Betty White Reveals Her Secrets to a Long and Healthy Life Just Ahead of Turning 100

Betty White will celebrate her 100th birthday on January 17th, 2022. The actress who had iconic roles in “Golden Girls” and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” certainly knows a thing or two about what it takes to live a long life, and she shared some of her tips with PEOPLE.

Not all of White’s secrets for a long life should be taken seriously. After all, she’s one funny lady. For example, when talking about her diet, she joked, “I try to avoid anything green. I think it’s working.”

On a more serious note, one of White’s secrets is choosing to be optimistic. She explained that she was “born a cockeyed optimist.” She explained that her mom was always optimistic as well. She said, “I always find the positive.”

White’s friends and co-workers agree that she is a very optimistic person. According to actor Ted Danson, who also works with White on ocean conservation, White wakes up every day and decides to be happy. He told PEOPLE, “It’s not like she’s just a bubbly, joyful person. She wakes up every day and chooses to be that way.”

White’s agent, Jeff Witjas, also explained to PEOPLE that optimism is always a part of White’s life. He said, “Betty lives a life of happiness. She always thinks of others first, and she stays positive no matter what, even when I beat her at our favorite game of gin rummy!”

Besides optimism, White also credits luck and good health as reasons she made it to 100. She said, “I’m so lucky to be in such good health and feel so good at this age. It’s amazing.”

Sandra Bullock, who worked with White on the movie “The Proposal,” praised White for her comedic timing. She explained, “Timing isn’t easy in comedy, because you have to navigate other people’s timing. Betty pivots like I have never seen, making it look seamless.”

As a way of celebrating her birthday, White is inviting fans to watch the movie “Betty White: 100 Years Young — A Birthday Celebration.” The movie will be screened on her birthday, January 17th, at select theaters. The movie includes clips from some of the roles that made White famous, stories from White about her life, and footage of her actual birthday party which, according to Fathom Events, includes celebrities such as “Ryan Reynolds, Tina Fey, Robert Redford, Lin Manuel- Miranda, Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Jay Leno, Carol Burnett, Craig Ferguson, Jimmy Kimmel, Valerie Bertinelli, James Corden, Wendie Malick, and Jennifer Love Hewitt.”

Does it surprise you that White is always optimistic? Do you think optimism is the reason she has stayed healthy and lived so long?