100-year-old sisters share tips on leading a long, happy life

Plus, how to sound more credible at work.

VIEW IN BROWSER | SUBSCRIBE Friday, March 17, 2023 CNBC Make It Life helps you lead a healthier, richer and more fulfilling lifestyle. By Aditi Shrikant, lead life reporter 5 tips from 100-year-old sisters for living a long, happy life   Sisters Shirley Hodes, 106, and Ruth "Ruthy" Sweedler, 103, talk on the phone three times a week. They are the youngest of eight siblings and the last two remaining. Despite living in different states and not seeing each other in person for the last eight years, they still prioritize their relationship. This, the two agree, is one of the keys to their long lives.   "Family is very important to us," says Hodes. "Close relationships are very important. They keep you going."    Sweedler agrees: The key to longevity is to "be happy, be healthy and have love in your life."   The centenarians shared with CNBC Make It what has helped them sustain happiness even in their later years.  Getting their steps in. Both Hodes and Sweedler make a point to walk outdoors when weather permits and indoors when it doesn't.  Cultivating connection. Where Hodes lives, she says there are a variety of residents with whom she can sit, converse and learn new things. This "keeps me interested," she says.  Reading widely. Reading keeps your mind sharp and can help combat loneliness.  Eating moderately. Both have balanced diets and try to avoid sweets.  Focusing on the positive. Both Hodes and Sweedler have had their share of misfortunes, but neither likes to dwell on them.  Read More   This Week We Tried: The new Girl Scout cookie that's reselling for up to $200 a box   When I first read about the new Girl Scout cookie flavor that was flying off digital shelves and selling for up to $200 a box on eBay, I was skeptical.    I like Girl Scout cookies as much as the next guy, but I couldn't imagine myself visiting the resale market to get my hands on a box.   So when we got the Raspberry Rallys in the office I was excited to try them out and see how they stacked up against their sister cookie, the Thin Mint.   They're described as a "thin, crispy cookie infused with raspberry flavor, dipped in chocolaty coating."   After tasting the Rallys for the first time, it was pretty evident why the Girl Scouts haven't been able to keep them in stock.    The cookies smell great, the crispy texture is nice and light, and the chocolate coating isn't too thick. They're also appealing to look at, with the colorful pink interior standing in contrast to the chocolate coating. Highly recommended!    — Nick Vega, pop culture reporter  Read More How to Talk to People: Eliminate these 'weak' words and phrases to sound more credible When it comes to public speaking, expert Christina Helena says less is more. Helena has spent more than a decade working with executives and leaders from major companies like Google, Facebook and LinkedIn, helping them refine their presentations.    A common trap many speakers fall into is trying to fill pauses or moments of silence with words — any words. This can result in them using what Helena calls "weak filler words," which can actually dilute their message.    Here are some words and phrases that can make people question your credibility and respect you less: "Um"  "In all honesty"  "I think"  "Sort of" "Just"  "Instead of using weak filler words, silence is sometimes best," Helena writes. "It allows you to pause and think, while letting the audience process what you're saying." Read More Speed Read: 5 books that helped this early retiree save $1 million In 2016, Steve Adcock retired at 35. He had $900,000 saved and was able to accumulate a $1 million net worth a few years later.    Adcock wasn't born into money and didn't juggle a dozen side hustles to reach his goal.  "I climbed the ladder at my 9-to-5 jobs and lived a frugal life," he wrote for CNBC Make It. "More importantly, I learned how to be successful from reading books about money, careers and personal health."   Here are five books Adcock says helped him retire early and live an "uncompromisingly happy life:"  "The Millionaire Next Door: Surprising Secrets of America's Wealthy" By Dr. Thomas Stanley "The Automatic Millionaire: A Powerful One-Step Plan to Live and Finish Rich" By David Bach "Brain Makeover: A Weekly Guide to a Happier, Healthier and More Abundant Life" By Phyllis Ginsberg "Just Keep Buying: Proven Ways to Save Money and Build Your Wealth" By Nick Maggiulli "I Will Teach You To Be Rich: No Guilt. No Excuses. No BS. Just a 6-Week Program That Works" By Ramit Sethi See what else Adcock suggests reading here.  Read More Upside Stephanie Harrison of The New Happy for CNBC Make It Unsubscribe Manage Newsletters Digital Products   Feedback Terms of Service Privacy Policy   © 2021 CNBC LLC. All rights reserved. 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