age of 90 – proves that success knows no age limit. At the 2012 Grammys, White beat out stars like Tina Fey and Val Kilmer for the honour of Best Spoken Word Album. She adds this to her Lifetime Achievement trophy from the 2015 Daytime Emmy Awards (oh, and the five Emmys she won before that).
2. Staying on top of tech keeps you young at heart and relatable.
White could very well be more active on social media than you are. She’s probably the only 95-year-old you know to have a Twitter, Instagram and Facebook account. White doesn’t shy away from humorous Tweets, posting everything from shots of her dabbing (yes, she is fully aware of the phenomenon), to witty jokes about drinking. White has also even participated in a Reddit ‘Ask Me Anything’ (something your parents don’t even know exists).
3. There’s no shame in embracing your body and your sexuality.
Even at a time when it was frowned upon to do so, White has been open about embracing her sexuality, least of which includes her crush on Robert Redford. Not only has she said that she married her first husband so that they could have sex and subsequently spent their six-month marriage in bed (for real), White also posed for some, ahem, racier shots back in the day – and there’s nothing wrong with that, friends.
4. It’s important to live a little and indulge.
Proving that they key to a long life is balance, White isn’t afraid to indulge on occasion and is known for her love of fries, potato chips and hotdogs. She even had a hotdog named after her in 2010 at the opening of Pink’s Hot Dogs in California. She is also no stranger to getting a little tipsy on vodka, her drink of choice. Work hard, play hard, right?
Image: Getty Images
5. If you’re passionate about a cause, get involved.
White has remained vocal about her passion for animal welfare throughout her career. For over 50 years, she has worked with the Morris Animal Foundation and has been on the board of trustees at the Los Angeles Zoo since 1974. Not surprisingly, she was among the famous faces who were outspoken about the 2015 death of Cecil the Lion.
6. Venturing far from traditional gender roles isn’t just for millennials.
Far from the soft-spoken, yarn-loving, sweet old lady role, White isn’t afraid to venture into territory traditionally reserved for men. Not only is White one of TV’s first female film producers (with her 1952 sitcom Life With Elizabeth) and the only female to win an Emmy as best game show host, she raps, loves poker and has even hosted WWE’S Wednesday Night Raw.
7. A positive outlook keeps you healthy (or, at least, it doesn’t hurt).
In discussing her life, White often addresses the importance of attitude and is a self-proclaimed optimist. “It’s your outlook on life that counts,” White has said, adding, “If you take yourself lightly and don’t take yourself too seriously, pretty soon you can find the humour in our everyday lives.”
Sadly, she won’t live forever (we know, we know), but in deciding times, you may want to consider asking yourself, “what would Betty White do?”
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