Mariam Todd, a centenarian from New Jersey, still clocks six-day workweeks totalling 50 hours, hasn’t seen a doctor in three years, and credits her relentless vitality to a simple philosophy: loving what you do. At 100 years old, she runs a family-owned furniture store that has been open for nearly a century, proving that purpose and passion may be the most overlooked prescriptions for a long, healthy life.
A Century of Dedication
Mariam Todd operates Todd’s Furniture Store in New Jersey, a business her family started around 1927. She works six days every week, from opening to closing, and describes her schedule not as labour but as enjoyment. “I don’t feel like I’m working because I love doing this,” she told local media. Her mother worked in the same store until she passed away at age 80—still behind the counter. Todd says if that’s how her own story ends, she wouldn’t mind.
Remarkably, Todd has not required medical attention for three years. She lives independently, handles her own grocery shopping, prepares her own meals, and maintains a level of physical and cognitive function that many people decades younger would envy.
The Four Pillars of Her Longevity
While the full list of Todd’s habits includes four key secrets and seven specific foods she credits for “rejuvenation,” the overarching theme is a purposeful, engaged lifestyle. Based on reports from the Daily Mail and interviews, here are the core principles:
- Passion for work: Todd reframes her job as a source of meaning, not a burden. Research supports this—studies have shown that retirees who lack a sense of purpose often experience faster cognitive decline.
- Staying physically active: Her work involves moving around the store, lifting items, and being on her feet for hours—natural, low-intensity exercise that her body has adapted to over decades.
- Social connection: Running a local store means daily interactions with customers, neighbours, and family. Loneliness is a known risk factor for premature death; Todd has built-in community.
- Mindful eating: She avoids processed foods and focuses on a diet rich in whole ingredients, though specific details of her meal plan remain part of her personal routine.
What Experts Say About Work and Longevity
Dr. Helena Chen, a gerontologist at the University of Hong Kong, notes that Todd’s story aligns with broader research on “blue zones”—regions where people live exceptionally long lives. “Purpose, movement without strain, and a strong social fabric are consistently found in centenarian communities,” she explains. “Work, when it is meaningful and not exploitative, can provide structure, identity, and daily motivation.”
However, Chen cautions that not everyone can or should work into their 100s. “The key is not the hours, but the sense of agency and joy. Forced labour or high-stress jobs have the opposite effect on longevity.”
Broader Implications for an Aging World
As global life expectancy rises, questions about how to maintain quality of life in later years become urgent. Todd’s example challenges the conventional retirement model—one that often removes structure and purpose overnight. Instead, she embodies a gradual transition: continuing what you love for as long as you can.
For readers in Hong Kong, where long working hours are common but often stressful, Todd’s story offers a different lens. Could reframing work as a source of fulfillment—rather than a grind—make a measurable difference in health outcomes? While not a one-size-fits-all solution, her approach invites reflection on what truly sustains us.
Actionable Takeaways for a Longer, Healthier Life
- Find purpose in your daily routine – whether that’s a job, a hobby, or volunteer work.
- Stay physically active through low-impact movement like walking, gardening, or household chores.
- Cultivate social ties – regular interaction with friends, family, or community members reduces stress and boosts immunity.
- Eat whole, minimally processed foods – limit sugar, salt, and industrial ingredients.
- Avoid the all-or-nothing mindset – small, consistent habits matter more than drastic changes.
Mariam Todd has not stopped living. At 100, she is a living reminder that longevity isn’t just about adding years—it’s about adding life to those years. And for her, that means opening the furniture shop each morning, one day at a time.