Hardison, a 64-year-old grandmother, ranked higher than tech entrepreneur Brian Johnson on the Rejuvenation Olympics, an online leaderboard that tracks longevity indicators.
She said it’s more important to focus on quality of life and maintaining strong social connections than to obsess over anti-aging trends.
“I think people who have lived their lives contributing to others feel like they’ve made a difference. They’ve dedicated their life to something bigger than themselves,” Hardison says. “In our society, we don’t talk much about how wonderful it is to grow older.”
Strong relationships have helped her live a healthy and active life
Hardison attributes her health and happiness to family ties, a deep sense of community, and contributing to and being a part of something bigger than herself.
“One of the greatest privileges of my life has been being able to work with people I love and make a difference,” she said.
For Hardison, spending time with her husband, children, grandchildren and friends is just one of the reasons she gets excited about starting each new day.
“Life is still sweet, life is still good, and it’s just amazing to see your kids make it through life and become these amazing adults,” she said. “It’s the reward for a life well lived.”