Few men in their 70s looked as good as my father did. What was

Hear now, O children of wisdom, the words of Jennifer Grant, who speaks of her father with a tenderness that transcends mere affection: "Few men in their 70s looked as good as my father did. What was his secret? Genes, maybe, since he didn't exercise or diet, and he kept a candy drawer, drank a pot of black coffee every day, and read in the middle of the night. Still, he took such joy in being a dad - and in life in general - and his happiness showed." These words echo a truth known to all the wise of the world: the key to a long and vibrant life lies not in the fleeting rituals of diet or exercise alone, but in the deep and abiding joy we find in the simple act of living.

Consider the story of her father: a man not burdened by the weight of obsessive routines or the pursuit of perfection. He did not follow the modern rules that demand we exercise tirelessly or deny ourselves the sweetness of life. He kept a candy drawer, drank his black coffee, and read deep into the night. Yet his secret, as Jennifer reveals, was something far greater than any external habit. His true secret was joy—the joy he found in being a father, the joy he found in life itself. This happiness, not bound by convention or prescription, was the radiant force that kept his spirit young and his body strong, no matter the passing years.

In this, there lies a profound lesson. It is not enough to simply live; one must live joyfully. The world around us tells us that we must sacrifice our pleasures, our indulgences, and our desires in the name of health, but her father’s life tells us a different truth. Like the ancient philosopher Epicurus, who taught that the pursuit of pleasure—not through excess, but through the simple enjoyment of life—was the true path to happiness, her father found something deeper than mere discipline: he found the essence of living with an open heart. Epicurus knew that it was not in austerity or denial that true joy could be found, but in finding satisfaction in the present moment.

Think also of Leonardo da Vinci, who, though an old man, lived with an insatiable curiosity and a joy for life that never waned. He too found joy not in strict routine or forced discipline, but in the simple and deep pleasure of creation and discovery. Da Vinci, much like Jennifer Grant’s father, was a man who could take pleasure in the mundane, whether in his artwork, his inventions, or in quiet moments of reflection. His secret was not in the external habits that people now obsess over, but in his ability to embrace life with joy and a passion that burned brightly even in his later years. And so too, it seems, her father found that to live well was to savor the beauty of the moment, to cherish the things that brought him happiness, and to bask in the fullness of the life he had.

Thus, the lesson we must take to heart is this: joy is the true nourishment of the soul, and it is far more important than the rigid rules that the world would have us follow. Happiness is not something to be earned through sacrifice, but something to be embraced through gratitude, connection, and a deep love for the life we live. The world offers many roads to health and vitality, but none is as powerful as the force of joy that courses through the veins of those who truly live. Jennifer Grant’s father did not fit the mold of modern health practices, yet his vitality shone through because he found happiness in being, in loving, and in embracing life with an open heart.

Let us, then, take action in our own lives. Seek joy, not through rigid systems or strict diets, but through the simple pleasures that life offers. Cultivate the art of being present, of finding happiness in the relationships we nurture, the passions we pursue, and the moments we savor. Whether it is a small indulgence, a quiet evening of reading, or the laughter of those we love, these are the moments that sustain us. Let us also remember that our own happiness can light the way for others, just as the joy of Jennifer Grant's father illuminated his life and left an imprint on the hearts of those who knew him.

In all things, seek joy. For in joy, we find not only the secret to a long and healthy life but also the true essence of what it means to be alive. Life is a gift, and the more we embrace it with gratitude and happiness, the more we nourish not only our bodies but our spirits as well. May we follow the example of Jennifer Grant’s father, whose life was a testament to the power of joy, and may we too live with an open heart, a candy drawer, and a soul that finds delight in the simple, beautiful moments that surround us.