I’m 106 and thriving… these are my tips for a long and happy life

An Ohio woman who recently turned 106 years old says the secret to longevity is a good attitude and fireball whiskey.

Florence “Fireball Flo” Hackman celebrated her birthday on December 14 with family and friends at her home at Traditions of Deerfield, an assisted living facility in Loveland, Ohio.

The centenarian looked ageless as she wore a beautiful white sweater with a black and white polka dot blouse and had a bright smile at her big party.

Hackman was the life of her own party as she held up a shot of fireball whiskey as she began singing “Happy Birthday to me…”.

Born in 1918, Hackman practices regularly, plays the accordion and enjoys going to happy hour with friends at the senior facility where she lives.

Speaking to DailyMail.com with her son, Rick Hackman, 70, she said the secret to longevity is clearer than many would think.

‘Try to live a good life one day at a time. That’s all you can do. Be nice to everyone and don’t be a grumpy old man unless you have health problems.’

A photo of Florence with her parents and her siblings

Florence also has an 82 year old daughter, four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

The youngest of nine, all her siblings are now deceased.

Before she moved into the assisted living facility, he said his mother lived independently and drove, but things changed for her in 2019, at the age of 100.

“She tripped going up the steps to the bank and broke her pelvis,” he recalls.

“It was very painful and she was in a lot of pain all the time.”

“The doctor at the rehabilitation center told him, ‘You’ll probably be lucky if you’re with her for six months.’ That was six years ago!

“So it just shows you the willpower that she has and the power of determination and positivity.” She worked her way through rehabilitation and walked out of the facility, which we thought was great.”

Throughout her life, Florence was in very good health.

“No cancer, no appendicitis, no gallstones – nothing,” her son explained.

The only other time she was hospitalized was when she was hit by a car.

Florence smiles as she holds up a Christmas decoration

Flo watches the football match with her son Rick and daughter-in-law

Florence ‘Fireball Flo’ Hackman holds up a shot of Fireball whiskey to celebrate 106th birthday

She still has a healthy appetite and is having a pot roast dinner for her birthday.

‘The woman has a third leg. She can eat anything. It’s amazing. She eats eggs and bacon in the morning. There’s a food from Cincinnati called Goetta that she loves, and she loves chili,” Rick said.

Fireball is her favorite, he added, because it reminds her of the cinnamon candy Red Hots. But she also likes a glass of wine.

When she turned 105, two people from Fireball’s parent company, Sazerac, surprised her with 105 mini bottles of their whiskey.

Rick said he tries to visit his mother every day. One of the things they enjoy together is watching football.

She is a huge Cincinnati Bengals fan and wears her number nine jersey while rooting for her favorite team.

Her positive outlook has kept her energetic and youthful.

He said his mother lives by the mantra “be positive… look on the bright side… be kind to people and just look for all the happiness you can find in each day.”

He added: ‘She’s had a great life.’

Dailymail.com had a chance to talk to Flo while she was attending a holiday party with her son.

‘It was great. “I never in my entire life expected to be this famous or anything,” she said.

‘I just live a normal, happy life, especially for someone my age. You take it one day at a time and do your best, one foot forward at a time.”