They left family in the old country and struggled when they came here. Some were Holocaust survivors, and widows who raised children alone and worked by scrubbing floors. But they were people who seemed able to cope with their problems and tragedies and moved on with a fairly positive attitude. They didn't get overwhelmed by things. They seemed to be born with that temperament.
Centenarians tend to be an optimistic group.
They rarely consider their age a limitation. They have dealt well with the stresses in their lives. And they take advantage of new opportunities. Most people can live to age 85 if they take good care of themselves. But if most members of your family are living into their 60s and 70s, an alarm bell should go off.