Jeanne Calment lived for 122 years without worrying about how long she would live

Thekabarnews.com – She was born in 1875, before airplanes flew through the air or TVs lit up living rooms. By the time she died in 1997, she had seen cars change how people travel, antibiotics change how people get better, and the internet start to change how people talk to each other.

Jeanne Calment lived for an amazing 122 years and 164 days, making her the longest-lived person in recorded history. Her life lasted for three hundred years. 

She lived through two world wars and once met the painter Vincent van Gogh. She later said he seemed rude and poorly dressed. Defying all expectations, she outlived her husband, daughter, and grandson.

When Calment was 90, she signed a legal agreement that let a lawyer buy her apartment in exchange for monthly payments. She thought she would not live much longer. Instead, she lived for several decades after the lawyer’s death.

Calment didn’t try to be perfect like many people who are interested in living a long time do. She smoked for most of her life, liked chocolate and wine, and rode her bike until she turned 100. She kept her sharp wit and playful sarcasm until the end of her life.

Researchers studied her a lot, hoping to figure out what made her live so long. Genetics probably had something to do with it, but scientists also pointed out something just as important: her personality. 

Calment had a low-stress life, a simple daily routine, and a dark sense of humor. She didn’t seem worried about getting older or afraid of time.

Experts today stress that many things, such as genetics, the environment, access to healthcare, and lifestyle, play a role in how long people live. 

There is no one-size-fits-all way to tell Calment’s story. Instead, it reminds us that living longer doesn’t always mean keeping an eye on every health variable.