We're Looking for Stories About...
- Centenarians who lived fully - What kept them curious? How did they stay connected? What made them laugh?
- Planning a 100th birthday celebration - How are you thinking about this milestone? What matters most in your vision?
- Family members who reached 100 - What do you remember most? What did they teach you about living well?
- Your own plans for 100 - What are you doing now to get there? How has planning your centennial changed how you live today?
What Makes a Good Story?
Forget perfection. We want authenticity. The real details that make someone memorable. Did they play cribbage until 102? Outlive their annuity salesman? Learn guitar at 101? Tell us.
Good stories include:
- Specific details and moments (the Wayne Gretzky jersey at 99, the phone call about the Big Bang Theory)
- What made this person unique (their sense of humor, their curiosity, their relationships)
- How they handled challenges (strokes, health scares, loss)
- What they valued most (family gatherings in Cuba, daily crosswords, Sunday church)
- The small habits that added up (walking with purpose, reading daily, staying mentally sharp)
Why Share Your Story?
Because someone else needs to read it. Someone who wonders if living to 100 is possible. Someone planning their parent's celebration and looking for ideas. Someone who needs to know that aging can be filled with laughter, not just decline.
Your story becomes part of a growing collection of proof that the century mark is reachable, celebratable, and worth planning for.
How to Submit Your Story
Send in your story on our contact page
For large files (videos, photos, longer documents), share a Dropbox, Google Drive, or similar link in your submission.
Include:
- The centenarian's name (we honor those who reached 100 by name; storytellers may remain anonymous)
- Age reached or current age if planning ahead
- Your relationship to them (or if it's your own story)
- The story itself (500-2000 words works well)
- Photos or videos if you have them (optional)
We'll review submissions and may reach out with questions. Selected stories will be featured on the 100th Birthday Club site.
Questions We Love
If you're writing about someone who reached 100, consider these prompts:
- What did they do every single day?
- Who did they surround themselves with?
- What made them laugh?
- How did they handle setbacks?
- What kept them curious?
- What advice would they give to someone at 60? At 80?
- What surprised you most about their final years?
If you're planning your own 100th birthday:
- Who do you want to celebrate with?
- What kind of party sounds perfect to you?
- What are you doing now to make 100 possible?
- How has this planning changed your daily choices?
- What legacy are you building?
Remember: The best stories are specific. Instead of "he was healthy," tell us he never saw the inside of a gym but walked with purpose daily. Instead of "she was social," tell us about the 22 trips to Cuba with family. Details matter.
Your Voice Counts
Every centenarian has a unique story. Every person planning their 100th has a different vision. By sharing yours, you help others see what's possible. You give them permission to dream bigger about their own longevity.
Start writing. We're listening.
