Dick Van Dyke Says Living Longer Is Related to His Lack of Hate and Anger
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Dick Van Dyke turns 100 this year and says he feels “really good.”
In a recent conversation with People, he attributes his attitude to both his age and the fact that he “feels no pain or discomfort.”
“I’ve always thought that anger is something that eats away at the inside of a person… and hate,” Van Dyke said, explaining how people often ask him what he did right.
He added that he is “pretty lazy” and has never been driven by the kind of resentment that can harden over time.
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Dick Van Dyke attributes his longevity largely to avoiding anger and hatred rather than following a strict lifestyle regimen. (Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)
“Sometimes I have more energy than others, but I never wake up in a bad mood,” she told People.
The actor explained that while there were always things and people he didn’t like or approve of, he was “never able to generate a feeling of hate,” and certainly not “a white-hot type of hate.”
He compared himself to his father, who was “constantly upset by the state of things in his life,” and noted to People that his father died at 73.
Van Dyke believes avoiding that emotional pattern is one of the main things that kept him going.
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Modern research seems to support this idea that emotional states play a significant role in long-term health.
Studies in older adults show that anger can increase inflammation in the body, raising levels of markers such as IL-6 and increasing the risk of disease.
He says he feels “no pain or discomfort” at almost 100 years old, and attributes this in part to emotional stability. (Monica Schipper/Getty Images)
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These effects can accelerate the wear process associated with aging.
The broader scientific picture suggests that patterns of persistent hostility or irritation function as a physiological tax, taxing the systems that keep the body resilient.
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Van Dyke explained in the interview his belief that “people are born with a perspective.”
“I just think I was born with a brighter outlook,” while others, he says, are born having to fight downward spirals.
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Studies suggest that reducing hostility and negative emotions can foster resilience, slow aging, and potentially extend life expectancy. (Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)
“And after 100 years, I think I’m right.”
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“When you expire, you expire,” he told People. “I’m not afraid of death at all for some reason. I can’t explain it, but I don’t. I’ve had such a wonderfully full and exciting life… I can’t complain.”
Van Dyke’s 100th birthday will be December 13.
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Khloe Quill is a lifestyle production assistant at News Digital. She and the lifestyle team cover a range of topics including food and drink, travel and health.