These Local Stars Are Half A Century Old But They Don’t Look Their Age

“Having the right mentality is very important. During my dad’s generation, 50 years old was considered old and people of that age were getting ready for retirement. However, these days, I feel that someone can be 50 but still be raring to go and willing to try out many new things. In fact, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad has shown us that at 92, you can still achieve something and even become Prime Minister. Thanks to him, my mentality now is that anything is possible no matter how old you are.”

“It boils down to my personality. I’m very happy-go-lucky and I always tell myself that everything happens for a reason. I also want to encourage people over 50 not to think of themselves as old. I’m over 50, but there are so many more things I can do. I’m open to accepting new challenges anytime, and I still hope to work with directors from abroad or go overseas to act in a drama one day. I still want to keep moving forward and live life to the fullest.”

“I swim a lot as part of my physical therapy for my muscular dystrophy. I think it’s a really good form of workout for the body. I also feel that my illness changed the way I think. I used to complain and whine a lot and had so much worries in my mind. After I became sick 10 years ago, I started to let go of all my burdens. I no longer feel jealous of people and I’m no longer scared of failures as I know that I can always try again. In fact, my mookata business has expanded to three stalls and I’m planning to open a porridge stall in Ang Mo Kio soon!”

“I believe that knowing how to relax is the main factor to stay young. Too many people are caught up in the fast pace of society these days and are constantly trying to keep up. I’d suggest not taking things too seriously. For me, I go for regular massages, and I’d ask a few friends to head to Johor Bahru to look for good food to pig out on. Some people spend their 60s sleeping at home – I don’t think it’s good. Even at 65, I should be out making new friends and networking as it makes my life more fulfilling.”

“The secret to keeping young is to spend less time on your mobile devices and interact more with your family and friends in real life. When you do that, your eyesight becomes better and you become more focused on real-life conversations. I like to pay attention to what’s going on around me as it makes my mind more alert. Addiction to technology is bad!”

“I adopt a very simple lifestyle and I aim to have fewer and fewer items as I grow older. I lead a life where I’m not defined by the material goods I have and having that mentality has allowed me to let go of a lot of things. Nowadays, if I have to buy something, I buy just two or three items instead of 10. Reducing physical clutter makes me feel more carefree and less tied down and makes me feel younger.”

“I exercise daily and take only one rest day in a month. Exercising increases my metabolism and allows me to feel more relaxed mentally and physically. I also eat a lot of vegetables and I seldom eat meat. I try to skip dinner too to keep in shape. As for my skin, I don’t do much even though my friend did ask me to go for facial treatments. I rejected it as I don’t think I can lie there for a few hours. I’m someone who can’t stay still for too long! (Laughs)”

“I’m quite a vain person so I watch my weight all the time. If I gain 2kg, I make sure that I eat salads and yoghurt for the next few days until I shed the extra weight. I also do yoga and I brisk walk regularly to keep my body in shape at 52. You can say I’m a very disciplined person. I also think I’m very lucky to have a very understanding and loving husband, and also a doting mother as well as mother-in-law who took such good care of me over the past decades. Being loved and doted on really keeps me feeling and looking young.”