Category: The Garlands of Barrington

 I was lucky enough to attend the first 100th birthday party ever celebrated at the Garlands of Barrington retirement residence this past Friday.  The first resident to turn 100, Betty Catlin, celebrated her birthday with cake, friends and a barbershop quartet serenade.  I worked my way through the crowd and found a minute to meet her, wish her happy birthday and ask if she might share a little advice about living a healthy and happy life in any decade.  She was quick to offer two simple secrets that I so appreciate and will always remember.
As a mother to six, grandmother to ten and great-grandmother to 14 children, Mrs. Catlin has lived a full and lively 100 years. And, of course, the fact that she works out seven days a week with her friends at The Garlands’ fitness center has helped keep her in great physical shape. But here are the two pieces of advice Mrs. Catlin shared about her overall approach to life that have surely kept her young over these past 100 years……