One of my favorite actresses is nearing her centennial birthday. The best Betty is turning 99 Sunday, January 17th, and it would seem that she hasn’t aged much since her Golden Girls years. Betty White has become somewhat of a national treasure these last four decades and sprinkles joy wherever she goes. And I have been wondering about her secret to good health and a long life.

Betty is interviewed in People where she gives us some good sage advice. She says that the key to a long life and good health is a sense of humor and staying positive. Betty said not to take yourself seriously because you may be able to lie to others but you can’t lie to yourself.

“I don’t like the other side,” White tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. “The positive side is a lot more fun.”

“I am blessed with good health,” she notes simply, “so turning 99 is no different than turning 98.”

One thing that keeps her going?

“A sense of humor,” she adds. “Don’t take yourself too seriously. You can lie to others — not that I would — but you cannot lie to yourself.”

While her birthday will be a quiet one this year amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, she says she’s looking forward to “visiting with close friends and bringing food to my animal friends” once life begins to return to normal and she can socialize again.

Now nearing the century mark, she shares this simple advice for a long and happy life.

“Again, having a sense of humor,” she says. “Just looking at the positive side and not dwelling on the downside. Takes up too much energy being negative. Also having a good agent who keeps me busy all the time.”

[From People]

Due to Coronavirus and the fact that Betty is in a high risk group, she won’t be able to celebrate her birthday with flare but I am glad to hear she will spend some time with some of close two-legged and furry friends. In an ET interview Betty also said that she was trying to get her syndicated 70s show, The Pet Set, re-released and feeding the two ducks that come to her house every day. I mean how cute is that? I giggled out loud when she said that the other thing that keeps her living long and healthy is a good agent that keeps her busy. That sounds so much like Betty.

Betty has been delighting us for several decades and I am so happy she is still with us. To me she is the best Betty out of them all and I hope she will be around for several more years. I believe her when she says laughter and a positive attitude is the anecdote for a long healthy life. Betty said it takes too much damn energy to be negative. I feel many people need to hear those words. There is just way to much negativity in the world. Social media can be a cesspool of negativity and toxicity. (Some of it well deserved though of course.) The one thing I would like to add that Betty didn’t say is that having a good heart goes a long way toward being healthy too. And it would seem our girl Betty has all of these qualities in spades. Happy birthday Betty.

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Photos credit: Avalon.red and via Instagram