107-year-old author shares secret to longevity

She is small in stature, and a little soft spoken, but those are the only things unassuming about Merle Phillips.

WGN reports: At 107 years old, you will still often find her hunched over with her magnifying glass pouring her thoughts onto paper.

Just last year she published her latest book, Beautiful Pebbles and like the 10 before it, it recounts some of the major milestones in her life: growing up in Iowa, moving to Chicago, falling in love with her husband Leonard and her work –- caring for the very young and the very old.

She began putting her experiences to paper at 72 and with her sharp mind dates and moments come as easy as her amazing mobility.

A close friend, Mary Norton, credits Merle's long life to Merle having walked everywhere throughout her life -- but Merle's secret is much more simple.

"Keep breathing," she says.

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