At the age of 100, Kathleen Golder has survived the Great Depression, World War II, the upheaval of moving from England to Australia, giving birth to 10 children, and the loss of the love of her life.
She said in an interview:
“It was tough, it was rough, it was frightening but some of us survived, some didn’t.”
“I lived between Manchester and Liverpool and they got a bashing in World War II.”
“I had the Depression, after that I had the war, out of the war my husband said, ‘we’re getting the hell out of this, we’re going to emigrate to Australia.'”
As Mrs. Golder celebrates her 100th birthday on Tuesday, she revealed her secret to a long life is plain and simple:
“It’s character … how you approach life, how you think of life”.
“Don’t go through life grumbling; go through life with a smile and a hope for the future.
“When I’m dead, I’m gone and I’ve left it all behind … I’m here now talking to you and that’s lovely.”
She also said in an interview that a daily drink or two helps.
“I love my food and I love my wine! A couple of glasses is the most I’d have.”
“It’s worth living for.”
Mrs. Golder usually spends her days fulfilling the needs of her garden, which she has been doing alone since her husband Peter died about ten years ago.
Mrs. Golder, the life-long vegan said:
“I think everybody should have a hand in gardening because that’s where our food comes from. We depend on the gardens, we depend on the land,”
“My grandfather was a gardener. He was a gardener for Lord Tollemache at Peckforton Castle gardens in Cheshire and he grew everything you could possibly think of.”
According to her interview, she said she has lost count of how many grandchildren and great-grandchildren she has, and while her 100th birthday celebrations are yet to come, she still thinks she’s only 60.
She said:
“My body has lived a long life but not in my mind,”
“I say from the neck upwards I’m fine, it’s my neck downwards that I’m not too happy about, but in my mind, I don’t seem to be growing old.”
Kathleen Golder said if there’s any advice she could give to those under 100, it’s this:
“For God’s sake, be thankful for what there is. Be thankful!”