Jonathan de Sola Mendes

This is the story about my path to good health and longevity. Why am I sharing my personal story with you? I do so in the hope that it might encourage and motivate you to lead a more active, healthy life, pursuing purposeful, satisfying goals so you too might enjoy length of days as I have.

The key ingredients, as you will see from the list below, are a mix of good fortune, good habits, and a good attitude that involves pursuing goals. Most importantly, as you’ll see from my own story, it’s never too late to start.

The most significant theme of my life has been my love for the outdoors and my physical participation in a host of activities. It all started when I became a boy scout at 11 and an Eagle Scout at 14. For the 10 years, from 11 to 21 years old, I spent all my summers at camp, first as a camper, then as a counselor, teaching swimming, lifesaving, boating, and canoeing.

I am still close to my college weight. How has this been possible? I eat three small-portion, low-calorie meals every day. For breakfast, I have a full, satisfying meal – after coming back from my walk – of orange juice, a small bowl of assorted fresh fruit, an egg, a piece of toast, and coffee.

It is also important always to have a goal that you are striving to obtain. One's life can fritter away without the satisfaction and pleasure of experiencing and achieving multiple goals.

At 93 in 2013, I set a goal of joining the 93-year-old, all-time oldest finisher of the New York City Marathon, which I finally accomplished in 2016 at age 96.

-- Jonathan de Sola Mendes
-- Jonathan de Sola Mendes
-- Jonathan de Sola Mendes