Last week I attended the 95th birthday party of a dear friend, a woman I have known since 1969.

The celebrant was not the oldest person there, however. That distinction went to Larry, 97, a neighbor of the woman’s son.

Both seniors were mobile and of sound mind. I enjoyed engaging with them, and so did many of the younger folks in attendance.

Since I have known Nancy, the birthday gal, for more than 50 years, it is easy for me to see how she has remained young, even as the years continued to accumulate.

To begin with, she has always been physically active. Swimming, walking and dancing were a part of her life as long as I know her.

As she aged, she learned new forms of exercise, and today she keeps busy with aerobics, tai chi and bocce. And she also continues to walk almost every day.

Her mind gets regular exercise, too. Nancy is an avid puzzle devotee, and she often texts photos of her completed masterpieces to family and friends before disassembling them and passing them along to other puzzle lovers. Some of her puzzles have 2,000 pieces!

Just the thought of trying to assemble such a complicated monolith scares me. But if puzzles are one of the secrets to finding the fountain of youth, I guess I had better learn.

Nancy also reads books daily and especially enjoys mysteries. She likes the challenge of attempting to solve the crime before reaching the conclusion of the story.

Knowing her passion for mystery books and puzzles, many party goers brought her more. She will be busy for many months, and I am sure she is delighted.

Nancy has always been one to help others, which has made her a genuinely happy person. I recall her being part of a group of women assembling care packages for soldiers.

She also designs and sews small, soft teddy bears, which she donates to the gift shop in her retirement community to raise funds that will keep elders who deplete their money from being evicted.

Always quick to volunteer when a helping hand is needed, Nancy recently joined the choir at her chapel, which was requesting more voices.

She takes time to play, knowing the necessity of putting some fun in our lives. Highly social, she enjoys playing cards and board games with friends and fellow residents in her community.

She has a warm and open, non-judgmental attitude and is a magnet for friendship, which researchers say is a key to longevity.

Gardening is another activity that consumes Nancy’s attention. She maintains several container plants on her patio and has planted flowers in the ground beside the patio. She often sits out there to read and watch the birds and other wildlife.

Nancy still likes to cook and bake and often makes treats to take along to family gatherings. During the holidays she is busy baking cookies and sweet breads to wrap and give as gifts to family members. An expert at sewing, she also makes cloth ornaments as keepsakes for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Her constant upbeat demeanor fascinates me. Despite a stroke in one eye that left it blind, a bout with cancer and a broken hip, she does not dwell on hardships. Instead, she savors what she has right now. She finds happiness and satisfaction in the present moment.

Nancy inspires and energizes me. From her I have learned that aging is in our own hands.

We are never too old, or too sedentary, to start improving our bodies, our minds and our lives.