This past December, the world’s heart broke with the loss of America’s real sweetheart, Betty White. Betty White was best known for her role in Golden Girls but dominated every screen she worked on. What makes her death even more depressing is that she passed only two weeks shy of her 100th birthday. Her legacy will carry on not only as an iconic and hilarious actress but as a lover of animals as well. White has said many things that are funny, influential, and relatable to people of all ages. Here are 10 of her best life rules and how they apply to college women.
- “Keep busy and don’t focus everything on you-that wears out fast.”
Find things you are interested in and passionate about to keep yourself occupied. In your spare time, try joining new clubs, working at internships, volunteering, and doing hobbies. Also, don’t be self-centered; think about others. Betty White was known for her charitable work for animals. Similarly, you can find a charity or group you would like to volunteer with and make a positive impact. I personally find a lot of joy in writing for Her Campus and volunteering with Girl Scouts of the USA! Find ways you can help inspire other women!
- “I get bored with people who complain about this or that, it’s such a waste of time.”
It can be easy to forget all the good in life and do nothing but complain. It also does get very tiresome and it is wasteful. Try to find joy in your life and count your blessings. Instead of complaining, think positively.
- “Get eight hours of beauty sleep. Nine, if you’re ugly.”
Prioritize your sleep habits over everything else. In college, it can be hard to get a full eight hours because of our busy schedules. However, sleep is everything and so important for our health and longevity.
- “My mom said to never lie about your age because you’ll forget what you told one person and get mixed up. My age has been published over the years, so I could no more say I’m younger than 92 than fly to the moon. It’s amazing—past a certain age, you can get away with murder. You can do anything and people will say, ‘Well, the poor old soul, she’s … you know’.”
This might not apply to us until we get older, but in any case, never lie about your age. People in college lie about their age all the time—to get into bars, to people you meet on Tinder, etc. You can end up forgetting what you said to someone and get caught in a web of lies. Be proud of your age!
- “A sense of humor [keeps me young]. Don’t take yourself too seriously. You can lie to others — not that I would — but you cannot lie to yourself.”
Laugh in life! There is no need to take everything so seriously all the time! Learn to laugh at yourself and at life! Have fun and enjoy your life!
- “You better realize how good life is while it’s happening, because before you know it, it will all be gone.”
No matter what, remember that life is not permanent. You aren’t guaranteed the next day so realize how good it is to be alive and well while you still can. Live every day to the fullest.
- “Take some wheatgrass, soy paste, and carob. Toss them in the garbage and cook yourself a big-ass piece of pork.”
Don’t fall for fad diets; eat what you love and find enjoyment in the food you eat. Don’t eat to impress others and do not be fooled by all the “healthy” good trends. It is important to eat healthily but you can do so by eating foods you enjoy!
- “You can always tell about somebody by the way they put their hands on an animal.”
As a pet owner, I couldn’t agree more. It’s a huge red flag for me if my dogs or cats don’t like someone who I bring into my home. I feel like anybody who genuinely hates animals—creatures who are pure and wholesome—isn’t a person you should have in your life. If a person is gentle and kind to animals, chances are they’re a good person.
- “I know unless I’m true to myself I couldn’t be happy. Too much emphasis is placed today on externals and too little on character.”
Don’t spend too much time focusing on the way you look. Instead, make sure you are always being true to yourself and have good character. If you do both, you’ll be a more beautiful person than someone who only focuses on external appearances. Stay true to yourself and never let others dictate how you live your life.
- “Butterflies are like women – we may look pretty and delicate, but baby, we can fly through a hurricane.”
As women, we are often treated unfairly. No matter where you go in life there will always be someone who underestimates you because of your femininity. Don’t ever forget how strong you are. Women are even stronger than men, as I’d argue. Don’t underestimate yourself or other women around you. Persist through the challenges you are faced with in college and life.
Betty White will always be cherished and remembered. It’s inspiring to see how much of an influence and positive impact she had on those around her. Remember to take life with a grain of salt, and a huge piece of cheesecake. As Betty White and the other Golden Girls knew better than anyone else, cheesecake fixes everything!