The world is full of tips and tricks on how to live longer—some say it’s about eating clean, others swear by cutting stress. But when someone who has crossed the 100-year mark speaks, the world listens. Dr John Scharffenberg, a preventive medicine specialist who lived a rich and active life into his 100s, offered a perspective that turns many popular beliefs on their head.

His message was simple, sincere, and backed by years of real-life observation. The secret, he said, isn’t food or relaxation—it’s something far more practical and often overlooked.