At the age of 88, famous actor Morgan Freeman still appears in movies and narrates them using his unique voice. According to AARP, his acting career spans 60 years and he has no plans to retire.
Freeman told the nonprofit he plans to “keep moving.” And he combined that sentiment with advice he received from his dear friend and fellow actor Clint Eastwood.
“There’s a saying about old age: ‘Keep moving,’ but at 95 years old, Clint Eastwood said, ‘Don’t let the old man in,'” Freeman told AARP earlier this month.
“The way to do it is to keep getting up in the morning, keep working out at the gym, keep taking your vitamins, keep taking your prescribed medications, keep moving. Keep moving. That’s the secret to it all.”
And Freeman is doing just that. This year, he reprized his role as Thaddeus Bradley in the third installment of the Now You See Me movie series.
A common suggestion from centenarians and people over 80 is to stay active and never retire. These tips are consistent with the rules of ikigai, a Japanese principle often associated with longevity and health.
At my age, golf is the most physical activity I can get. It’s a great sport for older people.
Much of what Freeman does in his free time is consistent with his secret to longevity: to keep moving. His passion is golf and he believes it is a great sport to pursue even at this age.
“At my age, golf is probably the most physical activity I get,” Freeman said. “Walking, bending, crouching, swinging, swearing, etc. It’s a great sport for seniors.”
As Freeman approaches 90 years old, his biggest concern is whether aging will affect his ability to play the sport he loves. “Will I still play golf? That’s the question,” he said.
Another important choice Freeman made throughout his acting career was to never let his honor get out of his mind, even after winning an Oscar in 2005. This is the same advice Freeman has for actors and actresses aiming to do the same today.
“It didn’t change me anything. I somehow knew early on that I would get it eventually. It didn’t change me. I hope it didn’t change me,” Freeman said.
“The only change you can expect after you win an Oscar is that your prices will probably go up a little bit and your job prospects will go up a little bit. I think those are the one or two things you can look forward to. Other than that, just don’t give in to your ego.”
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