The Extraordinary Life of Fauja Singh

 From time to time I plan to introduce you to some of the amazing centenarians in our world.  Fauja singh (1911-2025) from Punjab, India, was one such man.  His birth date could not be verified because when he was born, birth certificates were not typically issued in Punjab.  

Fauja Singh was marathon runner.  He was what you might call a late bloomer.  He did not walk until he was five years old, and he began serious marathon running at ag 89.  It was after witnessing the death of his fifth son in a construction accident in 1994 that he returned to his passion, running.  He used to run up to 20 kilometers a day, so he thought running a marathon would be not too much more, but he didn't realize a marathon was 26 miles, not 26 kilometers.

In any event, he completed his first marathon at age 93 in 6:54, 58 minutes quicker than the world best for the 90-plus age bracket.  In  2011, Singh became the first 100 year old man to finish a marathon, completing the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 8:11:06.

Standing 5'8" tall and weighing only 115 pounds, Singh was built to run.  He ate a simple diet of vegetables, yogurt and milk.  He did not drink or smoke or eat fried foods.  

Fauja Singh died on July 14, 2025, after being hit by an SUV while crossing the road in his native village.  His nickname of Sikh Superman certainly fit him, as he held many running records at various distances.  He really was a super man, and unfortunately met an untimely death at 114.  Who know how much longer he might have lived?

Seniors and Fraud: They Go Together

Ocean Hills was lucky enough to have Paul Greenwood, a former San Diego Prosecutor and Deputy DA, come to talk to us about elder abuse, more specifically, about the enormous number of frauds that are being perpetrated on seniors.  Paul is the national authority on elder abuse, and he spends his time since retirement traveling the country to warn seniors about fraud.  

There is so much to say about seniors who have been scammed that I hardly know where to begin.  I guess I will tell you briefly about some of the most common scams.

1.  Impersonation scam.  You may get a phone call telling you the caller is from the IRS or other government agency.  THE IRS WILL NEVER CALL YOU!  Hang up the phone immediately.

2.  Romance scam.  This is extremely popular.  The scammer posts a too good to be true profile on a dating site, and bingo, lonely widows will call.  They never meet in person, but the promise of meeting soon draws widows to empty their bank accounts.  

3.  Tech support scam.  Have you ever had a pop up on your screen that says to call right away or your computer will crash?  Or, have you had a little arrow pop up and you are told that Microsoft needs to take over your screen and fix something before your computer crashes?  I have had that happen and I almost fell for it.

4.  Grandparents scam.  Who has had a young voice call you saying, "Grandma, it's your grandson, and I'm in Canada in jail and I need you to send me bail money."  We've all had this one.

5.  Lottery and prize scam.  This one claims that you are the winner of a $2million jackpot in Argentina, and all you have to do is pay the taxes to claim the money.  Most of us would recognize this as a scam, but you'd be surprised how many fall for it.

Other common scams include the puppy scam and working from home scam, texts from TheTollRoads, Amazon and USPS saying you have a package or owe money.  I often listen to a podcast called The Perfect Scam, and I've heard it all.

Why is this crime so underreported?  The main reason is shame and embarassment.  Other reasons for not reporting are fear of losing independence, perceived stigma, isolation, and fear of retaliation. Americans over 60 lost more than $5billion to scams in 2024, and the numbers are growing every year.

Don't become a victim.  You don't have to be nice to strangers on the phone that might not be what they say they are.  Paul Greenwood says to hang up immediately, and if you know for sure they're trying to scam you, have a whistle next to your phone and give it a loud blow.  That will get their attention. 

What is Your Morning Routine?

 Arthur Brooks is a Harvard professor and social scientist, best known for his work on happiness.  His work focuses on the science of human happiness, and offers strategies for living a fulfilling life.  Here are a few of his suggestions.

According to Brooks, a strict morning routine will help lift your mood and improve your productivity.  Here are the things he suggests doing every day.

1.  Exercise early, as soon as you wake up.  It will boost your mood and lower stress.

2.  Add a spiritual or reflective practice, like meditation or journaling.

3.  Delay coffee.  Wait until around 7:30 am to drink coffee, to avoid a potential energy crash later in the day.

4.  Have a high protein breakfast.

5.  Witness the sunrise.  Start your day with a mindful moment.  It can improve creativity and focus.

6.  Prioritize an early bedtime.

Obviously Arthur Brooks is a very disciplined man.  I would find it hard to do all these.  I already do #1 and #3.  Maybe I could add one more behavior to my morning routine.  Brooks also talks about other behaviors like joining a club (for socialization) and pursuing lifelong learning to improve your well being.

Brooks' science shows that we are more creative and productive in the morning.  Research shows that getting up before the sun rises can improve creativity, focus and memory.  So the old saying, "I'm a morning person,"  or "I do my best work at night,"  may not be true.  

You may already do many of these behaviors, but if you want to add to your morning routine, the easiest thing to do is WALK.

Get Up and Get Dressed

When Dr. Eric Topol left Cleveland Clinic in 2006 and came to Scripps, I was lucky enough to hear him speak at Warwick's Bookstore in La Jolla.  I was hooked.  His approach to good health and ageing made so much sense.  I have followed his evolution ever since.  He wears many hats at Scripps, but currently he is focusing on "Superagers," and that is the title of his new book.  One important point he makes in the book is that lifestyle, not genetics, is the key factor in good health.  So here we go.  Let's look at some lifestyle habits that may help keep us healthy.

Rain or shine (mostly shine) I get up every morning and get dressed.  I even put on simple makeup.  I want to look good for myself.  It sends a signal to your brain that the day has begun and you're part of it.  It helps fight the sense of drifting or aimlessness that can often come from low mood or fatigue.  Getting up and dressed also boosts your mood and motivation.  It tells your brain, "I'm showing up today."  When you're not feeling well, much can feel out of control, but the simple act of getting up and dressed is a simple, achievable choice that tells your brain there are still some things I can do and have control over.

Even if you're staying home, getting yourself together each morning maintains a sense of self respect and identity.  You're telling yourself, "I still matter."  When you stay in pajamas all day it subtly reinforces feelings of sadness, illness and helplessness.  Getting dressed signals the body you are ready for action, not just stuck.

I know we all have days when it just feels good to stay in that warm bed or lounge around in pajamas until noon, but if this is a habit, you might want to think about trying out a new habit.  Getting up and dressed is a small but powerful act of self-care and resisilience.  Try it.  I guarantee you will feel better.