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101-year-old woman shares the secret to a happy life—tequila!

By AYIE LICSI Published Nov 10, 2022 6:36 pm

What's the secret to living a happy life? According to a woman who just turned 101 years old, it's tequila.

Mary Flip from Illinois marked her milestone birthday on Nov. 2. Born in 1921, she lived through the Great Depression, multiple wars, and the COVID-19 pandemic. She also lost most of her family when she was young, becoming the sole survivor by the tender age of 15.

From her hometown of Illinois, Mary moved to Mexico where she got married and spent time as a rancher before she moved back to Chicago. She had her first child there and became a renowned artist recognized by the Chicago School of Art.

"I really like to draw. And I was able to figure out that things change even as you're drawing them," she told Arizona Family. "So I was able to develop and make them look real. It took time but I had nothin' else to do except raise a bunch of kids."

At 101, Mary remained witty, cracking jokes during her birthday party. Asked by her daughter what the secret to life is, Mary said, "Hmm, I don't know. Tequila."

"How do you feel, Ma?" one of her six children asked. "With my hand," she replied, laughing.

However, for her latest birthday, the 101-year-old traded her favorite tequila for a glass of Guinness, her favorite beer.

Mary still had the moves, dancing as she donned a sparkling birthday crown and a badge that read "one year sexier" for her birthday bash.

Can tequila help you live longer? A study from Wake Forest University found that drinking one to two alcoholic drinks a day can lower the risk of dementia in older people. Another study from the American Chemical Society suggests that tequila, which is made from the agave plant, has the ability to lower bad cholesterol and raise good ones.