I had a delightful experience reading Dr. Gladys McGarry’s book called “The Well Lived Life: A 102-Year-Old Doctor’s Six Secrets to Health and Happiness at Every Age.” As the title shows, she is a 102-year-old doctor and internationally recognized for her work in holistic medicine. In 1970, she co-founded the American Holistic Association in Scottsdale, Arizona, where she pioneered the integration of allopathic and holistic medicine practices.

Imagine getting all the lessons she has accumulated over 102 years and listening to all the stories and experiences she encountered over those years. I’m amazed by her positive take on life throughout those years. It’s unbelievable. In any circumstances, in any situation throughout her life, she was very positive, happy, content, and pursued her work, despite numerous challenges that she encountered.

Her positive take on life and her happiness regardless of the circumstances amazes me. She spent more than 80 years in medicine, so we are listening to a person who has not only experienced life in depth but also has the medical experience that supplements her authenticity and credibility.

She starts with her parents, who were medical missionaries in the early 19th century. They went to India, where both parents were doctors. Naturally, women were not recognized as medical doctors at that time. So her mother faced credibility issues in India, and Dr. McGarry also faced similar discrimination when she opened her own practice.

She shares one story about her house helper, who belonged to the “untouchable” caste in India. Ironically, she questions how someone can be “untouchable” when her hugs are so warm. It’s an amazing, ironic example.

Dr. McGarry talks about both holistic medicine and allopathic medicine. Holistic medicine emphasizes the whole person rather than just specific symptoms or illnesses. Practitioners often use conventional medicine and alternative therapies like acupuncture, massage, herbal remedies, nutrition, meditation, and exercise. Dr. McGarry exercises, eats healthily, and even talks about acupuncture and massages.

The goal of holistic medicine is to identify underlying causes and promote healthy living and preventive care. She gives examples of digging deeper to find the root cause of diseases and taking a holistic approach to treatment.

On the other hand, allopathic medicine, or Western medicine, focuses on scientific diagnoses and treatments. Dr. McGarry gives an example of fighting her first cancer diagnosis with holistic remedies and fasting. Decades later, when diagnosed with cancer again, she used allopathic treatments because she thought it was the best approach at that time.

She emphasizes that both holistic and allopathic medicine have their importance and need to be used in appropriate situations. Her book offers insights into her balanced approach to health care, blending the best of both worlds to treat the body, mind, and spirit.

Dr. Gladys McGarry says that she’s pro-science because she’s pro-questioning. She fully embraces science, recognizing that it is catching up, but also maintains a holistic attitude towards life. Dr. McGarry, a centenarian and the mother of holistic medicine, reveals six actionable secrets in her book, each accompanied by practices. The goal is to live a long, happy, and purpose-driven life.

1. Spend Your Energy Wisely: Embrace life fully, feel motivated every day, and view every day as a blessing. It emphasizes being present, letting go of past regrets and anger, and taking life head-on.
2. All Life Needs to Move: This explores how to move spiritually, mentally, and physically to help let go of trauma and other obstacles. It’s not about doing things just for money but for enjoyment, knowledge, and entertainment.
3. You Are Here for a Reason: Focuses on finding the everyday “juice” that helps you stay oriented in your life’s purpose. Without this “juice,” life can become boring.
4. You Are Never Alone: Encourages building a community that’s meaningful to you.
5. Everything Is Your Teacher: This one resonates with learning from everything, including pain, setbacks, interactions, and nature.
6. You Are Not Your Body: Talks about finding peace with aging and death and emphasizes that we are more than our bodies. Aging is portrayed as beautiful and blissful.

Some key takeaways from her book include her profound love for life, appreciation, and positive thinking. She also said that the quality of our relationships at age 50 directly relates to our well-being at age 80, emphasizing the importance of maintaining relationships.

Her story with her husband, who cheated on her and later divorced her, yet for whom she maintained respect and admiration, adds a noble dimension to her perspective.

Overall, this book serves as true inspiration, offering real-life stories that cover the past 100 years, the evolution of science, the changing roles of women, and the acceptance of new ways of living. It emphasizes how beautiful life can be with the right mental attitude and self-care. If these themes resonate with you, I would definitely recommend this book.